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Lot Essay
This ‘Grand Complication’ wristwatch is the perfect representation of why Patek Philippe’s position as the world’s premier watch brand remains unassailable. A magnificent and highly exclusive tour-de-force of haute horology, it is the first example of a reference 5951P-012 ever to be offered at international auction. Christie’s is therefore extremely honoured to present this full-set example of the highly important platinum ‘Coussin Tortue’ perpetual calendar with split-seconds chronograph and white lacquered dial with black Breguet numerals, a model that was in production for only one year.
The reference 5951P-012 was introduced in 2014 and discontinued in 2015. It is one of the two final versions of the original reference 5951P that was launched at BaselWorld in 2010. Only available with a platinum case, styled in the manner of Patek Philippe’s first wrist chronographs, the movement is the formidable caliber CHR 27-525 PS Q, the thinnest column wheel controlled split-seconds chronograph movement ever produced by Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe has described this model as “a Grand Complication wristwatch that redefines design and technology benchmarks, it stands for the perfect amalgamation of Genevan watchmaking artistry and 21st century technology”. This is undoubtedly true, the new dial design for the display of the complications is a masterpiece and results in a clean and bold overall appearance where the indications are entirely unobtrusive. Echoing Patek Philippe’s 1920s and 30s wristwatches, the moon phases have been positioned in the 12 o’clock position. The days of the week and month windows have been placed on the edge of the date ring and furthermore, the indications for the leap-years and day/night are in small circular symmetrically placed windows flanking the date ring. This leaves the subsidiary dials for the seconds and chronograph 60-minute counter entirely clear and more easily readable.
Only a handful of this reference 5951P-012 are known publicly and the present watch is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to be offered at auction. It offers collectors the opportunity to obtain one of the most technically advanced and highly exclusive of Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar split-seconds wristwatches.
The reference 5951P-012 was introduced in 2014 and discontinued in 2015. It is one of the two final versions of the original reference 5951P that was launched at BaselWorld in 2010. Only available with a platinum case, styled in the manner of Patek Philippe’s first wrist chronographs, the movement is the formidable caliber CHR 27-525 PS Q, the thinnest column wheel controlled split-seconds chronograph movement ever produced by Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe has described this model as “a Grand Complication wristwatch that redefines design and technology benchmarks, it stands for the perfect amalgamation of Genevan watchmaking artistry and 21st century technology”. This is undoubtedly true, the new dial design for the display of the complications is a masterpiece and results in a clean and bold overall appearance where the indications are entirely unobtrusive. Echoing Patek Philippe’s 1920s and 30s wristwatches, the moon phases have been positioned in the 12 o’clock position. The days of the week and month windows have been placed on the edge of the date ring and furthermore, the indications for the leap-years and day/night are in small circular symmetrically placed windows flanking the date ring. This leaves the subsidiary dials for the seconds and chronograph 60-minute counter entirely clear and more easily readable.
Only a handful of this reference 5951P-012 are known publicly and the present watch is, to the best of our knowledge, the first to be offered at auction. It offers collectors the opportunity to obtain one of the most technically advanced and highly exclusive of Patek Philippe’s perpetual calendar split-seconds wristwatches.