To mark the opening of its Art of Watches Grand Exhibition in New York this week, Patek Philippe has unveiled nine limited special editions of ladies’ and men’s watches that collectively present the watchmaking skills of the company.
The new watches will be part of a 10 day presentation that will also include rare and historic pieces from the Patek Philippe archive. Patek Philippe describes the key models:
World Time Minute Repeater Ref. 5531 New York 2017 Special Edition
Price: $561,341
The new Ref. 5531 is the first Patek Philippe watch that unites the two complications that epitomise the manufacture: a minute repeater and the World Time function. In merging these complications, Patek Philippe succeeded in implementing an even more important innovation. Unlike other World Time minute repeaters that acoustically indicate home time even when their owners are located at the other end of the world, the Ref. 5531 always strikes local time, which means the hour displayed by the hands from the center in that time zone represented by the city aligned with the 12 o’clock position on the dial. To accomplish this feat, Patek Philippe developed the new self- winding caliber R 27 HU movement. A patent application has been filed for its unprecedented design. The 462-part movement is protected by an elegant rose-gold case with pierced lugs. Its caseband is hand-guilloched with Patek Philippe’s iconic hobnail pattern.
The dial is adorned with a cloisonné enamel motif, true to the tradition of Patek Philippe’s World Time watches. This little masterpiece of craftsmanship pays tribute to New York and depicts the Manhattan skyline by day and by night. The new Ref. 5531 World Time Minute Repeater New York 2017 Special Edition consists of two 5-watch versions – five with the “New York by Day” dial and five with the “New York by Night” dial. All watches have a sapphire-crystal case back with the engraved inscription “PATEK PHILIPPE NEW YORK 2017” as well as an interchangeable back in solid rose gold with the same engraving.
Men’s World Time Ref. 5230 New York 2017 Special Edition
Price: $47,000
Patek Philippe’s famous World Time function also takes center stage in the Ref. 5230 New York 2017 Special Edition men’s wristwatch. The 300 watches of this limited series are endowed with the self- winding caliber 240 HU movement. The elegant timepiece has a white-gold case with a smooth, chamfered bezel and a dial with an opaline blue center: its embossed motif depicts the same Manhattan skyline that adorns the center of the Ref. 5531. The city disk and the 24-hour disk (with day/night segments) permanently display the time in all 24 time zones. Thanks to an exclusive patented Patek Philippe mechanism, the time zone can be adjusted at will simply by actuating the pusher at 10 o’clock. This simultaneously corrects the city disk, the 24-hour disk, and the hour hand from the center. The hour hand is delicately skeletonized and shows the silhouette of the “Southern Cross” constellation, a hallmark reserved exclusively for World Time watches. The shiny navy blue alligator leather strap is subtly color- coordinated with the center of the dial. The sapphire-crystal case back is engraved with the inscription “PATEK PHILIPPE NEW YORK 2017.”
Ladies’ World Time Ref. 7130 New York 2017 Special Edition
Price: $56,702
Patek Philippe also offers its travel companion to ladies. The Ref. 7130 World Time watch New York 2017 Special Edition is available in two 75-timepiece editions, one in white gold, the other in rose gold. The relief-embossed skyline of New York adorns the opaline blue dial center just like the Ref. 5230 men’s model. It is illuminated by the fire of the bezel set with 62 flawless rare white Top Wesselton diamonds (~0.82 ct) complemented by 27 diamonds (~0.21 ct) on the prong buckle that secures the dark blue alligator leather strap. The lavishly finished self-winding caliber 240 HU movement can be admired through a sapphire-crystal case back with the engraved inscription “PATEK PHILIPPE NEW YORK 2017”.
Men’s Calatrava Pilot wristwatch Ref. 5522 New York 2017 Special Edition
Price: $21,547
Cased in steel – rare for a watch outside the casually elegant collection –, the grand taille Ref. 5522 Calatrava Pilot New York 2017 Special Edition comes in a limited 600-watch edition and features an exclusive dial reminiscent of vintage Patek Philippe aviator’s watches. Its inimitable blue color recalls the livery of American fighter planes in the 1930s. The large applied Arabic numerals in white gold and the broad baton hands in blued steel have a luminescent coating that assures excellent legibility around the clock. The brown calfskin strap with contrast stitching was inspired by the harnesses paired with classic flight suits. The stainless steel clevis prong buckle resembles the belt buckles that pilots used to secure their survival kits. The self-winding caliber 324 S can be admired through the sapphire-crystal back decorated with the engraving “PATEK PHILIPPE NEW YORK 2017”.
Ladies’ Calatrava Ref. 7200/50 New York 2017 Special Edition
Price: $29,485
The Ref. 7200/50 Calatrava New York 2017 Special Edition is a ladies’ wristwatch that projects sleek elegance. It features an ultra-thin white-gold Officer’s-style case with straight lugs and a mother-of-pearl dial with diamond hour markers. It is available in two limited-edition versions of 75 watches each – one with a white mother-of-pearl dial and a shiny peacock blue alligator leather strap ((Ref. 7200/50-010)), the other with a blue mother-of-pearl dial and a shiny blue-gray alligator leather strap ((Ref. 7200/50- 011)). The ultra-thin self-winding caliber 240, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2017, can be admired through the sapphire-crystal case back with the engraved “PATEK PHILIPPE NEW YORK 2017” inscription.
Ladies’ Minute Repeater Ref. 7000/250 New York 2017 Special Edition
Price: $447,939
Patek Philippe combined sublime watchmaking prowess with gemsetting artistry when it created the Ladies First Minute Repeater in a 3-watch limited edition. The Ref. 7000/250 New York 2017 Special Edition stands out with a blue enamel dial that sparkles with the fire of diamond hour markers. Its white- gold case features a “Flamme®” setting composed of 160 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds (~0.64 ct). This setting technique, proprietary to Patek Philippe, amplifies the radiance of the precious stones. The ultra-thin self-winding caliber R 27 PS sounds the hours, quarter hours, and minutes on two gongs when the slide in the case flank is actuated. The navy blue alligator leather strap is secured by a white-gold prong buckle set with 26 diamonds (~0.18 ct). This irresistibly feminine grand complication comes with a sapphire-crystal case back and an interchangeable solid white-gold back, both with the engraved “PATEK PHILIPPE NEW YORK 2017” inscription.
