Commemorating the brand’s 175th anniversary of its founding is the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175. It features 20 complications including the Grande Sonnerie, Petite Sonnerie, minute repeater, alarm and date strike, among other things. Unveiled in October 2014, this marvel is powered by a new Calibre 300 GS AL 36-750 QIS FUS IRM manual-winding movement with the minimum power reserve of 72 hours. The Ref. 5175 is housed in an 18K rose gold case 47.4mm in diameter and 16.1mm thick. Limited to 7 pieces, the Patek Philippe Ref. 5175 is priced at CHF2.5 million. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Geneva 2014
The best-kept secret in the watchmaking industry has finally been unveiled. At Patek Philippe’s Plan-les-Ouates manufacturing facility which has been amazingly transformed for the 175th anniversary celebrations of its founding (1839 to 2014), the brand finally showcased its Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 – the main highlight among its commemorative anniversary timepieces.
Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 is the result of seven years of research and development time. The Ref. 5175 features 20 complications including two world firsts in watchmaking: the first alarm function that strikes the time and secondly, the first date strike (activated on demand).
What’s more, the brand lays its claim to being the “only watch in the world to possess three distinct striking mechanisms: the Grande and Petite Sonnerie and minute repeater, the alarm and the date strike.”
Before attempting the challenge of identifying the 20 complications on the dial featuring the guilloched sunburst, do note that this Patek Philippe Ref. 5175 has two dials. In other words, it is a double-faced timepiece.
The other face of Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 features the 24-hour display and the instantaneous perpetual calendar functions. One highlight is the four-digit year display seen in the aperture at the centre of the dial. Corrections can be made in either direction with a patented mechanism created by the brand. Photo: © TANG Portfolio. Geneva 2014
A patented reversing mechanism was created to allow the case to be rotated. Once reversed, the information on the second dial feature the 24-hour indication and the instantaneous perpetual calendar indications.
At the aperture in the centre of the dial is the four-digit year display.
Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 is powered by the Calibre 300 GS AL 36-750 QIS FUS IRM manual-winding movement that is housed in an 18K rose gold case that is 47.4mm in diameter and 16.1mm thick.
This 18K rose gold case, its lugs and foldover-clasp are decorated with hand-engravings of laurel leaves.
Limited to seven pieces, with one piece reserved for the Patek Philippe Museum.
Patek Philippe’s Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 is priced at CHF2.5 million.
For those who wish to know what’s next, do note that this is a question Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern has pre-empted. “We have already started on our 200th anniversary watch,” he discloses at last night’s launch in the Patek Philippe Manufacture.