REF. 5160/500G-001, MOVEMENT NO. 7'143'070, CASE NO. 6'209'641, CIRCA 2019

The reference 5160G, one of the rarest and most complicated wristwatches made by Patek Philippe to date, combines a perpetual calendar with retrograde, or 'flyback', date and moon phases. The dial, distinguished by applied Breguet numerals unique to the white gold version, presents a harmonious and highly legible display of its multiple indications. The retrograde date scale from 1 to 31 is displayed in the upper part, and at the end of each month, the hand instantly returns to its initial position. The moon-phase display is situated in the lower half of the dial, and the day and month apertures are located at 9 and 3 o'clock, respectively, along with a leap-year indicator below 12 o'clock.

The origin of reference 5160 is closely linked to its 'sister' model, reference 5159, introduced in 2007 with an Officer-style case. A special order example of the 5159, featuring an intricately hand-engraved case, was later produced for an important client and sold at Christie’s Shanghai on 26 September 2013 (lot 16). Patek Philippe reportedly created reference 5160 as a dedicated model after being impressed by the piece's aesthetic impact.

The 38 mm Officer-style case is a showcase of the manufacture’s Rare Handcrafts division. Inspired by a vintage pocket watch kept in the Patek Philippe Museum, the dial center, case, hinged back, and clasp are lavishly embellished with hand-executed engravings that were initially created for American industrialist James Ward Packard. Notably, blackened silver powder enhances the engraved motifs on white gold pieces such as the present timepiece, producing a subtle contrast that highlights the richness and complexity of the decoration. This exquisite detail demonstrates the exceptional degree of skill and care given to each step of the production process.