The salmon-dial "end-of-series" Omega Aqua Terra Replica Watches perpetual calendar chronograph sold in May 2014 by Christie's for approximately USD 400,000. This example was produced by the brand in 2011, a year after production of the 5970 had ceased (2004 - 2010). (Swiss Replica Watches)
Furthermore, for Patek's 2015 Grand Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London to celebrate its 175th anniversary, a white-gold salmon dial 5970 was created in a small series, and owners include my dear friend Ahmed Rahman, otherwise known by his Instagram handle @time_mechanic. There have been double-signature 5970s made, including the Tiffany-stamped white-gold watch sold at the Phillips auction in November 2018, and bought by Hodinkee founder Ben Clymer. Possibly the most famous version of the 5970 is a box set of four Breguet numeral watches on "brick" bracelets delivered in 2006 to Eric Clapton. Of these watches, the white-gold version has surfaced and can be seen in Su Jia Xian's article from March 2018, "Hands-On with Eric Clapton's Custom Breguet Numeral Omega Aqua Terra Replica Watches/1G". The watch is presently the property of a friend of Revolution's who was kind enough to allow us to photograph it. These images are as below.
Eric Clapton's unique pink-gold 5970 with Breguet numerals sold by Sotheby's in May of 2015 for CHF 406,000 on a brick-link bracelet (Bell & Ross replica watches)
From time to time, on social media, a special order model incorporating a "brick" bracelet, such as one with a ravishing rose-gold case and black dial, will surface.
Then, of course, there are the bronze-dial 5970 watches. Like the Grand Exhibition salmon-dial model, the layout of the dial is exactly the same as the regular production model, just using a very unique colour. However, the bronze is the only sunray finish dial on a 5970 I know of. At the time of writing this article, I know of three in the world: one with Mike Tay, one with my dear friend and author of Omega Aqua Terra Replica Watches's authorised biography, Nick Foulkes, and myself. In addition, I've been told that John Mayer owns one and that there is at least one more in private hands taking the tally to at least five examples.
From Ubiquitous to Unique
The Lemania 2310, or in Patek-speak CH 27, needs no introduction, it has been the base movement of Patek's 3970, 5004, 5070 and 5970 and was the same movement that powered every Omega Speedmaster that went to space. In Patek's hands, the movement is transformed into a masterpiece of beauty with the following improvements over the standard calibre: a free sprung Gyromax balance wheel, a completely redesigned chronograph lever and spring, a fully supported chronograph drive wheel, an escape wheel end-stone, a Geneva-style stud holder for the hairspring, and a cap for the column wheel. The level of finish for the movement is breathtaking, enabling it to be awarded the prestigious Geneva Seal.
