- Movement
- Self-winding
- Size
- 34.5 × 39.5 mm
Overview
The Golden Ellipse as a canvas
The Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts Fuego Volcano, reference 5738/50G-044, a Golden Ellipse in white gold with a dial in cloisonné and paillonné enamel and miniature painting showing the volcano erupting at night, on a shiny dusk blue alligator strap. Self-winding calibre 240, hours and minutes only; 34.5 × 39.5 mm, 6.58 mm high.
The dial of 5738/50G-044 shows the Fuego volcano in Guatemala erupting at night. The outline took about 13.2 cm of gold wire (~0.07 g); the enameller worked from a palette of transparent and opaque enamels in 6 colours, set gold leaf beneath translucent enamel — the paillonné technique — to light the magma, and added 5 colours of miniature painting on enamel for the detail, the full moon among it. Each dial took 10 firings at 770°C. The solid case back carries a stylised engraving of the volcano and its name. Patek Philippe presents it as a limited edition of fifteen watches, in white gold on a shiny dusk blue alligator strap.
The reference 5738/50 is the Golden Ellipse of Patek Philippe's Rare Handcrafts collection: the elliptical case whose proportions the brand traces to the ancient golden section, here 34.5 × 39.5 mm and 6.58 mm high, with a solid case back. The dial carries only hours and minutes, read from cheveu-style hands stamped in the case metal.
The movement is the self-winding calibre 240, which Patek Philippe lists as ultra-thin: 27.5 mm across and 2.53 mm high, with 152 parts and 27 jewels, wound by a 22K gold minirotor set off-centre in the movement rather than a full rotor turning above it. It runs at 21,600 semi-oscillations an hour on a Gyromax® balance with a Spiromax® balance spring, has a power reserve of at least 48 hours and carries the Patek Philippe Seal. A calibre 2.53 mm high is what lets the case close at 6.58 mm over a dial built up in fired enamel or veneer. Patek Philippe describes the case as humidity- and dust-protected only, not water-resistant.
For collectors
Across the family the case and the movement do not change, so the executions are compared by the dial: Patek Philippe gives each one its own figures — the length and weight of gold wire in a cloisonné dial, the number of enamel colours, the firings and their temperature, or the count of veneer parts and wood species in a marquetry dial — and each is a limited series whose size the brand states. The solid case back is part of the design; the calibre 240 is not on view.
Key details
Design and engineering
- Golden Ellipse caseAn ellipse of 34.5 × 39.5 mm, 6.58 mm high, in white gold; Patek Philippe traces its proportions to the ancient golden section. Humidity- and dust-protected only, not water-resistant.
- Case backSolid white gold, engraved with a stylised image of the Fuego volcano and its name; the movement is not on view.
- DialGrand Feu cloisonné and paillonné enamel of the Fuego volcano by night: about 13.2 cm of gold wire (~0.07 g) for the outline, a palette of 6 colours of transparent and opaque enamel, gold leaf beneath translucent enamel for the fire, and 5 colours of miniature painting on enamel for the detail; 10 firings at 770°C.
- HandsCheveu-style hour and minute hands, stamped in the case metal.
- Strap and buckleAlligator leather with square scales, hand-stitched, shiny dusk blue, on a white gold prong buckle whose shape follows the ellipse of the case.
Calibre 240
- Self-winding, 22K gold off-centre minirotor
- Hours and minutes; listed by Patek Philippe as ultra-thin
- 27.5 mm across, 2.53 mm high; 152 parts, 27 jewels
- 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hz), Gyromax® balance, Spiromax® balance spring
- Power reserve min. 48 hours
- Patek Philippe Seal
The reference
Technical specifications
| Reference | 5738/50G-044 |
|---|---|
| Collection | Rare Handcrafts |
| Calibre | Caliber 240 |
| Movement | Self-winding |
| Functions | Ultra-thin |
| Case dimensions | 34.5 × 39.5 mm |
| Case thickness | 6.58 mm |
| Case material | White gold |
| Water resistance | Not water-resistant |
| Strap | Alligator leather with square scales, hand-stitched, shiny dusk blue |
| Clasp | White gold prong buckle |
| Jewels | 27 |
| Power reserve | min. 48 hours |
| Frequency | 21,600 semi-oscillations/hour (3 Hz) |
| Piece | Fuego Volcano |
Buying with HYPA
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- Registered Australian dealerHYPA International Pty Ltd · Registered Victorian second-hand dealer, Registration No. SHD-0018017.
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