5004G Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Split Seconds

This is peak Philippe-Stern-era Patek Philippe. The 5004 is the watch that built so much reputation and rapport under the brand that Patek could afford to erode it for a generation or two. It is the modern classic, Ed Sheeran gets it (read Time lately?). To bring the brand onto a plane of watchmaking separated from the masses, in 1996, Mr. Stern debuted the wildly ambitious 5004: a Perpetual Calendar Split Seconds. So demanding was this calibre that only about 12 could be made per year, stopping in 2012 for a total of 216-ish examples. This is one of ten known in white gold with a black baton dial. 

The design was cherry picked from the very best of prior PCC history. The 5004 included Arabics styled like the 1518, pump pushers from the 2499, and a stepped case very similar to the 3970 (except with a convex rather than concave bezel to give more space to its calibre. Development was challenging; the Lemania 2310 was not designed to split. The most notable of these was rattrapante drag, which is worth understanding (Google it). Patek Philippe solved this with a unique isolating mechanism that sits atop the split brake. Its shape resembles a metal octopus, and is one of the most ingenious, tiny, singular solutions in Patek’s modern watchmaking. And that is one module inside of 407 parts all cased at just 36.7mm. It is in these ultra-flagship models that Patek Philippe’s finishing prowess comes to bear. It reminds you what they’re capable of. Ask Alexa to show you a modern classic and this is it.

5004 collecting is serious, obviously. But these more collectible and rare of the 216-ish are starting to ascend values precipitously in lock step with the 3970. This, the 3970, and the 3940 are increasingly lauded as markers of the height of Patek Philippe’s aesthetic abilities in complication. There is only one result to benchmark for this exact 5004G-015 configuration, 355K USD in 2023. Damn near everyone who collects Patek Philippe will tell you this is one of the greatest offerings the brand has ever made. And the moon phase is even the right way up (ahem, 5204). Sheeran nailed it.

This example is in lovely condition overall. The case looks to be very well preserved. Dial is faultless. There is an odd artifact in the movement image on the listing where there may be some oxidation in below the pincer mechanism on its bridge. I wonder if that's a photoshop mistake though. Check the listing to see what I mean. It is heading to auction shortly.