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.