5050G-021 In the world of horology, few names garner as much respect and reverence as Henry Graves (1868-1953). A prominent banker and financier, Graves created one of the most important 20th-century watch collections. He had a keen eye and looked for perfection in each of his timepieces. He was known for some of the most important and interesting horological timepieces ever manufactured. His gentleman’s competition, for the worlds most complicated watch, with auto manufacturer James Ward Packard was legendary, and in 1933 Graves won the contest when Patek Philippe handed over his commissioned Supercomplication Supercomplication pocket watch featuring 24 individual complications. A unique and horological work of art, it was a marvel of Patek Philippe’s workmanship and technical prowess that remains unchallenged today. Upon his death, the collection passed to his daughter, and then to his grandson Reginald H. Fullerton Jr.

Fullerton was a passionate collector like his grandfather, and throughout his years maintained his grandfather’s collection, and bought timepieces as well, including a very early 2497 for $1000 in 1960 with movement number 888’000. Over his lifetime he added to his collection including the present platinum reference 5050, which he acquired in 2003.

Introduced at Baselworld in 1993, the reference 5050 was Patek Philippe’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch with retrograde date produced in series. The 35mm diameter two-piece case by Favre-Perret was launched in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold as well as platinum. Research estimates throughout its nine-year production span approximately 150 examples were encased in platinum in three series. The first featured, thin painted roman numerals, while the second series released in 1995 featuring the much-requested applied baton indexes, and an “Automatic” designation below the moon phase. The third series like the present platinum example had applied Roman numerals without the “Automatic” signature.

The present reference 5050 first came to auction in 2012 during the Reginald H Fullerton, Jr auction, and now comes to the public market for the second time. Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendars are a wonderful example of craftsmanship, and this is a rare opportunity to own an example of their historical past and with an important horological lineage.

Ref. 5050, 5050G-01 , Etc