Especially developed by Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. and released at the end of 2012 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the Patek Philippe Boutique located inside the Tiffany & Co. flagship New York store, the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar ref. 5396G-012 is one of the most exclusive and rare timepieces from Patek Philippe in the modern era. Fitted with a 38 mm 18K white gold case, this annual calendar featuring day, date, month, moon phase and 24-hour indication comes with a glossy black dial and a matte black alligator strap. A perfect symphony to commemorate such an important partnership. To make things even more special, its black dial is double-signed by Patek Philippe and Tiffany & Co. featuring applied white gold classic Breguet numerals and a pearled recessed minute track, making this watch a true classic in all the sense of the word. This watch is so rare and special that only 100 pieces were ever made and only sold exclusively through the Tiffany’s Patek Philippe Boutique as well as other authorized Tiffany & Co. locations throughout the U.S.
Its horizontal day and month apertures at 12 o'clock, along with the moon phases and 24-hour indicator with superimposed date aperture are unmistakeable elements of the traditional and exceptional Patek Philippe design. This special timepiece has already become a rare highly collectible reference and only time will tell how much pricier it will be in the next ten to twenty years. As you can appreciate in the pictures, the attention to detail and finish of the dial is unparalleled.
The winding crown and the folding buckle with the iconic Calatrava cross maintain the brand's DNA and essence untouched. The winding crown is easy to manipulate and soft as butter rounding out the elegance and exceptional finish of this timepiece. The highly polished case along with its glossy dial and the matte square scales alligator black strap create a symphony of elegance that very few other timepieces can achieve. The case band is fitted with two correctors on each side to ease the setting of the different functions. They say "the devil is in the details", but on this timepiece the details have been mastered to the utmost perfection.
As if the double-signed dial wasn't enough, the back reveals another great surprise with a very exclusive engraving around the display case back that says: “Patek Philippe – A Shared Vision – 2008-2013 – Tiffany & Co”. The beating heart inside this watch is the automatic calibre 324 S QA LU 24H/303 composed of 347 parts, 34 jewels and 10 bridges. This calibre provides a power reserve of 45 hours while beating at a frequency of 28,800 vph and is fully visible via the display case back for a real treat for the eyes.
On the wrist, the watch wears like a glove and true to its size. If you are a fan of double-signed Patek Tiffany dials, this watch is a must have. While finding one might be as tough as finding a needle in a haystack, we are confident that soon enough one will pop-up at Christie's, Sotheby's or Antiquorium. As they say, good things come to those who wait and patience is a virtue.
Sticker Price $51,500 USD when released. Prices now up to $135,000 USD when found. For more info on Patek Philippe click here.
