Reference 5270G | A white gold perpetual calendar chronograph wristwatch with tropical dial, moon phases, day/night and leap year indication | Circa 2013
Patek Philippe
Dial: tropical, blue Calibre: cal. 29-535 manual winding, 33 jewels Movement number: 5'847'416 Case: 18k white gold, screw-down sapphire crystal display case back Case number: 6'016'363 Closure: 18k white gold Patek Philippe folding clasp Size: 41 mm diameter Signed: case, dial and movement Box: yes Papers: no Accessories: Patek Philippe presentation case with outer packaging Some of the most coveted Patek Philippe watches in the world belong to the perpetual calendar chronograph family, including hallowed references such as the 1518, 2499 and 5970. However in 2011, the brand introduced one of their most significant updates to this landmark range of watches with their first ever in-house calibre for the complication, the CH 29-535. To mark this significant milestone, the brand slightly changed the dial layout. In order to easily differentiate between the in-house and ebauche calibres, and because its sister reference 5170 had also employed a similar tweak the year before, the chronograph and running seconds sub dials at 3 and 9 o’clock were lowered on the dial, sitting just below the midpoint. As Patek Philippe often does, several dial executions were tested and released, with the present watch belonging to the second series, easily identifiable by the 'chin' at 6 o’clock, where the seconds track droops down to better accommodate the date sub dial. The present watch, however, is not an ordinary example of its reference. In the collecting community, visible defects due to natural aging can be highly desirable. When a dial changes colour due to sun exposure or defective paint, otherwise known as becoming 'tropical', it turns the watch into a special, one of a kind treasure, as each tropical dial will age differently. Typically found in sports watches such as Rolex Submariners and Explorers, tropical dials are also sometimes found on certain Patek Philippe references such as the Nautilus. However, the tropical effect almost never appears on complicated dress watches, making this lot truly spectacular. Indeed, the present 5270 is fitted with a blue dial that, over time, has begun to shed its original coat of paint. The depigmentation has resulted in the dial taking on a nice tropical hue with shades of brown peaking through, and this effect is never before seen on this reference at auction before. This lot will appeal to discerning collectors, who will surely recognise the rarity of this effect taking hold on a contemporary perpetual calendar chronograph.
