Patek Philippe
An exceptional, highly important and extremely rare set of four, 18k yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum double dialled clock watches with 21 complications including Westminster chimes, minute repeating, power reserve indicator for movement and chime, perpetual calendar, leap year cycle, sunrise and sunset, running equation of time, sky chart, time of meridian passage by Sirius, lunar orbit, time of meridian passage by the moon, twenty four hours and rapid calendar correction, Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, Star Calibre 2000, Reference 990/1, Circa 2006, accompanied by unique wooden presentation box, four corresponding precious metal chaines, four setting pins and original certificate
Auction Closed
December 5, 03:27 PM GMT
Estimate
10,000,000 - 20,000,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Dial: enamel
Calibre: manual winding, 54 jewels
Movement number: 3’200’017 | 3’200’020 | 3’200’018 | 3’200’019
Case: 18k yellow gold | 18k white gold | 18k pink gold | platinum
Case number: 4’252’683 | 4’252’686 | 4’252’684 | 4’252’685
Size: 73.2 mm diameter, 32.3 mm height
Signed: case, dial and movement
Box: yes
Papers: yes
Accessories: Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin, Star Caliber 2000 descriptive leather binder, instruction pages in leather binder, four corresponding precious metal chains, four corresponding setting pins and unique bespoke presentation case with outer packaging
One of the privileges of being a horologist is to handle objects of such beauty and intricacy that they will be remembered as indelible highlights of ones career. Be it a pair of singing bird pistols from the 19th century or the extraordinary complicated wristwatches from the 21st century, the common denominator of these amazing timepieces is their ability to impress and amaze, through their horological complications, rarity, amazing craftsmanship and the beauty of their design.
Undoubtedly, Patek Philippe with its impeccable lineage is the royalty among watch manufactures and the symbol of perfection. Neither flashy nor ostentatious Patek Philippe is quietly confident in its place in the history and future of watch manufacturing. They are indeed a free spirit full of forward thinking ideas with a perpetual quest for innovation while protecting the preservation of cherished traditions in the art of watchmaking.
The Star Caliber 2000 presented in a set of four unique examples, each with twenty-one complications, set in each of the four precious metals that Patek Philippe created to celebrate the Millennium, is an unprecedented feat that changed the history of watchmaking. Each watch has never been used and is decorated with a unique case construction, differing from all other known Star Caliber 2000. To collectors of high horology who think they have mastered and accounted for all watches known to exist, these four spectacular watches will come as a complete surprise as they have never before made a public appearance.
As a testament to the modern innovation of watchmaking the Star Caliber stands supreme. The new golden age of watchmaking has not just followed after the 1920’s-50’s. It has set its own standard and the grand scale of watchmaking. From the Caliber 89 to the Star Caliber 2000, begetting the sky moon and Celestial, Patek Philippe continues to reinvent themselves and the importance of horology.
Manufactured to celebrate the Millennium, the Star Caliber 2000 is the result of 7 years of research, manufacture and development by the firm of Patek Philippe. The Star Caliber is a product of the imagination inherent to Patek Philippe whom sought to greet the third Millennium with a very easy to use grand complication combining five centuries of horological knowledge to present the new century before us on the grandest of scales.
Manufactured to celebrate the Millennium, the Star Caliber is the result of 7 years of research, manufacture and development. Each watch contains an astonishing 1,118 parts and each watch has a massive diameter of 73.2mm. With 21 complications, 6 of which are patented, the Star Caliber 2000 is a testament to the firm’s perpetuation of tradition through innovation.
The patented complications include Selective Opening Covers. Simply push down the bow and rotate 180 degrees in the direction the arrow is facing and the side which displays the engraved Calatrava cross will open. In addition, Sunrise and Sunset are controlled by the Perpetual Calendar, Rapid calendar correction, Sky and Moon, Running Equation of Time and Chime complete these patented innovations. The Westminster Chimes are a faithful and amazing reproduction of the sounds of “Big Ben”, successfully striking two identical tones in immediate succession, something no other watch has ever been able to achieve. Patek Philippe viewed the challenge of creating a watch worthy of the new century, not by combining as many complications as possible but the complications the firm cherished most and govern our everyday lines. The dial side is devoted to time measurement even indicating the time of sunrise and sunset and the running equation of time, synchronized by the perpetual calendar, enables the reader to observe local mean time and true solar time simultaneously. The Celestial side portrays a mobile astronomical chart, visualizing the moon and stars and golden ellipse framing part of the heavens visible from a given observation point.
This set of four Star Caliber 2000 exemplifies a common philosophy shared by the owner and Patek Philippe. A continuous quest for excellence, a desire to excite and surprise and a true devotion to the fascinating world of horology.