The prestigious Geneva watch maker Patek Philippe has been always keen to handle the growing appetite among the modern women for complex mechanical watches. Traditionally it is the most preferable watch brand when it comes to decorate the delicate wrists of women who love to wear exclusive mechanical watches.
Knowing this fact, the brand has recently come up with new complex mechanical watches for women, not to forget the repeater models for women that company had launched long time before.
While the Chronograph models remain as the most favorite among ladies, there is huge demand of other complications such as moon phase displays, second or multi time zone, annual or perpetual calendars and even minute repeaters.
In 2009, Patek Philippe responded the demand with the “Ladies First Chronograph” Ref. 7071R. This year the brand comes up with a strikingly elegant, and seductively beautiful ladies’ watch : First split-seconds monopusher chronograph Ref. 7059.
Patek Philippe Ref. 7059: The Ladies First Split-seconds Monopusher Chronograph
The ultra-thin Ladies First split-seconds monopusher chronograph Ref. 7059 by Patek Philippe is considered as the world’s thinnest split-seconds chronograph. The new Patek Philippe Ladies First split-seconds chronograph Ref. 7059 contains a mechanical movement that has held the world record in miniaturization for six years.
With a height of 5.25 millimeters, the caliber CH R 27-525 PS is the thinnest column-wheel controlled split-seconds chronograph in the world. And with its patented innovations, it is also one of the most advanced chronograph movements of traditional design. Its makers pulled out all the stops to assure superior rate accuracy and reliability despite the compact dimensions of the caliber.
Novel toothing geometries for the chronograph wheels improve power transmission while reducing friction and wear. The friction drive of the minute counter not only reduces the height of the caliber but also offsets the torque differences between the coupled and uncoupled states of the chronograph; this assures that the amplitude of the balance remains constant in every operating mode.
The teeth of the manual winding mechanism also have a new profile. It becomes evident in the smooth responsiveness of the crown felt by the fingertips, a tactile experience referred to by insiders as “velouté Patek” – the Patek Philippe silk feeling. It is a sensual pleasure that perfectly matches the feminine look of the watch.
The case of this rare and exclusive Grand Complication for ladies unites classic design, traditional artistry, and feminine elegance with true panache. The distinctive Officer’s-style case with straight lugs and screwed strap bars reflects the classic-traditional aspects of the new Ladies First Split Seconds Chronograph Ref. 7059.
Its feminine facets are underscored by the soft, romantic glow of 18K rose gold 4N and the fiery passion of the 153 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds (~0.72 ct.) set in its bezel.
A close look at the two sparkling rows of precious diamonds raises the question whether the jeweler’s artistry at this extreme level – selection, arrangement, and setting of the stones – should perhaps also be counted as a complication.
The matt opalescent dial also tends to distract from the fact that the mechanical movement beneath it belongs to the so-called “domain of the extraordinary”. The applied Breguet numerals and all hands, including the chronograph and split-seconds hands, are crafted from 18K rose gold.
The minute, subsidiary seconds, and 60-minute counter scales are transfer-printed in a rose gold hue. They decorate the dial with a delicate expression that forms a fetching contrast to the horological complexity of the timepiece.
The genius that stands behind its functionality becomes evident when simultaneously starting the slender chronograph and split-seconds hands with the monopusher in the comfortably fluted crown, stopping the split-seconds hand with the pusher at 2 o’clock, activating the pusher again to cause the split-seconds hand to catch up with the chronograph hand, and finally resetting both hands to zero. This exquisitely choreographed mechanical ballet instantly wins over a woman’s heart.
A sapphire-crystal case back adorned with 76 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds totaling approx. 0.40 ct. showcases the ultimate in watchmaking artistry. The focus is on two column wheels crowned with polished caps, a venerable tradition at Patek Philippe.
They are framed by lavishly decorated bridges with polished chamfers and Geneva striping. The display back also reveals elegantly shaped parts and the striking bridges “à l’ancienne” with reentrant angles that can only be finished by hand, a process that requires exceptional talent and many years of experience.
Movements like this cannot be produced with assembly-line methods. They are crafted individually by the hands of a master watchmaker. Because of this, Patek Philippe can only produce very few pieces of the Ref. 7059 Ladies First split-seconds chronograph per year.
Technical details
Model: Patek Philippe Ladies First Monopusher Split-seconds Chronograph, Ref. 7059 in 18K rose gold (4N)
Movement
– Caliber CHR 27-525 PS
– Ultra-thin manually wound mechanical movement, monopusher splitseconds chronograph with column wheels, chronograph and split-seconds hands, 60-minute counter, and subsidiary seconds
– Diameter 27.30 mm
– Height: 5.25 mm
– Number of parts: 252
– Number of jewels: 27
– Power reserve: 48 hours
– Balance: 2-arm Gyromax with 8 poising weights
– Frequency: 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hz)
– Balance spring: Breguet
Functions
Two-position crown
– Pushed in: To wind the watch
– Pulled out: To set the time
Displays
Hours and minutes from the center
Chronograph (trotteuse) and split-seconds hands from the center
Subsidiary dials:
– Subsidiary seconds at 9 o’clock
– Continuously running 60-minute counter at 3 o’clock
Chronograph pushers
Chronograph start, stop, and reset with pusher in the crown
Start and stop of split-seconds hand with pusher at 2 o’clock
Case
– Officer’s-style case in 18K rose gold (4N), cambered sapphire crystal, bezel with 153 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds totaling approx. 0.72 ct., screwed sapphire-crystal display back with 76 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds totaling approx. 0.40 ct.
– Water-resistant to 30 meters
– Case dimensions: Diameter 33.2 mm
– Height: 8.6 mm
– Width between lugs: 21 mm
– Water-resistant to 30 m (3 bar)
Dial
– Matt opalescent, powder rose imprint
– Ten applied Breguet numerals in 18K rose gold
– “Poire Stuart” hour and minute hands in 18K rose gold
– Counterbalanced chronograph and split-seconds hands in 18K rose gold
Subsidiary dials:
– Subsidiary seconds at 9 o’clock: Hands in 18K rose gold
– 60-minute counter at 3 o’clock: Hands in 18K rose gold
Strap
Alligator leather with square scales, hand-stitched, matt mother-of-pearl hue, prong buckle in 18K rose gold with 26 diamonds totaling approx. 0.18 ct.
