- Year
- 2026
- Condition
- Unworn
- Set
- Box and papers
- Movement
- Self-winding
- Size
- 34.5 × 39.5 mm
Set and condition
Complete set
This Rare Handcrafts White Owl is accompanied by its original presentation box, warranty card and supporting documentation. The watch and included items are inspected by an expert watchmaker before sale. Additional photographs and video of this piece are available on request.
Original presentation box
Original presentation box and packaging.
Original papers
Warranty card and supporting documentation.
Inspected prior to sale
Reviewed for condition, completeness and functionality. Additional details and photographs are available on request.
Condition photography
Additional close-up images of specific areas are available before purchase.
Overview
The Golden Ellipse as a canvas
The Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts White Owl, reference 5738/50G-048, a Golden Ellipse in white gold with a dial in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel and miniature painting of a white owl on a white ground, on a shiny taupe alligator strap. Self-winding calibre 240, hours and minutes only; 34.5 × 39.5 mm, 6.58 mm high.
The dial of 5738/50G-048 is a white owl in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel, after a work by a French animal painter Patek Philippe does not name. The outline took about 40 cm of gold wire (~0.17 g); the difficulty Patek Philippe describes is a white bird on a white ground, handled with a palette of 17 enamel colours, mainly transparent with some opaque and opalescent, and finished with 6 colours of miniature painting on enamel for the softness of the plumage. Each dial took some 15 firings at temperatures above 800°C. Patek Philippe presents it as a limited edition of ten watches, in white gold on a shiny taupe 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, in the case metal; the movement is not on view.
- DialGrand Feu cloisonné enamel of a white owl on a white ground: about 40 cm of gold wire (~0.17 g) for the outline, a palette of 17 enamel colours, mainly transparent, and 6 colours of miniature painting on enamel for the plumage; some 15 firings above 800°C.
- HandsCheveu-style hour and minute hands, stamped in the case metal.
- Strap and buckleAlligator leather with square scales, hand-stitched, shiny taupe, 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-048 |
|---|---|
| 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 taupe |
| Clasp | White gold prong buckle |
| Jewels | 27 |
| Power reserve | min. 48 hours |
| Frequency | 21,600 semi-oscillations/hour (3 Hz) |
| Piece | White Owl |
Buying with HYPA
Purchase with confidence
- Original warranty card included, dated 2026
- Free insured delivery within Australia and Hong Kong · elsewhere quoted
- Payment by bank transfer
- Registered Australian dealerHYPA International Pty Ltd · Registered Victorian second-hand dealer, Registration No. SHD-0018017.
- Direct specialist supportSpeak with the HYPA team before, during and after the purchase.
- Rated 5.0 on Google · 11 reviewsFrom clients of HYPA International on Google. Read the reviews
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