The Patek Philippe Reference 5059 was introduced in 1998, succeeding its highly collectable predecessor the Ref. 5050, which was the first Patek Philippe perpetual calendar wristwatch to feature a retrograde date, before being replaced by the Reference 5159, in 2006. The watch features an intriguing complication, in the form of a perpetual calendar with a retrograde date hand, and is one of very few perpetual calendar wristwatches to also feature a sweep centre seconds. The look on the wrist of an “Officer’s” style hinged case and white porcelain dial with Roman numerals, evokes memories of classical Patek Philippe design, from decades gone by. 

The Ref. 5059R features a typical Patek Philippe dial layout with three apertures at 12 o’clock telling the day, month and leap year respectively, with a moon-phase at 6 o’clock. It has a white porcelain dial with black Roman numerals and leaf-shaped hands, with two outer chapter rings recording minutes and seconds. The date is indicated by the small arrow hand progressing along a 240 degree arc, located within the hour scale between 8 and 4 o'clock. Around midnight, on the last day of each month (28th, 29th, 30th, or 31st), the retrograde indicator automatically jumps back to its starting position at 1.

Classically sized at 36mm, with extended screw lugs and a concave bezel, the Ref. 5059 wears proportionately well on the wrist. The entire watch is polished and mirror finished, while the fluted crown is embossed with the Patek Philippe Calatrava Cross. A solid gold dust-cover protects the sapphire display-back in traditional, Patek Philippe “Officer’s” style, and is engraved on the inside with its unique reference numbers. Overall, the watch strikes a nice balance between function and sophistication.

The 5059R houses a self-winding Cal. 315 S QR, with retrograde date, month, moon-phase, and perpetual calendar. It features a bi-directional 21k gold rotor, a Gyromax balance wheel with a Spiromax balance spring, hallmarked with the Patek Philippe seal, guaranteeing its accuracy to -3/+2 seconds a day and ensuring excellent finishing.

This example, the Ref. 5059R in rose gold, is in excellent condition and has perfect mechanical functionality. The watch comes with its original paperwork from sale (undated), an extract from the archives of the manufacture, confirming date of sale as 6 December 2006, along with its original box.
This watch comes with an original brown Patek Philippe alligator strap, and a matching rose-gold deployant clasp.

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