Important Collectors Watches, Pocket ...

New York, Jun 18, 2008

LOT 400

Ref. 5079 Minute Repeater Patek Philippe, Genève, No 1904145, case No. 4225023, Ref. 5079J. Sold in May 2005. Very fine and rare, self-winding, 18K yellow gold wristwatch with minute repeater and two cathedral gongs, and an 18K yellow gold Patek Philippe buckle. Accompanied by a fitted box and Certificate of Origin.

USD 300,000 - 400,000

EUR 200,000 - 260,000

Sold: USD 327,200

C. Three-body, solid, polished, transparent case back, wide stepped bezel, fluted lugs, sapphire crystals. D. White enamel with painted radial Roman numerals, outer minute track, sunk subsidiary seconds dial. Burnished gold feuille hands. M. Cal. R 27 PS, stamped with the Seal of Geneva quality mark, rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, 39 jewels, straight-line lever escapement, Gyromax balance adjusted for heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions, shock absorber, free-sprung self-compensating balance spring, 22K gold microrotor, repeating on cathedral gongs by activating a slide on the band. Dial, case and movement signed. Diam. 41 mm. Thickness 11 mm.


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Grading System
Grade:
Case: 1

As new

Movement: 1

As new

Dial: 1-01

As new

HANDS Original

Notes

This watch was recently overhauled by Patek Philippe. The Reference 5079 was launched on the market in 2001 and is no longer in production. It was produced only with a white enamel dial, apart from the George Pragnell Ltd. Edition, made in a run of five pieces with a special black dial.
Ref. 5079 Unassuming, elegant, highly complicated and exquisite - all these adjectives combined could characterize Ref. 5079, the exceptional minute-repeating wristwatch with unique cathedral gongs that Patek Philippe introduced in 2002. The purity of sound of the firm's repeating timepieces is exceptional; furthermore, the watchmakers are challenged on several levels: miniaturizing all movement components is difficult and the confined space of a wristwatch case normally dampens a rich, reverberating sound. While in a regular minute-repeater the gongs wrap once around the movement, ?cathedral? gongs - first featured in the firm's 2001 "Sky Moon Tourbillon" - are much longer and wrap around almost twice, thus creating a superior, fuller chime. The enamel dial with Roman numerals and railway-track minute graduation is made according to traditional enameling techniques; such features show Patek Philippe's commitment to preserving the arts of the past. Made in only a small quantity and then discontinued, Ref. 5079 is a much desired and sought-after timepiece.