The Watch: The 5015 is an off-the-beaten-path gem from Patek Philippe. Produced from 1994 through 1999, it's an officer-style watch that traces its lineage back to the converted pocket watches of the First World War, when soldiers welded lugs onto pocket watch cases and strapped them to their wrists because reaching into a pocket in the trenches wasn't practical.
The case is 35mm in 18k yellow gold. The construction follows the old pocket watch method: lugs welded directly to the case, then hand-finished to hide any evidence of the joint. That sharp break between surfaces can't be achieved by machining or stamping. The hinged hunter caseback opens to reveal the movement on one side while giving you the solid gold caseback on the other. An onion-style crown and screw-fixed straps (no spring bars) complete the period-correct details.
Inside is the caliber 240, which arrived in 1977 and has remained Patek's premium automatic movement ever since. The 22-karat gold micro rotor is what allows the thin case profile and the open caseback view; it doesn't block the works the way a full rotor would. The movement carries the Geneva Hallmark, with côtes de Genève across the bridges, filed anglage on every bridge edge, perlage on the base plate, and black-polished screw heads with chamfered slots. A Gyromax free-sprung balance provides better shock resistance than you'd expect from a dress complication piece.
Condition: Very good. Light marks on the caseback and buckle, otherwise excellent. Original box is included but in poor condition: the inner faux-leather lining has deteriorated with extensive flaking. Included for provenance rather than presentation.
Includes: Watch, original box (condition noted above), and pusher. No papers.
