Patek Philippe - The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVI Hong Kong Wednesday, May 24, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: Circa 2017
    Reference No: 6102R-001
    Movement No: 5'994'347
    Case No: 6'120'968
    Model Name: Celestial
    Material: 18K pink gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 240 LU CL C, 45 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile
    Clasp/Buckle: 18K pink gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 44mm diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped Suarez Bilbao and dated 18th January 2017, instruction manual, product literature, photograph, leather folio, leather travel case, hang tag, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Unveiled in 2012, the Patek Philippe ref. 6102 is nothing like the conventional quiet luxuries the firm is known for. Designed to impress perpetual dreamers with a love for high complications, this timepiece follows closely to the preceding ref. 5102 from 2002, featuring an additional date function surrounding a dial with a sky chart, phases and orbit of the moon, as well as the time of Meridian passage of Sirius and the moon.

    Measuring 44mm in diameter, the ref. 6102 is one of the largest Patek Philippe designs, almost on par with the Grandmaster Chime ref. 6300, but is much thinner compared to a thickness of 9.8mm. Matched with a sloped bezel, this large-for-Patek astronomical watch can easily slide underneath a dress cuff or tight sleeve. The rest of the case is tastefully executed, featuring pronounced steps on the lugs and around the bezel. Unlike the ref. 5102, the casebands are no longer embellished with the Calatrava cross motif, but rather dressed down in a distinctively cleaner mirrored finish. Adhering to the precursor, the watch is wound and set via the crown at 2 o’clock, while the astronomical functions are adjusted using the crown at 4 o’clock.

    The case is a sight to behold, but it certainly does not measure up to the dial. Composed of three individual metallised sapphire discs, the highly reflective blackened base is layered with a disc of the phases and orbit of the moon, further topped with a third tier that depicts the sky chart on the front side and the Milky Way on the other. Two triangular cardinal points on the sky chart indicate the time of meridian passage of the moon and of Sirius, the brightest star in the Earth’s night sky. The sapphire crystal on top of the dial is further printed with an elliptical contour that frames the portion of the sky visible from Geneva at any given time. As mentioned above, the radial date chapter is indicated by a red crescent-tipped hand which is absent in the ref. 5102. The hours and minutes are displayed by a pair of hollowed feuille hands that provides an unobstructed view of the three-dimensional starry dial.

    Driven by the powerful automatic cal. 240 LU CL C, the movement is designed to rotate at different speeds, governing the multi-layered sapphire crystal discs that form the dial. Flawlessly finished to the highest standards of the Patek Philippe Seal, every component is beautifully executed by hand, boasting polished chamfers and screw heads, the Côtes de Genève stripes, perlage and engravings. Furthermore, this technically sound machine is equipped with a 22K gold micro-rotor that sits on the same plane as the bridges, providing a maximum of 48 hours of power reserve.

    A sophisticated work of art, the present ref. 6102R-001 is exceedingly rare and encased in a warm inviting pink gold case, contrasted with a cool, dark celestial dial. Offered in excellent overall condition with its full set of original accessories, this example is the 3rd example to appear at auction. It is fresh-to-the-market and will undoubtedly impress collectors of important, extremely rare and highly complicated wristwatches.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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Σ834

Ref. 6102R-001
An incredibly rare and important pink gold astronomical wristwatch with sky chart, phases and orbit of the moon, time of Meridian passage of Sirius and of the moon, date, Certificate of Origin and presentation box

Circa 2017
44mm diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
HK$1,500,000 - 3,000,000 
€175,000-350,000
$192,000-385,000

Sold for HK$2,286,000

Contact Specialist

Thomas Perazzi
Head of Watches, Asia
+852 2318 2001
WatchesHK@phillips.com

The Hong Kong Watch Auction: XVI

Hong Kong Auction 24 - 25 May 2023