In this Journal, we will be looking at two Patek Philippe watches with very similar designs: the 5000G and the 5028G. As members of the Calatrava and Golden Ellipse families, respectively, both models, particularly the WG versions, are said to have been produced in limited editions of 500 pieces each from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s.
What makes these two references special compared to other Patek models is their simple "2-tone graphic" design, and more importantly, the persistent rumor that they were designed for Ferrari.
The Calatrava 5000G features a transparent caseback and a deployant buckle. This opulent detail, in a way characteristic of Patek, offers a striking contrast to the elegant dial.
The rumor that Patek designed these watches at Ferrari's request, but due to various complications, they were commercialized without the Ferrari name, was finally put to rest by an article in a recent issue of "Patek Philippe International Magazine."
The article vividly describes how the 5000G was indeed the model designed at the request of Ferrari to be offered to customers who purchased a Ferrari at the time. It also reveals that when Ferrari saw the designed watch, they made it a condition for commercialization that the Ferrari logo and company name be placed on the dial, and the Ferrari name be engraved on the caseback. Patek, however, did not accept this demand and released the model without the Ferrari name at the Basel Fair.
While this is a fascinating story, the "Patek Philippe International Magazine" in which the article appeared is an exclusive magazine sent only to Patek customers, so the details have not been widely known until now.
Unusually for an Ellipse model, which typically features manual-winding movements, the 5028G is equipped with an automatic movement. The pin buckle, like the case, boasts the Ellipse design.
The dial design, which for many years was said to evoke the dashboard of a vintage Ferrari, was indeed inspired by Ferrari.
It is almost certain that the tachometer of a Ferrari 500 TRC was the inspiration. You can see how the fonts, the railway track design, and even the inverted triangles of the indices, a straightforward and unadorned design typical of an instrument, were incorporated into the watch, bringing a touch of playful lightness to a high-end Patek timepiece.
Furthermore, the tachometer for the 500 TRC was manufactured by a division of Jaeger-LeCoultre, also known as a manufacture like Patek, that specialized in instruments for aircraft and automobiles. This fact should also be appealing to watch enthusiasts. I'm sure many of you recognize the logo subtly visible at the top of the instrument.
These two watches, created for a phantom collaboration, were, fortunately for most collectors, released without the Ferrari name. Both models are available as full sets with their original boxes and papers.
