A very rare and highly important platinum minute repeating single-button chronograph Patek Philippe wristwatch with instantaneous perpetual calendar, moon phases, certificate and boxes, Ref. 5208P, will be featured at Phillips’ upcoming auction, “The Geneva Watch Auction: Nine” that will take place on May 11-12, 2019, in Geneva. The pre-auction estimate of this unique watch is CHF 550,000 - 950,000 and it will be presented in lot 126 at the auction. “Reference 5208P can be considered one of the contemporary masterpieces of the Patek Philippe production. It incorporates a minute repeater, an instantaneous perpetual calendar, and a single button chronograph. Thus, it is characterized as a classic Grand Complication, definition reserved only for the timepieces featuring a calendar complication, a chronograph complication, and a chiming complication at the same time. The present timepiece, however, pushes the technological boundaries even further: the perpetual calendar is displayed through three windows at 12 o’ clock, which instantaneously and synchronously jumps precisely at midnight. This solution — beyond granting the calendar display minimalist and enormously elegant looks — avoids misreadings due to the classic lengthy date change solution. In order to achieve this, a very specific module (composed by a large lever made out of 15 different pieces) had to be developed in order to transmit the exact amount of power at the correct instant. Furthermore, the calendar is accompanied by the moon phase display, a staple of Patek Philippe perpetual calendar timepiece. The intricacies of this movement becomes apparent when considering it is made out of a mind-blowing 701 components in total,” states the auction house. This Patek Philippe watch is accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped by Zurich retailer Beyer Chronometrie and dated July 14, 2015, additional solid case back, additional leather strap, setting pin, leather folder, leather wallet, product literature, Patek Philippe letter in leather folder, massive wooden presentation box, additional leather winding travel box, additional wooden presentation winding box. It has a Platinum Patek Philippe deployant clasp and its case, dial, movement, and clasp are signed. Phillips further says, “The mastery of Patek Philippe went well beyond the making of a complicated movement. The company managed to achieve an extremely uncluttered and elegant dial layout notwithstanding the technical challenges. For example, an intricate system of mechanical deviation had to be developed for the chiming system to correctly ‘read’ the time without interfering with the disposition of the chronograph indications. Also, the single button chronograph can be seen as an effort to streamline and de-dramatize the aesthetics of the model.” https://www.blouinartinfo.com/              Founder: Louise Blouin  Read more