Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe

Reference 5971

A platinum and sapphire-set perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with moon phases, leap year and 24 hour indication, Circa 2011

Dial: black

Calibre: cal. CH 27-70 mechanical, 24 jewels

Movement number: 3’931’957

Case: platinum, screw down sapphire crystal display back

Case number: 4’532’592

Closure: black Patek Philippe alligator strap and platinum and sapphire-set buckle

Size: 40 mm diameter

Signed: case, dial and movement

Accessories: Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, additional case back, setting pin, instruction manual, leather portfolio and presentation box

After a long and successful tenure at the helm of Patek Philippe, an aging Philippe Stern decided that it was time for a natural succession. He gave his son Thierry full creative freedom on the direction of the next perpetual calendar chronograph, a landmark complication in the field of watches and pioneered by none other than Patek Philippe themselves. The product of his considerations was a larger watch, but with all the elegance expected of the brand, and with a plethora of design elements taken from the pages of history to appeal to the emotions of Patek Philippe enthusiasts.

The 5970 was the largest perpetual calendar chronograph ever produced by Patek Philippe at that point in time, much larger than the previous 3970 which measured 36mm in diameter. To ensure that the subsidiary dials did not look ‘marooned’ in the middle of the much larger dial, a tachymeter was added beyond the railroad seconds track, not only to fill up the dial but also as a callback to the first and second series 2499 dials. The square pushers of the 1518 and first series 2499 were also brought back. It can be said that the watch is a perfect combination of vintage callbacks and modern design elements.

However, the present watch is far more special than the base model 5970. Building off of arguably the most desirable configuration of the 5970, platinum with black dial, Patek Philippe is known to produce highly limited runs of their most special watches set with precious stones, with a special designation in the reference with the number 0 replaced with a 1. The present reference 5971 is one such watch, and seen on the dial and bezel are 42 spectacular baguette-cut sapphires. Though the base reference 5970 is already scarce, with an estimated 2,800 examples produced throughout its run, the sapphire 5971 was produced in less than 10 examples only, making it a unicorn configuration even amongst its peers within the same reference. 

The reference 5970 stands as a stalwart of collectible, rare and complicated Patek Philippe watches, and despite its relatively young age has already become one of the biggest hits of our millennia. The present watch being further embellished with blue sapphires makes it a truly scarce and utterly breathtaking piece, certainly one of the most elevated pieces within the entire reference in terms of collectibility. This an unmissable opportunity for any serious collector to own one of the best examples of a truly important and beautiful Patek Philippe reference, with added remarkability.