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Lot Essay
This spectacular reference 5013P is almost certainly unique with red calendar indications and red minute track on a black dial. It is undoubtedly one of the most attractive specimens of this distinctive ‘Grande Complication’ model ever to be offered at auction. Sold in 2001, the present watch’s exclusivity resides in the Certificate of Origin-confirmed black dial with red minute track and red calendar indications: “noir, heures Breguet gris, décalque rouge, calendrier rouge”. Further confirming its special and probably unique status is the fact that until 2006, a black dial option for reference 5013 was not available as standard and therefore, the present black dial with red detailing would certainly have been produced as a special request granted for a very important client. This captivating colour palette provides a rich and ultra-luxurious aesthetic. To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the only example in platinum with this dial configuration known publicly or to have been offered at international auction.
One of Patek Philippe’s greatest achievements of the late 20th century, reference 5013 was, until 1994, the most complicated wristwatch ever made by the company. With minute repeater, retrograde perpetual calendar and moon phases, reference 5013 is truly a landmark of horological high complication that succeeds equally in being a watch of supreme elegance and proportion. Discontinued in 2010, it is now regarded as one of Patek Philippe’s greatest modern classics.
Reference 5013
Part of Patek Philippe's ’Grand Complication’ series, reference 5013 is the first minute repeating wristwatch featuring an automatic movement combined with a perpetual calendar and retrograde date. The retrograde date hand moves along a 270 degree arc and at midnight of the last day of each month, it flies back to the first of the month. During this precisely controlled fly-back phase, the hand is disconnected from the drive train and is cleverly captured back on the 1st of the month to ensure it does not slip forward by a day. At the time of its introduction in 1992, it was the firm's most complicated wristwatch ever made. It is fitted with Patek Philippe's legendary calibre R 27 PS QR, self-winding with minute repeating, distinguished by a chime of exceptional quality. Extensive researches in metallurgy and acoustics where necessary to achieve a sound of such perfection and unrivalled purity.
One of Patek Philippe’s greatest achievements of the late 20th century, reference 5013 was, until 1994, the most complicated wristwatch ever made by the company. With minute repeater, retrograde perpetual calendar and moon phases, reference 5013 is truly a landmark of horological high complication that succeeds equally in being a watch of supreme elegance and proportion. Discontinued in 2010, it is now regarded as one of Patek Philippe’s greatest modern classics.
Reference 5013
Part of Patek Philippe's ’Grand Complication’ series, reference 5013 is the first minute repeating wristwatch featuring an automatic movement combined with a perpetual calendar and retrograde date. The retrograde date hand moves along a 270 degree arc and at midnight of the last day of each month, it flies back to the first of the month. During this precisely controlled fly-back phase, the hand is disconnected from the drive train and is cleverly captured back on the 1st of the month to ensure it does not slip forward by a day. At the time of its introduction in 1992, it was the firm's most complicated wristwatch ever made. It is fitted with Patek Philippe's legendary calibre R 27 PS QR, self-winding with minute repeating, distinguished by a chime of exceptional quality. Extensive researches in metallurgy and acoustics where necessary to achieve a sound of such perfection and unrivalled purity.