Patek Philippe

Reference 5013 was introduced in 1992 and remained in production until 2011. It held the title of Patek Philippe’s most complicated serially produced wristwatch until the debut of Reference 5016 in 1994. A groundbreaking milestone for the brand, the 5013 was the first wristwatch to combine a self-winding movement with a minute repeater, retrograde date, and perpetual calendar. Depending on the month and leap year cycle, the date hand automatically jumps back to the first after the 28th, 29th, 30th, or 31st.

Minute repeaters are traditionally powered by manual-winding movements, making Patek Philippe’s creation of a self-winding version in 1989 a remarkable technical achievement. The movement used in Reference 5013—Caliber R 27 PS QR—was born from the extensive R&D behind the brand’s first automatic minute repeaters developed to celebrate its 150th anniversary. The movement alone comprises an impressive 515 components.

The 5013 was offered in yellow, pink, and white gold, as well as platinum. Despite its lengthy production run, it is believed that only 101 examples were made, with just 45 cased in platinum—underscoring its rarity and desirability. For collectors, the Reference 5013 represents a pinnacle acquisition: not only for its technical complexity and historical importance, but also for its exceedingly limited production.