Patek Philippe – ”Advanced Research” Ref. 5750 Minute Repeater Edition

 

Patek Philippe – GRAND COMPLICATIONS ”Advanced Research” Ref. 5750 Minute Repeater Platinum 40 mm Limited Edition 2021

The manufacture presents a pioneering innovation for one of its most significant fields of
competence – chiming watches

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The engineers at Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” have extended the horizon of its chiming watches by developing a totally new all-mechanical sound amplifying system. This fortissimo “ff” module consists of a flexibly suspended sound lever and an oscillating wafer made of transparent sapphire-crystal glass. In comparison with conventional minute repeaters and regardless of the case material, it delivers clearly amplified sound of excellent acoustic quality. Crowned by four patents, the pioneering technology is presented in the Ref. 5750 “Advanced Research” minute repeater, a special limited edition consisting of 15 watches cased in platinum and endowed with a unique dial design.

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The spirit of innovation has been in Patek Philippe’s DNA since the company was founded. True to this uninterrupted tradition, the manufacture has spared no effort to further push the limits of watchmaking artistry and move at the forefront of technical development. But Patek Philippe considers innovations to be meaningful only if they offer the user genuine added value in terms of quality, precision, and dependability in the long run.

Founded in 2005, the Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” department has meanwhile been integrated in the Research & Development division and vested with the task of pursuing high-end research in the fields of new materials, technologies, and conceptual fundamentals intended to open totally new perspectives in the domain of watchmaking.

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To attain these objectives, the manufacture has established unique competencies, called together its best specialists, and provided them with the latest technical resources, including instruments required for computer simulation. The engineers at Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” also collaborate with independent external research facilities such as the Centre suisse d’électronique et de microtechnique de Neuchâtel (CSEM) or the Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL).

Since 2005, Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” has stood out with pioneering work in the innovative field of Silinvar®, a derivative of silicon with phenomenal characteristics for watchmaking applications (temperature compensating, lightweight, lubricant-free, antimagnetic, etc.). Concurrently, the manufacture presented the first escape wheel in Silinvar® (2005), followed by the Spiromax® balance spring (2006), the Pulsomax® escapement (2008), the Oscillomax® ensemble (2011), and a further optimized version of the Spiromax® balance spring (2017). Each of these technology leaps was accompanied by the launch of a wristwatch in limited editions that were the first to be endowed with the innovative components. In the meantime, most of the movements for the current Patek Philippe watch collections are equipped with Spiromax® balance springs made of Silinvar.

In 2017, in a totally different field of research, Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” developed a compliant mechanism (system with flexible articulations) made of conventional horological steel that in Patek Philippe watches with two time zones is used to set the second time zone. This technical innovation was launched in the limited-edition watch that also first featured the optimized Spiromax® balance spring.

A sound amplification system with a sapphire-crystal oscillating wafer.

Today, the Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” department can present an important technical milestone in a domain that relates to the superb competencies of the manufacture: the chiming watches, or, more precisely, the minute repeaters. As regards these grand complications, Patek Philippe offers the largest portfolio of regularly produced models.

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Departing from the famous self-winding caliber R 27, the movement with which Patek Philippe in 1989 ushered in the grand comeback of the minute repeater, the engineers and designers at Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” searched for a way to amplify the volume of the time strike in a purely mechanical manner while preserving the excellent acoustic quality as well as the smallest possible dimensions. After several technical forays in various directions, they decided to preserve the design of the base movement and then on the bridge side (the side facing the wrist) to add a module that works like a mechanical loudspeaker. 

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But unlike normal loudspeakers, the amplification of the sound does not rely on a flexible diaphragm which like the skin of a drum is attached along its periphery. Instead of a membrane, the system for which Patek Philippe registered three patents has an oscillating wafer made of synthetic sapphire with a thickness of 0.2 mm. 

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Thanks to its angular motion, this rigid and freely movable wafer provides clearly better sound propagation for the confined volume of a wristwatch. The transparency of the sapphire glass also preserves the unobstructed view of the movement through the case back. To implement this heavily miniaturized system, the developers had to master considerable challenges, both in design and in production.

A flexibly suspended sound lever

To achieve sound transmission from the gongs of the minute repeater to the sapphire-glass oscillating wafer, the engineers developed a system with a steel sound lever that is attached in the middle of the oscillating wafer. The other end of this sound lever that resembles a tuning fork features a flexible attachment with a thickness of 0.08 mm.  

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When the hammers strike the gongs, their oscillations are transmitted to the sound lever which in a first phase amplifies them and transmits them to the rigid oscillating wafer where they are further amplified. The angular motion of the oscillating wafer excites the air layers above and beneath the sapphire glass, producing a noticeably louder sound.

A new type of sound propagation

Parallel to the integration of the fortissimo “ff” amplifier module, the team also developed a totally new sound propagation system. In a classic minute repeater, the strikes of the hammers on the gongs create oscillations of the entire watch. The sound is propagated on all sides by the case, the back, and the crystal glass. Therefore, the case material has a significant influence on the sound, whereby rose gold is considered the best precious metal for sound propagation while platinum, with its higher material density, presents the greatest acoustic challenge. In the minute repeater with the fortissimo module, an insulation rim made of a high-tech composite material acoustically uncouples the amplifier from the movement. 

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The sound is first routed to the sound lever and then to the oscillating wafer and subsequently propagated through four openings at 12, 3, 6, and 9 o’clock in a titanium ring. The sound waves exit through a narrow slot between the case back and the case band. A dust filter protects the movement without affecting the sound. So the case material does not influence the sound and its propagation. It is always of the same quality, regardless of whether the case material is rose, yellow, or white gold or platinum.

A distinctly louder and totally harmonious sound

The fortissimo module attached in the case back allows the sound to be heard at a six-fold larger distance. So a classic minute repeater on the wrist, at a distance of 10 m, sounds as loud and clear as an amplified minute repeater at a distance of 60 m. The manufacture also leveraged its rich experience in the domain of chiming watches to create a reverberating sound that also pleases the ear; this requires considerable dexterity and acute hearing. 

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Even though the sound amplified by the fortissimo module differs slightly from that of other minute repeaters, it offers the harmonic quality and acoustic richness that underpin the unique reputation of Patek Philippe minute repeaters and arouse enthusiasm with a long resonant fade out relative to the “attack” (hardness). Additionally, the maximum duration of the time strike (32 strikes at 12:59) – it usually lasts 17 to 18 seconds – was extended to 20 to 21 seconds, allowing the gongs to fade somewhat longer.

Platinum components

Apart from the additional fortissimo module, the caliber R 27 PS benefits from further technical enhancements with respect to materials and design factors. The minute repeater hammers, originally in steel, were replaced with platinum hammers, a patented solution that in this specific case improves the quality of the strike in line with the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal and produces a softer strike as well without reducing its sonority. 

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A mini rotor in platinum replaces the eccentrically recessed mini rotor in 22K gold; thanks to the greater material density, it delivers the same winding power with a thinner design. With it, the thickness of the fortissimo module can at least be partially offset.

A limited-edition of 15 watches

To present the exclusive system of sound amplification and propagation, Patek Philippe is launching a limited special edition of the watch as was the case previously with the “Advanced Research” innovations. The Ref. 5750P Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” minute repeater comes in a sleek case with a slightly domed bezel. It is inspired by the Ref. 5178 minute repeater with cathedral gongs, has the same diameter of 40 mm. However, with a height of 11.1 mm, it is 0.57 mm thicker. To demonstrate the efficiency of the fortissimo system, the manufacture opted for the material that poses the greatest acoustic challenges – 950 platinum.

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In its centre, the five-part elaborately constructed dial features an openworked motif inspired by the spoked wheels of vintage automobiles. It stands out against the black background with snailed spiralling lines. The subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock consists of a rotating disc with the same openworked motif against a black snailed background and a small marker that serves as a hand – a movable element that creates a unique, dynamic effect. The time is indicated by flat Dauphine hands in white gold and applied kite-type hour markers in blackened white gold.

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The sapphire-crystal case back reveals the hammers and the classic gongs of the minute repeater as well as the sound lever in the shape of a tuning fork that carries the transparent oscillating wafer of the fortissimo amplifier system. A pierced Calatrava cross decorates the cover of the centrifugal governor that assures the regular rhythm of the time strikes. The spectacular outlook also shows the Gyromax® balance spring in Silinvar® launched in 2006 by Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” as well as the large bridge with Geneva striping and carefully chamfered and polished edges. The platinum minirotor sports a ray pattern in the style of the dial; it was created with a laser-based light-absorbing surface texturing technique that allows certain segments to appear black. This limited special edition is worn on a shiny orange alligator strap with black contrast seams and a platinum fold-over clasp.

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With its unique fortissimo “ff” system for sound amplification and propagation, Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” presents an innovation that will seduce all enthusiasts of minute repeaters and technical debuts. It opens up totally new horizons for chiming watches.

Patek Philippe ''Advanced Research'' Ref. 5750

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Patents

    Loudspeaker with freely oscillating wafer:
    PCT/EP2021/066501 – TIMEPIECE COMPONENT COMPRISING A SOUND AMPLIFICATION DEVICE
    Sound amplification mechanism:
    EP3812844 A1 – TIMEPIECE COMPONENT COMPRISING A SOUND AMPLIFICATION DEVICE
    Platinum hammers:
    CH00153/21 – STRIKEWORK MECHANISM COMPRISING A STRIKEWORK HAMMER AND A STRIKEWORK GONG, IN REFERENCE TO SAID STRIKEWORK HAMMER AND IN REFERENCE TO SAID STRIKEWORK GONG
    Helical gongs with a coplanar attachment assure the balanced amplification of the hour and minute strikes
    EP21203307.0 – BOSSED GONG ASSEMBLY FOR THE STRIKING MECHANISM OF A MOVEMENT
 

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collections: GRAND COMPLICATIONS

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 Model: Ref. 5750 Patek Philippe “Advanced Research” Minute Repeater
Limited edition of 15 pieces

Movement
Caliber R 27 PS
Self-winding mechanical movement. Minute repeater with classic gongs and small seconds
Patented fortissimo “ff” system for sound amplification and propagation consisting of a flexibly suspended sound lever, a transparent sapphire-glass oscillating wafer, a composite insulating rim and four sound openings in a titanium ring. 

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Diameter: 28 mm
Height: 6.05 mm
Number of parts: 342
Number of jewels: 39
Power reserve: Min. 43 hours, max. 48 hours
Winding rotor: Minirotor in 950 platinum with laser texture, unidirectional winding
Frequency: 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hz)
Balance: Gyromax®
Balance spring: Spiromax® (in Silinvar®)
Balance spring stud: Adjustable
Displays
With hands: Center hours and minutes
With disk: Subsidiary seconds at 6 o’clock
Functions
Two-position crown:
• Pushed home: To wind the watch
• Pulled out: To set the time

Hallmark
Patek Philippe Seal

Case
950 platinum
Sapphire-crystal case back
Minute-repeater slide in left-hand case flank
Not water-resistant, protected against moisture and dust
Diamond at 6 o’clock
Case dimensions: Diameter: 40 mm
Height: 11.1 mm
Width between lugs: 21 mm
Dial
White gold, black nickel-plated snailed base, open-worked ray motif, hand-guilloched edging, hour circle with circular satin finish
Applied kite-type hour markers in blackened 18K white gold
Flat Dauphine hour and minute hands in 18K white gold, black transfer-printed
Subsidiary seconds disk with marker at 6 o’clock
Strap
Hand-stitched alligator leather with large square scales, shiny orange with black contrast stitching, 950 platinum foldover clasp

Price    CHF 590,000.

Limitation  
Unique timepiece Limited Edition - Only 15 pieces


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Press Release - 2021
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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
-------------------------------------------------------
www.Patek.com

Patek Philippe – Minute Repeater Tourbillon Singapore 2019 Edition

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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This degree of transparency and the unique case design might also remind brand enthusiasts of another Patek Philippe creation: the Ref. 5304 Grand Complication with a minute repeater, a perpetual calendar, and a retrograde analog date. That watch was launched as the Ref. 5104 in platinum in 2006, then presented in a new rose-gold version as the Ref. 5304 in 2014. It shifted the focus on the innovative perpetual calendar mechanism with displays based on a system of thin sapphire-crystal disks. The new Ref. 5303 echoes the tradition of the Ref. 5304 by adopting the aesthetic elements, thus propagating the style of a family of inimitable timepieces. And it pays tribute to the combination of two grand complications: the minute repeater and the tourbillon.

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.

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The quest for transparency applies to the tourbillon as well: the underside of its cage can be viewed through an aperture of the plate. At Patek Philippe, tourbillons are usually not visible through the dial to prevent daylight from prematurely ageing the lubricant, which could compromise rate accuracy in the longer term. For this reason, the tourbillon timepieces of the Genevan manufacture can only be seen through the sapphire-crystal case back on the wrist side.

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The new Ref. 5303 is an exception that exposes the tourbillon on the dial side but the sapphire crystal was endowed with a UV protective coating that shields the lubricants against the harmful effect of sunlight. The display of hours and minutes with pierced, leaf-shaped hands in gold lacquered dark blue is complemented by a seconds subdial with a red hand above the tourbillon aperture. The 356-part movement fulfills the very strict rate accuracy requirements of the Patek Philippe Seal: for tourbillon watches, it tolerates a maximum rate deviation of -2 to +1 seconds per 24 hours. After a series of experiments, Patek Philippe decided to attach the gongs directly on the inside of the caseband because this method resulted in improved sound quality for this model.

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.

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The aesthetic appeal of the caliber R TO 27 PS has been subtly reworked to bring its beauty to the fore. Individual parts such as the hour wheel in the center or the hour beak are delicately pierced to achieve the looks normlly found only in skeletonized movements. Patek Philippe also celebrates its skills in the manual finissage of movement parts with fantastic finishes that are usually visible only through sapphire-crystal case backs. The plate is decorated with Geneva striping patiently and painstakingly applied by artisans using a wooden grinding tool.

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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.

RECORD TURNOUT REGISTERED AT PATEK PHILIPPE
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

Activation of minute repeater: Slide in left-hand case flank
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


---------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------
www.Patek.com

Patek Philippe – Ref. 5520P-001 Alarm Travel Time Platinum

Patek Philippe – GRAND COMPLICATIONS Alarm Travel Time Platinum - Ref. 5520P-001

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The quintessential timepiece for frequent travelers

Patek Philippe is unveiling a new self-winding grand complication that adds a 24-hour alarm to its exclusive Travel Time display with two time zones; the alarm signal is struck by a hammer on a classic gong. To achieve this, the manufacture created a totally new integrated movement. Four patent applications were filed for the alarm mechanism. It is the result of five years of development work. The new caliber is presented in an elegant platinum case that reflects the Pilot Travel Time design.

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For 180 years, Patek Philippe has been upholding the finest principles of horological artistry, emphasizing performance, reliability, and functionality. With its creations, the manufacture spares no effort to deliver maximum complexity in the smallest possible diameter and height. It also stresses simple and safe operability of each complication, no matter how elaborate it might be. The new Ref. 5520P-001 Alarm Travel Time embodies this ambitious objective with aplomb.

A mechanical challenge

When Patek Philippe’s engineers were asked to develop a new alarm mechanism and to combine it with the Travel Time concept’s two-time-zone arrangement, one objective was to make the watch as thin as possible. Thus, they opted for an integrated movement which requires less height than a caliber with an additional module but is also much more difficult to design and produce. They also wanted this new grand complication to be easily operable, intuitively functional, and protected against incorrect handling. In brief: They wanted it to be an intelligent watch. That was the starting point for the new caliber AL 30-660 S C FUS, a movement composed of 574 parts and conceived explicitly for this timepiece. This highly complex self-winding movement has a central rotor; it is 31 mm in diameter and 6.6 mm high. Its Gyromax® balance features a Spiromax® balance spring made of Silinvar®, a derivative of silicon.

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The unique properties of this avant-garde material and the patented geometry of the hairspring assure superb reliability and extreme rate accuracy pursuant to the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal that prescribes a maximum tolerance of -3/+2 seconds per day. The movement has a stop-seconds mechanism that allows the time to be set with one-second accuracy. A sapphire-crystal display back reveals the refined architecture and exquisite finissage of the movement, including chamfered and polished bridge edges, a 21K gold rotor with new rounded recesses, and the decorative Genevan circular graining pattern.

Extremely convenient: two time zones

Introduced in 1997, the exclusive Travel Time function stands out with its ingenious two-time-zone system. The watch has two hour hands from the center. One is skeletonized and displays home time. The other is filled and indicates the local time at the owner’s current location. These hour hands are paired with two day/night indicators (blue-white) in small round apertures – at 3:30 for home time (HOME) and at 8:30 for local time (LOCAL).

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On the go, all it takes is the actuation of the pushers in the left-hand case flank to adjust the local time clockwise in one-hour increments (pusher at 8 o'clock) or counterclockwise (pusher at 10 o'clock). The intelligent concept of the time-zone mechanism prevents the rate accuracy of the watch from being affected when traveling across time zones.

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To simplify adjustments, the pushers are embossed with the symbols + and –. Before a pusher can be actuated, it must be unlocked with a quarter turn, easily accomplished thanks to the fluting; a quarter turn in the opposite direction locks the pusher again. The watch remains water-resistant even when the pushers are unlocked. The analog date with the subsidiary dial in the lower half of the dial is synchronized with local time. Therefore, it automatically increments or decrements when the local-time hour hand is moved forward or backward past midnight. An interesting detail: When both hour hands indicate the same time zone, the local-time hour hand is superposed on the home-time hour hand.

A 24-hour alarm

To create a useful travel watch, Patek Philippe combined the two time zones with an alarm that like the date is coupled with local time. The alarm function is not a new feature for the manufacture. A wake-up alarm struck on a fifth gong was one of the 33 complications of the famous Calibre 89, for 25 years the world’s most complicated portable timepiece. For Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime launched in 2014, the manufacture presented five strikework functions including an alarm. A global debut, it strikes the preset alarm time with the same tone sequences as those sounded by the minute repeater.

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Now, for the new Ref. 5520P-001 Alarm Travel Time, the manufacture also chose an alarm concept that features a classic gong. When the alarm is triggered, a hammer (visible through the display back) strikes a gong that circles the movement for up to 40 seconds with a frequency of 2.5 Hz (2.5 strikes per second). This is equivalent to about 90 strikes in total. As in the minute repeaters, a centrifugal governor beneath a bridge with the Calatrava cross assures a regular and sustained striking cadence.

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The alarm mechanism has its own, separate spring barrel that is tensioned with a crown at 4 o'clock. A built-in clutch prevents inadvertent overtightening. A noteworthy detail: the new Ref. 5520P-001 Alarm Travel Time is Patek Philippe’s first chiming timepiece with a water-resistant case – a big asset for people who travel to countries with moist tropical climates. To assure maximum sound quality, the gong is attached directly to the caseband and not to the movement as usual. This reduces the attenuation of the sound waves by the water-resistant case.

Perfectly logical functionality

Apart from superb acoustic quality on par with Patek Philippe’s finest chiming watches, the new Ref. 5520 also stands out with its remarkable user-friendliness and the logic of its functions for which a patent registration has been filed. The engineers achieved this level of convenience with a double column wheel that controls all functions.

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The alarm function indications are arranged in the upper half of the dial. To assure optimal legibility, the manufacture chose a digital display for the alarm time, a patent-pending solution. The programmed alarm time is displayed in a double aperture beneath the 12 o'clock position. Directly underneath it is the round aperture with the day/night indicator in white for the time from 6 am to 6 pm and blue for 6 pm to 6 am. The crown at 4 o'clock must be pulled out to its intermediate position to adjust the alarm time in 15-minute steps by turning it in either direction.

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The display mechanism for the alarm time in hours and minutes drives a differential gear that constantly compares the preset alarm time with the current local time. A system that offsets mechanical play makes it possible to set the alarm strike with one-minute accuracy to the next quarter hour. For instance, at 12:14, the alarm can be set to 12:15. A patent application has been filed for this mechanism.

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The pusher at 2 o'clock turns the alarm ON or OFF. The small bell-shaped aperture directly beneath 12 o'clock indicates the status: white for alarm ON and black for alarm OFF. The respective pusher is embossed with a small bell symbol that has the same shape as the alarm ON/OFF indicator aperture. This pusher is endowed with the same interlock device as the two time-zone pushers.

Optimally secured

The system that controls and monitors the alarm function is also equipped with the safety and isolation mechanisms that assure trouble-free functionality and exclude the danger of damage to the movement as a result of incorrect manipulation. As soon as the alarm has stopped sounding, the ON/OFF indicator automatically switches to OFF. Now, the alarm cannot be set again before the strikework spring barrel has been fully rewound. For this reason, the alarm mechanism must always be able to sample the state of wind of the spring. This calls for a complex device with a finger on the strikework barrel axis. Its angular position defines the power reserve and only releases the ON status after it has been fully wound. Switching to the OFF status is possible at any time, however.

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The user can transit to another time zone without any risk, even while the alarm is sounding. In this case, the mechanism merely interrupts the strike sequence and sets the alarm to OFF. The alarm strike is also deactivated when a new alarm time is programmed. The strikework spring is tensioned by rotating the crown at 4 o'clock in the clockwise direction. It is fitted with a clutch that prevents the alarm from being blocked if the spring is overtensioned. Additionally, a patent-pending system deactivates the alarm spring winding device when the alarm display shows ON. The mainspring barrel can be wound at any time with the same crown, but by rotating it in the counterclockwise direction.

Convincing aesthetic appeal

At first sight, the Ref. 5520P-001 Alarm Travel Time is reminiscent of another Patek Philippe watch launched in 2015: the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time. Inspired by the heyday of aviation, that model has two time zones and is currently available in two versions ... as the Ref. 5524 men’s wristwatch and the Ref. 7234 for ladies. Patek Philippe adopted the characteristic aviators’ style of the case as well as the nearly identical dimensions. This was possible even though the new movement is much more complex. With a tremendous effort, the engineers were able to further miniaturize the components and subassemblies.

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With a diameter of 42.2 mm and a height of 11.57 mm as well as an integrated bezel and integrated lugs, the case is cold-formed with a high-tonnage press from a blank in platinum, the most precious noble metal but also the one that is most difficult to machine. The forming process is followed by precision machining as well as painstaking and elaborate polishing in the manufacture’s ateliers. The smooth bezel is slightly beveled while the caseband elegantly merges with the slightly curved lugs. Like all Patek Philippe platinum watches, the Alarm Travel Time is set with a diamond in the case flank at 6 o'clock.

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With its technical appeal and elegance, the dial assures optimized readability and underscores its provenance in the aviators’ watch segment. The large applied Arabic numerals and the broad baton hands – all in white gold with a white Superluminova coating – contrast well against the sunburst ebony black background. The skeletonized home-time hour hand rotates discretely on a second plane, as is the case with all Travel Time watches.

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The slender white seconds hand moves its tip along a railway-track minute scale with five-minute dots coated with Superluminova. The small white hand in the subdial at 6 o'clock indicates the date along a scale from 1 to 31; the “1” is red to accentuate the first day of a month. A thin, flat sapphire-crystal glass improves the sonority of the alarm melody. In the interest of visual balance, the crown at 4 o'clock has the same design as the three fluted crowns but does not need a safety interlock.

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Patek Philippe uses a system of transmission levers to harmonize the symmetry and height of the pushers and crowns and making sure they are in the middle of the caseband. The watch is worn on a matte black calfskin strap with contrast stitching that matches the dial. The strap is secured with a platinum clevis prong buckle; its design is reserved for aviators’ timepieces.

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As the quintessential watch for globetrotters, the new Ref. 5520P-001 Alarm Travel Time, featuring an innovative alarm mechanism and two time zones, is the perfect expression of Patek Philippe’s tradition of innovation – an ongoing quest to improve the functionality and dependability of its timepieces while endowing them with timeless beauty.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Collections: GRAND COMPLICATIONS

Model:  Alarm Travel Time Platinum

Reference 5520P-001

Movement
Caliber AL 30-660 S C FUS
Self-winding mechanical movement, 24-hour alarm with strike on a classic gong,
two time zones (local time and home time), separate day/night indicators for local and home time, analog date

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Diameter: 31 mm
Height: 6.6 mm
Number of parts: 574
Number of jewels: 52
Power reserve: Min. 42 hours, max. 52 hours
Winding rotor: Central rotor in 21K gold, unidirectional winding
Frequency: 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 Hz)
Balance: Gyromax ®
Balance spring: Spiromax ® (in Silinvar ® )
Balance spring stud: Adjustable
Functions: 
3-position crown

• Pushed in: To wind alarm spring clockwise, to wind mainspring counterclockwise
• Pulled halfway out: To set the alarm time in either direction in 15-minute steps
• Pulled all the way out: To set the time in either direction, with balance stop

Displays:
Local-time hour hand (upper hand) and minute hand from the center
Home-time hour hand (lower hand) from the center
Sweep seconds hand
Analog date at 6 o'clock
Aperture displays:

• – Digital indication of alarm time in 24-hour format at 12 o'clock
• – Alarm ON/OFF indication at 12 o'clock
• – Day/night indicator for alarm time at 12 o'clock
• – Day/night indicator for home time at 3:30 (HOME)
• – Day/night indicator for local time at 8:30 (LOCAL)

Corrector: Date between 6 and 7 o'clock
Pushers:

• Increment local time in one-hour steps at 8 o'clock
• Decrement local time in one-hour steps at 10 o'clock
• Activate/deactivate (ON/OFF) alarm at 2 o'clock

Patented safety system: Interlock pushers with a quarter turn
Hallmark: Patek Philippe Seal
Features
Case: Platinum
Sapphire-crystal case back
Water-resistant to 30 m
Diamond at 6 o'clock
Case dimensions: 
Diameter: 42.2 mm
Height (crystal to display back): 11.6 mm
Height (crystal to lugs): 11.95
Width between lugs: 21 mm
Dial
Brass, sunburst ebony black
Applied Arabic numerals in 18K white gold with Superluminova coating
Hour and minute hands for local time, baton style, gold, blackened, with
Superluminova coating
Hour hand for home time, baton style, skeletonized, gold, white lacquered
Seconds hand in gold with Superluminova coating
Date hand, leaf-shaped, white lacquered
Strap
Calfskin, matte black, hand-stitched with contrast stitching, clevis prong buckle in platinum

Patents: 
4 patent applications dedicated to the alarm

• - Anti-backlash mechanism for programming the alarm time
• - Alarm logic functions
• - Digital alarm display
• - Alarm winding deactivation

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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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www.Patek.com