Unique Patek Philippe ref. 5016A-010 Minute Repeater Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel for Only Watch 2015

Here is the big one! Just after Laurent Ferrier and Kari Voutilainen (and also Tudor that is coming with a unique edition of the Black Bay), it’s now time for Patek Philippe to introduce its unique watch for Only Watch 2015 – and be fully aware of one thing: THIS IS A KILLER WATCH. Based on a Ref. 5016, this one-of-a-kind edition is combining a minute repeater, a tourbillon and a perpetual calendar with retrograde date. The bonuses: a stainless steel case and an enamel dial. Here is the Patek Philippe Ref. 5016A-010 for Only Watch 2015.

Not that we didn’t like the previous watches that are to be auctioned by Phillips Watches in Geneva on November 7th, 2015 – we did have a big crush on the Laurent Ferrier Galet Square with Sector Dial and the beauty of the Kari Voutilainen watch which can’t be defeated – but the unique edition by Patek Philippe made especially for Only Watch 2015 is first ,and will surely be the one that will break all the records and it’s also a real complicated, high-end and superb timepiece – a timepiece that we didn’t expect to see anymore… Let us explain.

The Patek Philippe Ref. 5016 WAS one of the most complicated Patek watches – if not THE Patek masterpiece – for some years, until Patek decided to remove it from the collection and to introduce a new reference with the same complications and the same base movement, the Ref. 5207. The Ref. 5016 was in production between 1993 and 2011. It’s quite surprising but delightful to see the Geneva-based manufacture resurrecting such an old reference for a unique piece. Previously, Patek were using one of its current references for Only Watch – like the titanium Ref. 5004 in 2013 or the Ref. 3939 minute repeater in stainless steel in 2011. Now Patek is digging out one of its rarest editions. Finding a Ref. 5016 is already quite a challenge as the entire production is estimated between 200 and 300 pieces. Now thanks to the Only Watch 2015 you have the chance to own a unique and brand new edition of this marvelous timepiece but we are sure you will need VERY deep pockets to acquire it.

The Patek Philippe ref. 5016A-010 Minute Repeater Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar for Only Watch 2015 shows however a few differences with the classical edition – that was available in white gold with a white dial, in pink gold with a black dial or in yellow gold with a white dial. First, this unique piece will come with a blue dial – a colour never seen before on this reference. Then, its dial will be made of grand-feu enamel, something also unique to this Only Watch edition. Finally, some small details such as the asymmetrical surroundings of the windows of the day, the month and the leap years are new. For the rest, we found a strong Breguet inspiration back with the applied numerals and the hands with hollowed tips. This watch might feature a tourbillon, just like every Patek Philippe with such a complication, you’ll only be able to see it on the back side.

The dial displays the hour/minute on the central axis, a small second and the moon-phases in a sub-dial at 6. The perpetual calendar is displayed by windows (for the day of the week, the month and the leap year) and just like the Patek Philippe Ref. 5496P-014 Perpetual Calendar Retrograde we reviewed previously, the date is displayed through a retrograde hand.

The case of this unique Patek Philippe ref. 5016A-010 Minute Repeater Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar measures (like the actual 5016) a small 36.8mm – a size that we’re not used to see anymore in contemporary watchmaking (even its successor, the Ref. 5207, measures 41mm). The Calatrava style case comes here in stainless steel.

As you can expect, not only this watch comes with some impressive features (Tourbillon regulator, Perpetual Calendar and Minute Repeater) but it also means that it boasts one of the nicest movement ever created by Patek Philippe. The finish and look of this Calibre is just stunning and defines the word haute horology perfectly – every aspect is hand-finished and painstakingly controlled and assembled.

Such Ref 5016 usually reach 500.000 Euros on auctions – but here we’re talking about regular production pieces. Regarding the recent prices reached by unique or rare Patek Philippe watches, we can expect this ref. 5016A-010 Minute Repeater Tourbillon Perpetual Calendar in stainless steel for Only Watch 2015 to be sold for north of 3.000.000 Euros (and certainly even much more). It will be part of the Only Watch charity auction of 43 unique timepieces taking place on 7 November 2015 in Geneva, it will be sold to raise funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. More details here.