Patek Philippe

• cal. R27 PS QR LU automatic lever movement stamped with the Geneva seal, 41 jewels, Gyromax balance, pink gold decorated mini-rotor, minute repeating on two gongs • skeletonized dial, 4 subsidiary sapphire crystal display discs for day, month, leap years and small seconds with moon phases, retrograde hand with blue outer ring indicating the date • platinum case with 18k pink gold decorative band

The present watch is in an unworn condition. Highly collectible piece with an attractive price. *Please note the strap will have to be removed if shipping outside of Hong Kong. Sotheby's will not guarantee this is an original factory sealed bag.* **The strap of this wristwatch is made from an endangered species, please refer to important notices for further information**.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. All dimensions in catalogue descriptions are approximate. Condition reports may not specify mechanical replacements or imperfections to the movement, case, dial, pendulum, separate base(s) or dome. Watches in water-resistant cases have been opened to examine movements but no warranties are made that the watches are currently water-resistant. Please note that we do not guarantee the authenticity of any individual component parts, such as wheels, hands, crowns, crystals, screws, bracelets and leather bands, since subsequent repairs and restoration work may have resulted in the replacement of original parts. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue. In particular, please note it is the purchaser's responsibility to comply with any applicable import and export matters, particularly in relation to lots incorporating materials from endangered species.NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

**Please be advised that bands made of materials derived from endangered or otherwise protected species (i.e. alligator and crocodile) are not sold with the watches and are for display purposes only. We reserve the right to remove these bands prior to shipping.

Important Notice regarding importation into the United States of Rolex watches
Sotheby's cannot arrange for the delivery of Rolex watches to the United States because U.S. laws restricts the import of Rolex watches. The buyer or a designated agent may collect the property in the country of sale."

With a Patek Philippe special folder for the Certificate of Origin, Instruction Manual, setting pin and a presentation box with outer packaging.

Launched as a prototype at Basel in 2006, the Ref.5104 was unlike any other Patek Philippe wristwatch made. With the same large 43mm case diameter as the Ref.5002 flagship model, the 5104 offered a more daring and imposing design, vying away from the understated traditional style they are famous for. The model emphasized the demand of today for visually appealing complex mechanisms that marvel the wearer and admirer. With a sapphire dial revealing, for the first time, the complexity of a grande complication movement from the front and reverse the model presented the company with numerous, never before experienced, hurdles resulting with a new patent for their ingenuity. To achieve the desired look the Patek Philippe sought, a different approach to displaying day, month, moonphase and leap-year indications was required. A common aspect skeletonized watches suffered from was making the functions visible, thus the company developed a way to fuse sapphire crystal and steel together offering a blank canvas on which the relevant indicators could be highlighted.  To emphasis the colour combination offered by the visible movement, the case received similar design attributes with pink gold used to offer depth and colour to the platinum body. Perhaps due to difficulties in production, in 2012 the ref.5104 remains the only grande complication wristwatch offered by Patek Philippe with the movement visible through the dial, this unique feature allows the model to resonate the repeater gongs louder and clearer than perhaps any other Patek Philippe minute repeating wristwatch made.

This example is the first unworn Patek Philippe Ref.5104 model to be offered at auction.