Patek Philippe

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The Grandmaster Chime, Ref. 5175R – more live pictures, details and impressions

For the brand’s 150th anniversary (back in 1989), PP surprised the horological world with the Caliber 89, famously known as the most complicated watch in the world, and limited to four examples. Yes, four compared to seven pieces this time. What we should keep in mind here is that PP (and the target group as well) was much smaller back in 1989 – less than 300 employees compared to more than 2.000 today.

Now, to celebrate the 175-year landmark, PP has announced several commemorative pieces (again) and the king of all is the Grandmaster Chime which has no fewer than 20 complications (meaning the brand once again retains the most complicated title) with a rotating, double-sided, rose gold case – not to mention the outstanding engraving of the case on top.

The (engraved) watch was presented like this, inside a show-case:

Side note : Have a look at the strap, it shows a very nice finishing/patina. It just meets the style of some of the best shoes fashionable today.

The presentation box was on display as well:

Even the box is impressive itself. Nonetheless it reminded me something I have seen before. It was only a dark memory, but a piece shown in the PP Museum came to my mind. Had to check it the other day and that is the piece I had in mind.

I know it is not the same box and there are only some similarities, but still I think it is interesting to see. The box shown in the museum used to be a lady´s travelling work box or to keep it simple – a sophisticated sewing kit back in the old days.

It was made by a famous master craftsman in Geneva, ca. 1830/35.

The part of the museum, where the box is on display (2^nd floor), represents their antique collection (1500 – 1850). About 700 watches significant in the entire Genevan heritage (mainly) and other objects showing outstanding handcrafts from the time are on display as well. I decided to pay them a visit the day after the big event, just to get some more contexts to (try to) understand the novelties and especially the Grandmaster Chime.

My focus this time was on the engraving part, but it is quite difficult to understand/learn if you can´t see it that close. Just for example I would like to share some pictures taken by me:

To me the Grandmaster Chime is clearly inspired by the heritage of Patek Philippe and Geneva – especially if we talk about the style.

It might not fit to everybody’s taste today, but there was a time when some crafts had their peak and it is great to see that some of those skills are still kept.

Side note : Maybe watches like the Ref. 5961 (and others) …

… helped as a finger exercise.

From my point of view we have to see that kind of watches and especially the Grandmaster Chime in an appropriate context, or shall I say surrounding.

We talk about seven pieces/places in total here and no one will have a doubt the PP Museum is appropriate for one. Still they have six good places to find, if it isn´t already done. Even when priced at 2.5 million Swiss francs the demand is probably higher than six pieces for the market, only.

Could imagine some sophisticated places like this, created or inspired by the 18^th century:

It is not a must to have a place like this, but at least there should be some matching pieces of art, furniture … to make it feel at home.

The gentleman presenting the prototype in Geneva was more than happy to show and explain it again and again. Even here you could see his great patience in general and passion for the topic

As mentioned already above it took them seven years to develop the watch and they invested more than 100.000 hours of work in developing the movement only. To call it a monumental project is probably no overstatement.

The 20 complications controlled and powered by the new caliber 300, which consists of a total of 1.366 individual parts … not to speak about the engraving of the case in detail needs more than just one post and I will come back to it.

For all those which are impatient or just seriously interested in all the details I would recommend to have a closer look at a new book from PP:

Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime , which is available on their site.

Let me close (for now) with a detail that for some is only a crown and maybe for others an eye-opener to another world – a world that they are addicted to. Just one detail that caused some kind of magic to your heart:

Quite often only a detail is the entrance for a very personal view on something we absolutely love or simply dislike.

Oliver

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