Patek Philippe

Introduced in 1996, the Patek Philippe 5035 holds the distinction of being the world’s first annual calendar wristwatch. This was part of Philippe Stern’s desire to develop more ‘practical complications’ that could be used in everyday settings. The annual calendar, powered by the Calibre 315, is capable of distinguishing between months with 30 and 31 days and thus needs adjustment only once a year, on March 1st. This annual adjustment is what lends the watch its name. The complication has since become a mainstay of mechanical watch production at almost every brand, but Patek Philippe and the Ref. 5035 is the watch that started it all.

Produced until 2005, it was offered in yellow, pink, and white gold—or, like our current example, in platinum. This example is fitted with a black dial and still retains its original box and certificate of origin, dating the watch to around the year 1999.