Patek Philippe

Affectionately known among collectors as the "TV Watch" due to its distinctive tonneau-shaped case, the Patek Philippe reference 5020 represents a bold departure from the brand’s traditional round chronograph models. Produced between 1994 and 2002, the reference combines Patek Philippe’s revered perpetual calendar chronograph complications with an uncommon case design that has earned it a cult following in recent years.

Cased in platinum, the present watch is fitted with a finely finished silvered dial featuring applied Breguet numerals, feuille hands, and recessed subsidiary dials. The dial layout includes a moon phase display at 6 o’clock, flanked by 24-hour and leap year indicators, and day, date, and month apertures, all arranged with exceptional clarity and balance.

At its heart is the hand-wound Caliber CH 27-70 Q, based on the Lemania 2310 ébauche and meticulously finished in-house by Patek Philippe. This movement is celebrated for its robust construction, refined architecture, and precise execution of both chronograph and calendar functions.

Approximately 650 examples of the reference 5020 were produced across all metals, with around 135 examples in platinum, making this model an attractive proposition for collectors seeking a grand complication with a unique character and limited production run.

Underappreciated at launch due to its atypical case shape, the 5020 has since become a cult favorite among collectors, praised for its bold aesthetics, rarity, and mechanical sophistication. Platinum-cased examples with silvered dials and Breguet numerals—such as the present watch—are especially coveted and seldom appear on the market, offering collectors a unique opportunity to acquire one of the most distinctive grand complications in Patek Philippe’s modern history.