PATEK PHILIPPE. A FINE AND RARE 18K GOLD CHRONOGRAPH WRISTWATCH SIGNED PATEK PHILIPPE, GENEVE, REF. 5070, MOVEMENT NO. 3’146’199, CASE NO. 4’052’633, MANUFACTURED IN 1999 Movement: Cal. 27-70, manual, 24 jewels, Geneva seal, signed Dial: Signed Case: Glazed display screw back, 42 mm. diam., signed With: 18k gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp, Extract from the Archives confirming production of the present watch with black dial and Arabic numerals in yellow gold in 1999 and its subsequent sale on 8 March 1999, service pouch
Reference 5070 was the first chronograph-only reference produced by Patek Philippe since the reference 1463 was discontinued in the late 1960's. It was introduced in 1998 in yellow gold only, then beginning in 2001 in white gold, in 2003 pink gold and since 2008 it has only been produced in platinum (for a platinum 5070, please see lot 2334 in this sale)
It is thought that for each version colour that production ceased after reaching 1000 pieces.