The sixth Great Exhibition of Patek Philippe was inaugurated on 10 June. Chosen location: Tokyo. In the huge Sankaku Hiroba (triangular square), located at the foot of the Shinjuku Sumitomo Building, topped by an immense roof made of a single block of glass, the House created a setting of over 2,500 square metres. It is the largest ever designed for a Grand Exhibition, evoking the streets of Geneva and the shores of the lake, including the famous floral clock. Divided into several thematic areas, the exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the world of Patek, discovering the Maison's landmarks in Geneva, such as the historical headquarters in Rue du Rhône, the Manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates and the Patek Philippe Museum.
The Exhibition, which will end on 25 June, showcases the best of Patek's current and historical production, as well as the House's great savoir faire in fine craftsmanship, thanks to some 40 unique pieces and limited series (Dôme pendulums, table clocks, pocket watches and wristwatches) inspired by Japanese culture.
As well as six special series, reflecting the various segments of Patek's offer, made exclusively for the Japanese market. Such as the Quadruple Complication Ref. 5308P-010 Tokyo 2023 Limited Edition, which becomes one of the brand's most complicated watches, made in only 15 pieces. With a 42 mm case in platinum, it combines a minute repeater on two classic gongs, a split-seconds chronograph and an instantaneous perpetual calendar with apertures.
The starting point was the 2011 Ref. 5208 Triple Complication with minute repeater, chronograph and instantaneous perpetual calendar. The addition of the energy-intensive split-seconds mechanism in the new automatic R CHR 27 PS QI calibre resulted in an increase in barrel torque, as well as the introduction of a platinum micro-rotor that increases winding power and the development of two new patents.
The first patent concerns the coupling system. Replacing the usual clutch wheel with classic toothing with an innovative backlash-compensated wheel system avoids any flickering of the chronograph seconds hand. It also eliminates friction on the chronograph wheel and saves energy. The second concerns the split-seconds hand isolation mechanism, which allows the split-seconds lever to be raised when the chronograph hand is stopped, instead of running it around the 'heart' of the chronograph, thus reducing energy consumption.
The elegant opaline rose gold dial has baton hour markers and facetted dauphine hands in anthracite-coated white gold. Finally, the watch has two interchangeable casebacks (in sapphire crystal or solid), embellished with the decalised 'Patek Philippe Tokyo' inscription.
Priceon request.
