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Lot Essay
One of the most elegant and pure models of Patek Philippe’s extraordinary minute repeating wristwatches, this pink gold automatic reference 5078R-001 is also one of the rarest. The reference 5078 is so cherished by those fortunate enough to possess it that in the 14 years since launch, only 13 examples in all metals have ever returned to the market. The present watch is, to the best of our knowledge, only the second example in pink gold ever to be presented at auction.
Patek Philippe’s minute repeaters are known worldwide for their outstanding acoustic performance and clarity of sound. Indeed, minute repeating is one of the complications that the company have focused upon to continually develop ways to improve the tonality of the gongs in order to produce the very best possible sound. Before any Patek Philippe minute repeater is allowed to be delivered to its new owner, it is personally checked by Mr. Thierry Stern to ensure it conforms to the expected standard.
The 5078 was launched in 2008 in white gold with a white enamel dial. In 2010 another white gold version was released but this time with a black lacquered dial. Finally in 2014, the platinum version was launched at the same time as the present pink gold version, reference 5078R-001.
Its 38 mm. diameter case recalls the classic understated elegance of Patek Philippe’s heritage and is fitted with a glazed display back in order to admire the finish and complexity of the movement. The dial with Roman numerals and ‘railway’ minute track is made of hard-fired white enamel and is confirmed with the word “Email” at the lower edge. The ingenious calibre R 27 PS automatic movement impresses not only by its remarkable number of 342 parts but also by Patek Philippe's masterly performance of combining a micro-rotor and a minute repeating mechanism in a proportionally small 12 1⁄2''' movement.
The Minute Repeater
On demand, the minute repeater strikes the hours, the quarter hours and then the minutes that have elapsed since the last quarter hour. The first hammer strikes the hours on the low-pitched gong with one strike for each hour. Subsequently, each quarter hour is sounded as an alternating double strike by two hammers on both the high- and low-pitched gongs. Finally, the second hammer strikes the high-pitched gong to count the number of minutes that have passed since the last quarter hour. At 12.59, for instance, the melody consists of 12 low sounds, 3 double high/low sounds, and 14 high sounds – totalling the maximum of 32 strikes.
Patek Philippe’s minute repeaters are known worldwide for their outstanding acoustic performance and clarity of sound. Indeed, minute repeating is one of the complications that the company have focused upon to continually develop ways to improve the tonality of the gongs in order to produce the very best possible sound. Before any Patek Philippe minute repeater is allowed to be delivered to its new owner, it is personally checked by Mr. Thierry Stern to ensure it conforms to the expected standard.
The 5078 was launched in 2008 in white gold with a white enamel dial. In 2010 another white gold version was released but this time with a black lacquered dial. Finally in 2014, the platinum version was launched at the same time as the present pink gold version, reference 5078R-001.
Its 38 mm. diameter case recalls the classic understated elegance of Patek Philippe’s heritage and is fitted with a glazed display back in order to admire the finish and complexity of the movement. The dial with Roman numerals and ‘railway’ minute track is made of hard-fired white enamel and is confirmed with the word “Email” at the lower edge. The ingenious calibre R 27 PS automatic movement impresses not only by its remarkable number of 342 parts but also by Patek Philippe's masterly performance of combining a micro-rotor and a minute repeating mechanism in a proportionally small 12 1⁄2''' movement.
The Minute Repeater
On demand, the minute repeater strikes the hours, the quarter hours and then the minutes that have elapsed since the last quarter hour. The first hammer strikes the hours on the low-pitched gong with one strike for each hour. Subsequently, each quarter hour is sounded as an alternating double strike by two hammers on both the high- and low-pitched gongs. Finally, the second hammer strikes the high-pitched gong to count the number of minutes that have passed since the last quarter hour. At 12.59, for instance, the melody consists of 12 low sounds, 3 double high/low sounds, and 14 high sounds – totalling the maximum of 32 strikes.