A Closer Look at The Patek Philippe Ref. 5303R-001 Minute Repeater Tourbillon
Patek Philippe is a Swiss watchmaker tht has been in the business of creating innovative and high-quality luxury watches since 1851. From its long and rich history, the brand has established a remarkable base of fans and loyal customers who look forward to the new and interesting models that continue to be produced. Most recently, we were thrilled at the announcement of the Patek Philippe Ref. 5303R-001 Minute Repeater Tourbillon. If you’ve not yet had the pleasure of receiving the news, here are 10 things you didn’t know about the watch to bring you current with the latest from Patek Philippe.
1. The Ref 5303R-001 Minute Repeater Tourbillon is a new version of last year’s repeater
The announcement of this edition wristwatch was made in early 2020. The latest Minute Repeater Tourbillon is a brain of the 2019 edition bearing the Reference number 5303R-010 titled The Minute Repeater Tourbillon Singapore 2019. It’s very important to keep the reference numbers in mind when making comparisons. Although in the same line or family, the latest iteration has its own distinct personality. Its predecessor officially launched in Singapore last fall at the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition held there.
2. The Minute Repeater Tourbillon has a complicated movement
The movement of the Minute Repeater Tourbillon is a Swiss made caliber R To 27 PS. It is a tourbillon minute repeater featuring chiming complications. The first thing that you notice is the elaborate finishing of the exterior. It is one of the most beautiful and complex movements ever created. It is a hand wound classic repeater with the regulator placed under the Calatrava Cross with visible hammers off to the right. The great wheel that drives the tourbillon cage is a signature feature, and the Gyromx timing weights of the balance visible to the observer. The chiming mechanism of the movement is jeweled to the mechanical wonder’s hammers. This is a 29 jewels in-house caliber. beating at 21,600 vph with a Breguet overcoil balance spring that measures 31.6 mm x 8.35 mm. The power reserve is 48 hours.
3. This is a skeletonized watch
The brilliant and ornate movement is exposed at the front and the back of the watch. It makes up the major components of the dial. Both front and back of the watch are covered with a sapphire crystal lens to keep moisture and dust from entering into the space. It is worth noting however, that this watch is not water-resistant.
4. The case is red gold
The case of the Patek Philippe Reference 5303R-001 is made of precious red gold. It measures 42 mm in diameter with a depth of 12. 13 mm. The dial and hour circle are crafted of lack-lacquered sapphire crystal. The minute scale features a white print application with the markers made of powdered rose-gold.
5. Patek Philippe used precious metals in the Minute Repeater Tourbillon
This masterpiece is made with the finest premium materials. In addition to the red gold case and rose-gold markers, the hands that are visible on the dial to point out the minutes and hours are crated of 18K white gold with a leaf-shaped theme. The subsidiary seconds is set in black lacquer with leaf shaped hands that are presented in 18K rose gold. This gives the watch an interesting and diverse appearance as well as a collection of precious materials for the sake of diversity.
6. The functions are practical
With such magnificent complication, the Patek Philippe Reference 5303R Minute Repeater Tourbillon is not only an aesthetically pleasing wristwatch, it is also highly functional in the luxury watch class. After spending hours gazing at its beauty, it’s a watch that renders due service. The functions include hours, minutes, small seconds, tourbillon, and minute repeater.
7. The back is as attractive as the front
The Minute Repeater Tourbillon for 2020 is breathtaking to behold, but it is just as beautiful when you flip the watch over. The skeletonized case back shines with a rear view of the movement. the small seconds is placed at the 6 o’clock movement on the front, but it is also visible from the reverse side of the watch.
8. The strap ties the watch together
Patek Philippe could not have made a more perfect choice for the strap option. It is made of genuine black alligator leather with a shiny finish. The step is hand-stitched and the black coloring is a marvelous contrast to the colors of the main body of the watch. The feature that ties the strap in with the other elements of the timepiece is the fold-over clasp closure that is presented in 18k rose gold.
9. The minute repeater is a first
Another feature of the Minute Repeater Tourbillon that is unique is the fact that it is a first. This is the first time in the history of the brand that a minute repeater with striking mechanism has occurred on the dial side. It will go down in the history books for the watchmaker as a novel approach that shows their innovation in watchmaking. The piece is now recognized as a part of their regular collection of minute repeaters.
10. The price has been announced
The Patek Philippe 5303R-001 Minute Repeater Tourbillon represents a quest for perfection in watchmaking and craftsmanship. When you combine the hours of labor to craft and assemble each part of this wonderfully complicated timepiece with the cost of the precious metals used in its creation, the overhead becomes costly very quickly. Add the name of the brand along with its reputation and you have a valuable luxury watch, worth every cent of its asking price. It is listed at a cost of 590,000 in Swiss Francs. The conversion to United States Dollars, give or take, ends up at $624,700.85. This highly collectible luxury watch will no doubt retain its value through the passage of time, and is likely to increase in its value through the years.
