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Lot Essay
Reference 5016
Reference 5016 is one of the most intricate creations ever made by Patek Philippe. It incorporates all the complications sought after by discerning watch aficionados: a minute repeater with sublime resonance, a retrograde perpetual calendar with moon phases, and a tourbillon. Patek Philippe's technical refinement is legendary and the present watch exemplifies their commitment to engineering detail. Patek Philippe watches never exhibited the tourbillon carriage through a dial aperture (until reference 5303R-010 was unveiled in Singapore earlier this year) for fear that the lubrication oils will degrade with exposure to light. To the casual observer the only distinction is the word Tourbillon on the dial, suggesting the presence of one of the most complex mechanisms in the world of horology.
Launched in 1994, reference 5016 remained Patek Philippe's most complicated wristwatch ever made until the arrival of "Sky Moon Tourbillon", reference 5002, in 2001. Together with references 5016, 5050, 5059 (and later 5159), it is also the manufacturer's only wristwatch with this particular dial layout, featuring a retrograde date with triple calendar windows and moon phases combined with the subsidiary seconds.
Reference 5016 is regarded as one of the "old school" or, for purists, "real" Patek Philippe production, and it is one of the very last examples of this iconic group which includes masterpieces such as references 2497 (see lot 254 in this auction) and 2499 (see lot 255 in this auction). Indeed, the case design of reference 5016 is a direct descendant of the latter, characterized by the unmistakable sculpted lugs.
In production until 2010 when it was replaced by reference 5126, reference 5016 was available in the three gold colours and in platinum, with silvered or black dials, the numerals matching the case colour. According to research a combined total of approximately 200 examples were made whereby less that half were produced in platinum. To the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
Reference 5016 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 331.
Reference 5016 is one of the most intricate creations ever made by Patek Philippe. It incorporates all the complications sought after by discerning watch aficionados: a minute repeater with sublime resonance, a retrograde perpetual calendar with moon phases, and a tourbillon. Patek Philippe's technical refinement is legendary and the present watch exemplifies their commitment to engineering detail. Patek Philippe watches never exhibited the tourbillon carriage through a dial aperture (until reference 5303R-010 was unveiled in Singapore earlier this year) for fear that the lubrication oils will degrade with exposure to light. To the casual observer the only distinction is the word Tourbillon on the dial, suggesting the presence of one of the most complex mechanisms in the world of horology.
Launched in 1994, reference 5016 remained Patek Philippe's most complicated wristwatch ever made until the arrival of "Sky Moon Tourbillon", reference 5002, in 2001. Together with references 5016, 5050, 5059 (and later 5159), it is also the manufacturer's only wristwatch with this particular dial layout, featuring a retrograde date with triple calendar windows and moon phases combined with the subsidiary seconds.
Reference 5016 is regarded as one of the "old school" or, for purists, "real" Patek Philippe production, and it is one of the very last examples of this iconic group which includes masterpieces such as references 2497 (see lot 254 in this auction) and 2499 (see lot 255 in this auction). Indeed, the case design of reference 5016 is a direct descendant of the latter, characterized by the unmistakable sculpted lugs.
In production until 2010 when it was replaced by reference 5126, reference 5016 was available in the three gold colours and in platinum, with silvered or black dials, the numerals matching the case colour. According to research a combined total of approximately 200 examples were made whereby less that half were produced in platinum. To the best of our knowledge this watch has never before been offered in public.
Reference 5016 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 331.