Patek Philippe – GRAND COMPLICATION 5303R-010 Minute Repeater Tourbillon Singapore 2019 Special Edition
Patek Philippe is presenting a new grand complication with a minute repeater and a tourbillon. For the first time, its open architecture allows the hammers and gongs of the strikework to be observed at work on the dial side. It is a fascinating manifestation of high-end watchmaking artistry and perfect manual finissage. The extraordinary timepiece in an exclusive rose-gold case with white-gold intarsias is being launched as the precursor of a 12-watch limited special edition created especially for Patek Philippe’s “Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019”.
Among connoisseurs, Patek Philippe minute repeaters are in high esteem due to their unique sound quality, the result of a continuous know-how transfer from one generation to the next. The fortunate owners of such timepieces can also enjoy observing the mechanisms through the sapphire-crystal case backs. But now, devotees of these resonant celebrations of time can watch the strike sequence executed by tiny hammers on gongs even while wearing the watch on their wrists. The new Ref. 5303 Minute Repeater has an open architecture that exposes the heart of the movement.
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Saluting the caliber R 27
The heart of the new Ref. 5303 is the manually wound caliber R TO 27 PS, an advanced version of the legendary caliber R 27 that helped establish the reputation of Patek Philippe watches with minute repeaters. To assure a clear view of the strikework, the movement was partially reengineered to expose the gongs and hammers on the dial side of the plate.
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This redesign required some twenty new components that had to be integrated in an already very compact space. The plate was slightly enlarged while the bridges retained their original dimensions. The extra height needed to accommodate the rearranged gongs and hammers was largely offset by the elimination of the dial. However, the thickness of the hammers had to be somewhat reduced in the direction of the center of the watch to prevent the hour hand from being obstructed along its trajectory.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
A striking performance
Patek Philippe minute repeaters are not just a true feast for the ears on account of their rich and reverberant sound quality, they also please the eye with a visual spectacle on the dial side as in the Ref. 5303. It is a genuine work of art that perfectly orchestrates the complex steel parts against the backdrop of the plate coated with 5N rose gold.
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
Click, to see the large size. ▶ BIG FOTO
The recesses in the plate are decorated with perlage, which is also rooted in Genevan watchmaking traditions. The hammers feature a circular satin finish along the contours around the center of the movement. Their edges are exquisitely chamfered and polished. The aperture above the tourbillon is dominated by a mirror-polished bridge. Patek Philippe leveraged its entire know-how in the domain of skeletonization to showcase its artistry down to the very last detail. For instance, the retouching work for poising the balance was applied on the flanks of the rim instead of on the upper or lower faces. The rear side is completely smooth. The plate also displays the black-lacquered engraving of the Patek Philippe signature, the tourbillon number, and the serial number. The finissage on the opposite side of the movement, visible through the sapphire- crystal case back, also complies with the strict requirements of the Patek Philippe Seal without exception. The watch comes with an interchangeable solid-gold case back.
An artistic case in style
The rose-gold case of the new Ref. 5303R-010 Minute Repeater Tourbillon Singapore 2019 Special Edition borrows the inimitable design of the Ref. 5304, showing a broad cambered and polished bezel as well as a case flank and strap lugs with white-gold intarsias in the form of arabesques and latticework. These decorative elements call for the ultimate in artisanship. The slide for actuating the minute repeater in the left-hand case flank is made of white gold as well. As a gesture of reverence to the global première of this grand complication in Singapore, the hour scale is a red-lacquered sapphire-crystal ring decorated with white stars reminiscent of the flag of the Asian city-state. The view of the movement through the display back is framed by a pierced decor in 18K white gold to match the case intarsias. The shiny black alligator strap features red stitching color-coordinated with the hour scale.
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A preview series in a limited edition of 12 watches is reserved for connoisseurs and collectors in Southeast Asia; with these watches, Patek Philippe offers minute-repeater enthusiasts a unique opportunity to acoustically enjoy the fascinating mechanism and at the same time visually revel in its most beautiful manifestation from the dial side. This new expression of Patek Philippe’s creation philosophy puts the timepiece user in the focus.
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WATCH ART GRAND EXHIBITION IN SINGAPORE 2019
WATCH ART GRAND EXHIBITION IN SINGAPORE 2019
Following the Watch Art Grand Exhibitions in Dubai in 2012, Munich in 2013, London in 2015 and New York in 2017, the fifth and largest Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore recently concluded with a record turnout of 68,000 visitors over the 16-day exhibition. Over two years in the making, the largest one of its kind Grand Exhibition provided a rare and unique opportunity to offer the public insights into the art of watchmaking and immerse them in the world of the last independent, family-owned Genevan watchmaking manufacture.
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Held in the premise of the prestigious Marina Bay Sands Theatre, the space was reconfigured to remove over 1,000 seats, to make room for over 400 exceptional timepieces that were presented in 10 themed rooms spanning across 1,800 sqm. Special highlights include 120 historic timekeeping instruments from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva and the complete collection of Patek Philippe timepieces including some of the most complicated watches ever created by Patek Philippe – the Calibre 89 and the Star Calibre 2000. The Grand Exhibition attracted visitors from around the Southeast Asia region and beyond, including media and VIPs from over 25 countries. Opened to the public from 28 September to 13 October, the Grand Exhibition in Singapore was the longest one Patek Philippe has presented. With a broad array of dome table clocks, table clocks, pocket watches and wristwatches that are lavishly decorated by artisans with the mastery of the most elaborate rare handcraft techniques – engraving, enamelling, wood marquetry and hand guilloché, the Grand Exhibition once again reinforces Patek Philippe’s keen interest in preserving the art of watchmaking
“We are always on the quest for quality because we believe it is an essential and worthy pursuit over generations. The main goal of having this Grand Exhibition is really to educate people, and to give a passion to newcomers and collectors,” shared Mr. Thierry Stern, President of Patek Philippe. “The history and relationship between Patek Philippe and Singapore is long and storied from one generation to the next, and we had wanted to bring the Genevan manufacture here to Singapore. What we have created is a very unique exhibition. We were impressed by the turnout and the quality of visitors, numbers of them have high level of knowledge for artisanship and technical aspects.”
On occasion of the nation’s 200th anniversary, Patek Philippe saluted the city-state and its neighbouring countries with a specially appointed thematic room and decor, as well as a selection of extraordinary exhibits that reflected the history, culture and heritage of Southeast Asia. To mark the Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore, six special editions and an important collection of rare handcrafts timepieces inspired by the mix of cultural and artistic expressions of Southeast Asia and Singapore were presented. The Singapore 2019 special edition Ref. 5303R-010 Minute Repeater Tourbillon was revealed for the first time during the International Press Day on 27 September, presenting a new grand complication with an open architecture that allows the hammers and gongs of the strikework to be observed at work from the dial, making another watchmaking breakthrough with this new creation.
Upholding familial values that Patek Philippe strongly believe in, the Grand Exhibition hosted Family Days across two Sundays, providing watch aficionados educational opportunities to share their passion with their family and the younger generation. The young ones were introduced to the universe of Patek Philippe through a series of interactive activities like “Time Treasures” hunt, colouring and watch tattoos, while others participated in the mechanical clockmaking workshops led by the team of Patek Philippe watchmakers who guided the young children wearing little watchmakers’ coat through the process of assembly and placing the various parts and wheels into position for the clock to function.
Patek Philippe retailed a limited-edition commemorative catalogue that highlights the timepieces that were showcased during the exhibition. The funds collected will be donated to the National Museum of Singapore to support the preservation of the arts and heritage in Singapore.
“When it was announced that the Watch Art Grand Exhibition was to take place in Singapore, there was a sense of elation, but also a sense of deep honour and trepidation to host something of this calibre. Taking place in the Bicentennial year, Patek Philippe wanted to mark this edition with an event of extraordinary proportions,” said Deepa Chatrath, General Manager of Geneva Master Time Marketing LLP. “This exhibition was conceived as a tribute to a dynamic spirit of Singapore and its strong mix of collectors and enthusiasts based in the region. Our clients and the general public are all essential in conveying our message of long term value, tradition, innovation and craftsmanship. We hope the exhibition has inspired new generations to work in this industry and to become future clients.”
The Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019 was a free public exhibition that exquisitely showcased the Geneva-based environment of Patek Philippe’s historic salons, workshops, and the world renowned museum. The exhibition drew inspiration from the deep love for artisanship and mechanical watchmaking in the region, and through the Museum pieces, Patek Philippe celebrated the 500-year history of portable timepieces that encapsulate the knowledge and skills of the brightest minds that came together to create objects of timeless beauty and precision.
Patek Philippe is pleased to announce that the sixth edition of its Watch Art Grand Exhibition will take place in Tokyo, Japan in 2022.
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FACTS & FIGURES
No. of days to set up : 23 days
No. of days to tear down : 8 days
Total time taken to plan the project : 18 to 24 months
No. of staff for set up and dismantling : 130 staff
Number of containers : 25
Length of cables use : 35km
No. of exhibited watches (incl. Museum pieces) : More than 400
No. of historical watches : More than 120
Total number of visitors : 68,000
Exhibition Duration : 16 open to the public days and 2 preview days (Press and VIP)
Family days : 2
Clock-making workshops : 26 classes (over 2 weekends, both Sat and Sun)
Total no. of seats in the theatre : 2183
Total no. of seats removed for the exhibition : 1189
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Collections: GRAND COMPLICATIONS
Model: Minute Repeater Tourbillon Singapore 2019 Edition
Reference 5303R-010 - Limited to 12 pieces
Movement
Caliber R TO 27 PS
Manually wound mechanical movement, minute repeater, tourbillon and subsidiary seconds
Diameter: 31.6 mm
Height: 8.35 mm
Number of parts: 356
Number of jewels: 29
Power reserve: Min. 40 hours, max. 48 hours
Frequency: 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hz)
Balance: Gyromax
Balance spring: Breguet
Balance spring stud: Adjustable
Functions:
Two-position crown: – Pushed in: To wind the watch – Pulled out: To set the time
Displays:
- Center hour and minute hands
- Subsidiary seconds at 6 o'clock
Hallmark: Patek Philippe Seal
Features
Case
· 18K rose gold 5N with appliques in 18K white gold
· Sapphire-crystal display back and interchangeable solid back,
both engraved with “PATEK PHILIPPE SINGAPORE 2019”
· Case protected against moisture and dust, not water-resistant
Case dimensions:
Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.13 mm
Width between lugs: 20 mm
Dial
Red sapphire-crystal scale ring, printed white
Leaf-shaped hands for hours and minutes, 18K gold, pierced, black lacquered
Subsidiary seconds with leaf-shaped hands in 18K rose gold 5N, red lacquered
Strap
Alligator leather with large square scales, hand-stitched, shiny black, fold-over clasp in 18K rose gold 5N
Price CHF 590,000.
Limitation
Unique timepiece Limited Edition - Only 12 pieces
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Press Release - 2019
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PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
Chemin du Pont-du-Centenaire 141 – 1228 Plan-les-Ouates
P.O. Box 2654 – CH - 1211 Geneva 2 - Switzerland
Tel. + 41 22 884 20 20 – Fax + 41 22 884 25 47
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