Introduced this year as a new member of the prestigious Geneva watch brand’s Grand Complications family, the new Ref. 5303 is the first Patek Philippe minute repeater with visible striking mechanism on the dial side.
The Ref. 5303 was unveiled in 2019 in a limited edition of 12 watches as a world debut on the occasion of the “Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019”. The new slightly modified version of the Ref. 5303 Minute Repeater Tourbillon stands out with an eye-catching open-worked dial.
The repeater mechanism – for the first time with the hammers and gongs – can be admired in action without removing the watch from the wrist. Further, the back side of the tourbillon cage can be seen beneath the seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock. In this wonderful work of art, the filigreed steel parts glisten against the backdrop of the rose gilt plate.
The aesthetic of the manually wound caliber R TO 27 PS was subtly reworked to emphasize its appeal. For instance, certain components were pierced, as is common for skeletonized movements. This movement also highlights Patek Philippe’s rich heritage in the manual finissage. The manufacture decorated the movement plate with Genevan circular graining, applied a delicate perlage to the recesses, and decorated the hammers with a circular satin finish.
The matchless rose-gold case sports a wide, cambered and polished bezel as well as white gold inlays with foliage engravings that grace the caseband and the strap lugs. The white-gold slide in the left-hand case flank that activates the minute repeater features the same motif.
The hour circle is black-lacquered sapphire-crystal rim with powdered rose-gold markers. The movement can be admired through the sapphire-crystal case back and is framed by a white gold rim. Its open-worked decoration echoes the case inlays and the repeater slide.
This finest example of the traditional watchmaking artistry is complemented with the unique sound that is typical of Patek Philippe repeater timepieces. As is the case for every Patek Philippe minute repeater, this melody of time is personally rated with great care by manufacture president Thierry Stern.
This year, Patek Philippe has also added a reinterpretation of the legendary Ref. 5370 Split-Seconds Chronograph and a redesigned edition of the classic Ref. 5270 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph into their Grand Complication collection.
Technical details
Model: Ref. 5303R-001 Minute Repeater Tourbillon
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
Case
18K rose gold 5N with inlays in 18K white gold
Sapphire-crystal case back
Case protected against moisture and dust, not water-resistant
Case dimensions: Diameter: 42 mm
Height: 12.13 mm
Width between lugs: 20 mm
Dial
Hour circle in black-lacquered sapphire-crystal with white printed minute scale and powdered rose-gold markers
Leaf-shaped hour and minute hands in 18K white gold, pierced and lacquered in black
Subsidiary seconds with leaf-shaped hand in 18K rose gold 5N
Strap
Alligator leather with large square scales, hand-stitched, shiny black, fold-over clasp in 18K rose gold 5N
