PATEK PHILIPPE. AN ELEGANT PLATINUM WRISTWATCH WITH TWO-TONE DIAL AND BREGUET NUMERALS

Please note that Christie’s has applied for an ‘Extract from the Archives’ from Patek Philippe Archives but the Extract has not yet been issued and may not be available by the date of the auction.

The present reference 5196 embodies the maison's purest design philosophy and was inspired by Patek Philippe's famous Calatrava model from the 1930s, a timeless symbol of elegance. A sophisticated homage to the vintage aesthetics of the original Calatrava designs, it is crafted in platinum and has a gorgeous two-tone silvered dial that harmoniously combines a satin-finished center with applied white gold Breguet numerals.

Reference 5196 was introduced in 2004 and came in platinum and all three gold colors. All known platinum examples, such as the present timepiece, feature the highly sought-after Breguet numeral dials, which enhance their visual appeal and collectability. In contrast, the gold versions were usually equipped with traditional baton hour markers.