Patek Philippe

• cal. 28-20 manual winding nickel lever movement stamped with the Geneva seal, one-minute tourbillon carriage with Gyromax balance • pink champagne dial, applied Breguet numerals, feuille hands, subsidiary dial for constant seconds, 10-day power reserve indication • platinum rectangular case with stepped sides, chamfered ends, diamond accent between the lugs at 6 o'clock, sapphire crystal display back secured by 4 screws • case, dial and movement signed • with a platinum Patek Philippe buckle

With a Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, Instruction Manual and a presentation box with outer packaging. 

Patek Philippe launched this model, the Ref. 5101P in 2003 as a tribute to a rectangular tourbillon wristwatch produced from 1956 - 1957.  This example is illustrated in Huber, M. & Banberry, A., Patek Philippe Pocket Watches, Vol. 1 Second Edition, pp. 178-179.  The Ref. 5101P was discontinued in 2009, and was replaced with a pink gold version, presenting a rare opportunity for collectors.

The refinement and elegance of the present watch comes from the combination of two rare complications: a 10-day power reserve and a tourbillon.  Under the dial, the Ref. 5101 is a technological powerhouse.  It took three years for Patek Philippe watch engineers to develop a new tourbillon movement.  To prevent the minute wheel from obstructing the view of the tourbillon, the entire going train was relocated to the dial side.  The tourbillon is now showcased on the bridge side as the dominant element and is beautifully revealed through the sapphire crystal display back.  The rotating cage alone is composed of 72 miniscule individual parts, and only weighs 0.3 grams.

The heart of this timepiece is powered by two tandem mainspring barrels providing 10-day power reserve indication. Both mainspring barrels are wound simultaneously in order to gather up the energy required for the 10-day power reserve.  The larger barrel is wound directly and transfers power to the smaller barrel.  The first barrel is equipped with a system containing a slipping bridle, which prevents both mainsprings from being over-wound and disengages the barrels when they have reached their winding limit.  It takes a Patek Philippe watchmaker up to 3 months to produce Ref. 5101 from beginning to end.