Patek Philippe introduces the minute repeater for the first time in the women's Aquanaut Luce collection.
Born in 1997 as the aesthetic evolution of the sporty Nautilus, a watch designed in 1976 by Gérald Genta, the Aquanaut collection by Patek Philippe aimed thenwith its more modern and contemporary style, to capture a new and young audience. The Aquanaut Luce, dedicated expressly to the female audience, arrived a few years later, in 2004, characterising itself for the same particular shape as the carré galbé case, but also for the use of precious stones. The evolution of this model has led in the last three years to the introduction of complicated versions in the collection.
First the Travel Time with quartz movement, then the self-winding flyback chronograph, followed by the Annual Calendar, a brand patent, in a version without precious stones and also very popular with the male audience. The choice now to introduce the minute repeater in the ladies' series is a tribute to Patek Philippe's tradition and evolution in the field of watches with sound functions. The brand's first wristwatch with an alarm was in 1916, a ladies' five-minute repeater with a platinum case and chain bracelet.
Patek Philippe's savoir-faire in the manufacture of minute repeats
The Aquanaut Luce Rainbow minute repeater is a riot of precious stones.
Patek Philippe minute repeater watches are a reference for the entire sector, in terms of quantity and variety: with normal gongs, with cathedral gongs, with grand sonnerie... The aim is to obtain the authentic 'Patek Philippe sound', so appreciated by connoisseurs and personally approved by President Thierry Stern for every repeater watch that comes out of the Geneva manufacture.
The minute repeater Aquanaut Luce "Rainbow" Haute Joaillerie Ref. 5260/355R-001 is a triumph of technique and precious aestheticsmade of 52 multi-coloured sapphires, 112 baguette-cut diamonds and 160 brilliant-cut diamonds. The octagonal bezel is set using the invisible setting techniquehighlighting the craftsmanship of master gem-setters. The effective graphic design of the dial with geometric squared decorations is reinterpreted through the pavé of baguette diamondssurrounded by brilliants in a 'serti neige' setting and baguette-cut multi-coloured sapphire hour markers.
Patek Philippe's R27 calibre chimes the hours, quarters and minutes
The strap is decorated with the geometric relief motif characteristic of the Aquanaut Luce.
The Aquanaut Luce also in this jewel version does not forego the practical strap made of ultra-resistant composite, with its characteristic embossed square pattern - a signature of the Patek Philippe collection - in continuity with the dial graphics. Each watch is delivered with a matt beige strap as standard, with the addition of two additional straps: one red and one white.
The automatic R 27 calibre rings the hours, quarters and minutes on two traditional gongs on demand by activating the slider in the left side of the rose gold case. Ihe back reveals the off-centre 22-carat gold micro-rotor. The price is on request.
