The Story Behind the 5000G and 5028G – A “Phantom” Collaboration

In this edition of the Journal, we spotlight two Patek Philippe references that share a strikingly similar DNA: the 5000G and the 5028G. Hailing from the Calatrava and Golden Ellipse families respectively, these pieces were produced from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s. The white gold variants, in particular, are whispered to be limited to just 500 examples each.

What elevates these two references above their peers in the Patek catalog is their distinctive “2-tone graphic” aesthetic—a study in minimalist execution—and, perhaps more enticingly, the long-standing rumor that they were originally conceived for Ferrari.

For years, the story circulated that Patek had designed these watches at the request of the Maranello-based automaker, only for the partnership to dissolve, resulting in a release devoid of any Ferrari branding. This bit of horological lore was finally confirmed in a recent issue of the Patek Philippe International Magazine. The article revealed that the 5000G was indeed designed specifically for Ferrari customers. However, Ferrari’s insistence on placing their logo and name on the dial, as well as engraving the case back, proved to be a dealbreaker. Patek, ever protective of its brand identity, refused the demand and instead debuted the model at the Basel Fair exactly as designed, but notably without any Ferrari nomenclature.

While a fascinating chapter in the brand’s history, these details remained obscure for years, largely because the Patek Philippe International Magazine is an exclusive publication distributed only to the house’s registered clientele.

The dial design, long said to evoke the dashboard of a vintage Ferrari, was indeed rooted in automotive reality. The primary source of inspiration was almost certainly the tachometer of the Ferrari 500 TRC. From the utilitarian typography and “railway” minute track to the inverted triangle indices, the instrument-like austerity brings a rare, playful spirit to Patek Philippe’s high-horology sobriety.

Adding another layer of intrigue for the movement nerds among us: the 500 TRC’s tachometers were manufactured by a division of Jaeger-LeCoultre, which at the time produced precision instruments for aviation and automobiles. For those who recognize the JLC logo peeking out from the top of those vintage gauges, this connection only heightens the watch’s allure.

Born from a “phantom collaboration” and released—perhaps fortunately for purists—without a single Ferrari mark, these two references represent a unique intersection of automotive and horological history. We are pleased to offer both examples as full sets, complete with their original boxes and papers.