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Lot Essay
Christie’s is delighted to offer to international clients and collectors one of the rarest and most difficult to obtain of Patek Philippe’s ’Grand Complication’ wristwatches, the reference 5303R – a modern legend and world-class timepiece. To the best of our knowledge, the present watch is the first example of reference 5303R to be presented at auction.
Created explicitly for connoisseurs of striking watches and a marvel of transparency, this stunningly attractive and highly complex reference 5303R is a manual-winding semi-skeletonised minute repeating wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon. Semi-openworked ‘Grand Complications’ are very unusual in Patek Philippe’s repertoire and as such, this model is perfection for any collector seeking great exclusivity among complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches. Reference 5303R is not only one of the rarest, but also one of the most technically sophisticated of the company’s Grande Complication wristwatches.
Both the case band, slide, lugs and movement framework are hollowed out and inset with exquisitely decorated white gold pierced panels of stylized sage leaves. The manual-winding caliber R TO 27 PS/252 movement is magnificently displayed through the dial and the back to view the mechanical marvels inside. Minute repeating is the most expensive and skilled complication to be fitted to a wristwatch, when this is combined with a tourbillon, the achievement is at the very pinnacle of watchmaking excellence. The repeating work, including the gongs is completely exposed through the sapphire crystal dial, as is part of the tourbillon which is fully viewed from the back. The gongs coil around the dial with the hammers at 10 o’clock, the steel repeating work provides a beautiful contrast with the rose gold plated bridges. As one would expect, the finish of the movement is quite impeccable with perfectly executed perlage and brushed surfaces with exceptional bevelling.
Reference 5303R is certainly one of the most exclusive collector's watches a connoisseur can dream of. A timepiece of such high quality, complexity, rarity and unique looks, is considered a major prize even among Patek Philippe’s ‘Grand Complications’.
Reference 5303R
The finest minute repeaters and tourbillons are both considered Patek Philippe specialties. The reference 5303R was introduced in 2019 as a special limited edition of 12 pieces at the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore. For that edition, the minute track was coloured red in tribute to the flag of Singapore. The present version, identical to the first but with black minute track, has only been made in an extremely small number and is regarded as the most difficult to obtain of all Patek Philippe’s ‘Grand Complication’ watches.
Considered as a semi-skeletonized watch, the caliber R TO 27 PS/252 has been significantly reconfigured so that the repeating hammers and gongs are located on the dial side of the movement and therefore permits the wearer to admire the action of the repeating when activated without removing the watch. The underside of the tourbillon can also be seen through the dial and it carries the seconds hand, a view of the complete tourbillon, its large driving wheel and centrifugal regulator can be seen through the crystal case back.
The Minute Repeater
Immediately after the foundation of Patek Philippe in 1839 the first quarter repeating pocket watches were produced, the earliest minute repeater dates from 1845. It was and still is today one of the firm’s specialities. Repeating watches strike the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. This fascinating function is one of the most difficult complications to execute and among the greatest horological challenges.
The Tourbillon
Invented and patented by the genius Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, is one of the most enduring technical improvements to timekeeping precision and has been continually improved to extreme degrees. In a tourbillon, the entire escapement revolves so that any adverse effects on timekeeping caused by the watch’s position – up, down, sideways etc, is equalized. The tourbillon is also a very visually appealing complication and it has become an important feature of many of the great modern complicated wristwatches.
Created explicitly for connoisseurs of striking watches and a marvel of transparency, this stunningly attractive and highly complex reference 5303R is a manual-winding semi-skeletonised minute repeating wristwatch with one-minute tourbillon. Semi-openworked ‘Grand Complications’ are very unusual in Patek Philippe’s repertoire and as such, this model is perfection for any collector seeking great exclusivity among complicated Patek Philippe wristwatches. Reference 5303R is not only one of the rarest, but also one of the most technically sophisticated of the company’s Grande Complication wristwatches.
Both the case band, slide, lugs and movement framework are hollowed out and inset with exquisitely decorated white gold pierced panels of stylized sage leaves. The manual-winding caliber R TO 27 PS/252 movement is magnificently displayed through the dial and the back to view the mechanical marvels inside. Minute repeating is the most expensive and skilled complication to be fitted to a wristwatch, when this is combined with a tourbillon, the achievement is at the very pinnacle of watchmaking excellence. The repeating work, including the gongs is completely exposed through the sapphire crystal dial, as is part of the tourbillon which is fully viewed from the back. The gongs coil around the dial with the hammers at 10 o’clock, the steel repeating work provides a beautiful contrast with the rose gold plated bridges. As one would expect, the finish of the movement is quite impeccable with perfectly executed perlage and brushed surfaces with exceptional bevelling.
Reference 5303R is certainly one of the most exclusive collector's watches a connoisseur can dream of. A timepiece of such high quality, complexity, rarity and unique looks, is considered a major prize even among Patek Philippe’s ‘Grand Complications’.
Reference 5303R
The finest minute repeaters and tourbillons are both considered Patek Philippe specialties. The reference 5303R was introduced in 2019 as a special limited edition of 12 pieces at the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore. For that edition, the minute track was coloured red in tribute to the flag of Singapore. The present version, identical to the first but with black minute track, has only been made in an extremely small number and is regarded as the most difficult to obtain of all Patek Philippe’s ‘Grand Complication’ watches.
Considered as a semi-skeletonized watch, the caliber R TO 27 PS/252 has been significantly reconfigured so that the repeating hammers and gongs are located on the dial side of the movement and therefore permits the wearer to admire the action of the repeating when activated without removing the watch. The underside of the tourbillon can also be seen through the dial and it carries the seconds hand, a view of the complete tourbillon, its large driving wheel and centrifugal regulator can be seen through the crystal case back.
The Minute Repeater
Immediately after the foundation of Patek Philippe in 1839 the first quarter repeating pocket watches were produced, the earliest minute repeater dates from 1845. It was and still is today one of the firm’s specialities. Repeating watches strike the hours, quarters and minutes on demand. This fascinating function is one of the most difficult complications to execute and among the greatest horological challenges.
The Tourbillon
Invented and patented by the genius Abraham-Louis Breguet in 1801, is one of the most enduring technical improvements to timekeeping precision and has been continually improved to extreme degrees. In a tourbillon, the entire escapement revolves so that any adverse effects on timekeeping caused by the watch’s position – up, down, sideways etc, is equalized. The tourbillon is also a very visually appealing complication and it has become an important feature of many of the great modern complicated wristwatches.