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Lot Essay
With famously incredible acoustics, the extraordinary reference 5104P platinum Grand Complication automatic semi-skeletonized minute repeating perpetual calendar with retrograde date and moon phases is a modern legend and world-class timepiece.
One of the most important and visually striking of modern Patek Philippe Grande Complication watches, reference 5104P was launched at Baselworld in 2006. The model was discontinued in 2013 and it is thought that less than 100 examples were ever made.
Featuring two complications for which Patek Philippe is most admired – minute repeating and perpetual calendar, reference 5104P is like no other Patek Philippe Grande Complication, indeed it was the first to have a completely transparent dial in order to show the highly elaborate and complex mechanisms usually hidden from view. The overall transparency of the entire dial is a quite remarkable achievement with every aspect meticulously designed to overcome the challenge to legibly present the various indications on the transparent sapphire crystal dial so that they did not obscure the view of the mechanisms beneath. This was achieved by making the subsidiary dials transparent, the retrograde date has a scale on the perimeter of the dial with a corresponding thin unobtrusive hand, the days of the week, months and leap-year indications are printed in white on rotating sapphire discs which move over a black panel in order to read the current calendar. The hour and minute hands are fully open pierced with a single crossbar curving from one side to the other.
The highly impressive platinum case has a diameter of 43 mm. and features contrasting pink gold decoration to the sides of the case and the straight elongated curved lugs. To enhance the transparency of this magnificent Grande Complication, it is fitted with a sapphire crystal display back so that the full glory of the movement with its red gold accents, large gyromax balance, repeating gongs and small bevelled hammers can be admired.
Striking and repeating mechanisms are some of the most challenging and expensive for modern watchmakers to create, not only in the miniaturization of the mechanism but also in their acoustic qualities and tone. When the slide is activated on the side of the case of a minute repeater, it strikes the hours, quarter-hours and minutes on two finely tuned coiled gongs. Patek Philippe is renowned for the incredible rich, melodic and long-lasting tone of their repeating wristwatches. 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.
Christie’s is greatly honoured to present this remarkable reference 5104P to international collectors, offering the exceptional opportunity to acquire a timepiece which is without doubt one of Patek Philippe’s most significant and compelling Grande Complcation wristwatches of the modern era.
One of the most important and visually striking of modern Patek Philippe Grande Complication watches, reference 5104P was launched at Baselworld in 2006. The model was discontinued in 2013 and it is thought that less than 100 examples were ever made.
Featuring two complications for which Patek Philippe is most admired – minute repeating and perpetual calendar, reference 5104P is like no other Patek Philippe Grande Complication, indeed it was the first to have a completely transparent dial in order to show the highly elaborate and complex mechanisms usually hidden from view. The overall transparency of the entire dial is a quite remarkable achievement with every aspect meticulously designed to overcome the challenge to legibly present the various indications on the transparent sapphire crystal dial so that they did not obscure the view of the mechanisms beneath. This was achieved by making the subsidiary dials transparent, the retrograde date has a scale on the perimeter of the dial with a corresponding thin unobtrusive hand, the days of the week, months and leap-year indications are printed in white on rotating sapphire discs which move over a black panel in order to read the current calendar. The hour and minute hands are fully open pierced with a single crossbar curving from one side to the other.
The highly impressive platinum case has a diameter of 43 mm. and features contrasting pink gold decoration to the sides of the case and the straight elongated curved lugs. To enhance the transparency of this magnificent Grande Complication, it is fitted with a sapphire crystal display back so that the full glory of the movement with its red gold accents, large gyromax balance, repeating gongs and small bevelled hammers can be admired.
Striking and repeating mechanisms are some of the most challenging and expensive for modern watchmakers to create, not only in the miniaturization of the mechanism but also in their acoustic qualities and tone. When the slide is activated on the side of the case of a minute repeater, it strikes the hours, quarter-hours and minutes on two finely tuned coiled gongs. Patek Philippe is renowned for the incredible rich, melodic and long-lasting tone of their repeating wristwatches. 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.
Christie’s is greatly honoured to present this remarkable reference 5104P to international collectors, offering the exceptional opportunity to acquire a timepiece which is without doubt one of Patek Philippe’s most significant and compelling Grande Complcation wristwatches of the modern era.