PATEK PHILIPPE | GRAND COMPLICATIONS, REF.5140P-013, A PLATINUM PERPETUAL CALENDAR WRISTWATCH WITH MOON PHASES AND DIAMOND-SET INDEXES, CIRCA 2016

Footnotes

Patek Philippe boasts a storied tradition of crafting intricate and luxurious watches. The lineage of their serially manufactured perpetual calendar wristwatches dates to 1941 with the debut of reference 1526. This was succeeded by notable models such as references 2497 and 2438/1, introduced in 1951, marking the brand's inaugural perpetual calendar featuring a central seconds hand. The 1962 introduction of reference 3448 marked the advent of the first automatic perpetual calendar wristwatch, which was then superseded in 1981 by reference 3450, the maison's first serially produced perpetual calendar wristwatch equipped with a leap year display. In 1986, Patek Philippe unveiled reference 3940, supplanting reference 3450 with a contemporary design that was less angular and widely regarded by aficionados as one of the most exemplary complex watches, featuring a rounded case and a micro-rotor-driven automatic mechanism.

Reference 5140, launched in 2006 as the heir to reference 3940 still housed Calibre 240 Q but with a newly enlarged 37mm diameter, in contrast to the 36mm of its predecessor. Additionally, reference 5140 presented bolder dial hues, including a metallic blue dial on the platinum model and brown dial on the rose gold variant. The current example features a black diamond-encrusted dial and an elegant platinum casing, offering both a subtle and captivating charm. The extensive series of Patek Philippe perpetual calendar wristwatches are timeless classics and are a true grail piece for most collectors. The current lot, in excellent condition and with its full suite of accessories, is a beautiful example representing one of the most celebrated lineages of Patek Philippe watches ever created.