Reference 5208 remains today one of the five most complicated wristwatches ever made by Patek Philippe.
First presented at Baselworld in 2011, less than 100 examples of reference 5208 were ever made, today only the pink gold version, ref. 5208R remains in production. A triple complication automatic wristwatch, it showcases Patek Philippe’s mastery in the sphere of grand complication watches. The large 42mm diameter case, the largest modern Patek Philippe wristwatch case, sports the unique and strikingly modern feature of lugs hollow along the side. The stunning anthracite dial with its oversized calendar apertures and applied baton indexes perfectly complements the silvery grey of the platinum case. The breathtakingly complicated caliber R CH 27 PS QI can be viewed and appreciated beneath a sapphire crystal display back including the beautifully engine-turned 18K pink gold micro-rotor.

The 5208P brings together some of the all-time great horological complications; a minute repeater; a monopusher chronograph, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar displayed in apertures along an arc ; a moon phase and day and night indication. This highly sophisticated combination of functions comprises 719 parts, hand-finished throughout in accordance with the great Genevan tradition. Most importantly, reference 5208P is one of very few ultra-complicated watches fitted with a self-winding mechanism.

The Minute Repeater
On demand, the minute repeater strikes the hours, the quarter hours and then the minutes that have elapsed since the last quarter hour. The first hammer strikes the hours on the low-pitched gong with one strike for each hour. Subsequently, each quarter hour is sounded as an alternating double strike by two hammers on both the high- and low-pitched gongs. Finally, the second hammer strikes the high-pitched gong to count the number of minutes that have passed since the last quarter hour. At 12.59, for instance, the melody consists of 12 low sounds, 3 double high/low sounds, and 14 high sounds – totalling the maximum of 32 strikes.

Patek Philippe’s minute repeaters are known worldwide for their outstanding acoustic performance and clarity of sound. Indeed, minute repeating is one of the complications that the company have focused upon to continually develop ways to improve the tonality of the gongs in order to produce the very best possible sound. Before any Patek Philippe minute repeater is allowed to be delivered to its new owner, it is personally checked by Mr. Thierry Stern to ensure it conforms to the expected standard.