Patek Philippe

The reference 5035 was the world’s first annual calendar wristwatch. Released in 1996, this watch was central to Patek Philippe’s strategy of introducing "small complications" in the late 1990s. At the time, there was a noticeable jump in price between a time-only and a complicated watch, and this was a way for the brand to fill the price difference in between and open the brand up to a new generation of collectors. Philippe Stern wanted to provide a complication that was useful, rather than just another complication that would only be used occasionally, and thus the annual calendar wristwatch was created. The newly introduced caliber 315/198 allowed for the calendar to take longer months into account and to be set only once a year. The ref. 5035 was made in yellow, white, rose gold and platinum, and available in 2,500 pieces in each metal before it was discontinued in 2005. Includes presentation non-Patek Philippe box.