Believe it or not, Rolex and Patek Philippe have teamed up.

Yup, that’s right — the world’s most famous watchmakers have worked together. Or, rather, to put it a bit more accurately: Rolex commissioned Patek to build timepieces — for Rolex itself. And if the idea of a co-signed, Rolex-and-Patek desk clock doesn’t blow your mind, then you, our friend, are perusing the wrong website. 

Patek Philippe’s Master Timing Systems were once the golden standard in centralized timekeeping, and were used at locations as diverse as the United Nations, the Vatican, and various international airports. In the 1970s, Rolex ordered several small electro-mechanical slave clocks for use in its workshops, and though the dials of said clocks are signed ‘Rolex,’ the movements are signed ‘Patek Philippe.’ Think on that for a second: Rolex was once checking the timing of its famed tool watches against ticking desk clocks built by none other than the manufacturer of some of the world’s most complicated mechanical timepieces!

This particular Rolex Subsidiary Clock measures roughly 5” square (5x5x5) and is housed in a patinated, green metal case. Within a steel bezel is a wildly cool black dial with an outer white seconds track, an inner white minutes track, white Arabic numerals, a matching white handset, and the Rolex crown logo and wordmark. Its electro-mechanical movement — which ticks, rather than sweeps — is powered by a hardwired cable.

Highly legible, extremely simple and beautifully engineered, this is an important piece of horological history that will look incredible sitting on a desk, shelf, bookcase, or other prominent, important spot in a home office or bedroom. Frankly, it’s the type of object that a serious watch lover dreams of encountering…and rarely comes across. 

Don’t sleep on this one!