Watch Paparazzi

Entrepreneur Antoine Arnault spotted wearing Patek Philippe

Antoine Arnault, one of the most quietly influential figures in global luxury, was recently spotted wearing a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Reference 5970G in white gold — a piece that sits at a genuine crossroads in the manufacture's history and, for many serious collectors, represents the more desirable side of that divide.

The Ref. 5970 was produced from 2004 to 2010 in yellow gold, rose gold, white gold, and platinum. The 5970G specifically houses the calibre CH 27-70 Q, a manually wound movement built on the legendary Lemania 2310 ebauche — the same foundational architecture that underpinned chronographs from Rolex, Omega, and Breguet across multiple decades. Patek Philippe extensively modified and finished this base to their exacting standards, adding a perpetual calendar module that tracks day, date, month, and leap year cycle. The 40mm case pairs with a silver-toned dial featuring applied baton indices, two subsidiary registers at 3 and 9 o'clock, and a moonphase aperture at 6.

When Patek retired the 5970 and introduced the Ref. 5270 in 2011, the new model marked a milestone: it was the first Patek perpetual calendar chronograph powered entirely by an in-house movement, the calibre CH 29-535 PS Q. The achievement was genuine and significant. Yet the collector community has never reached consensus on which reference is superior. The Lemania-based CH 27-70 Q is widely regarded as one of the most reliable, beautifully finished, and historically resonant column-wheel chronograph movements ever made. For many, that legacy outweighs the in-house credentials of its successor.

Antoine Arnault's taste in watches reflects his position within the LVMH hierarchy and his long personal exposure to the finest objects in the luxury world. As the son of Bernard Arnault and a key executive within the group, he occupies a sphere where horological choices carry weight. Opting for the 5970G over newer references signals an informed preference for provenance over modernity.

On the secondary market, the Ref. 5970G commands serious premiums. White gold examples in excellent condition with original papers and box routinely achieve figures well above their original retail pricing, reflecting both the reference's discontinued status and sustained collector demand that has only intensified since the 5270 made the 5970's Lemania movement a closed chapter in Patek's history.