- Movement
- Self-winding
- Size
- 34.5 × 39.5 mm
Overview
The Golden Ellipse as a canvas
The Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts Chinese Festival, reference 5738/50J-014, a Golden Ellipse in yellow gold with a dial in miniature painting on enamel over hand-engraving, a section of the Qingming scroll, on a shiny bottle green alligator strap. Self-winding calibre 240, hours and minutes only; 34.5 × 39.5 mm, 6.58 mm high.
The yellow gold execution 5738/50J-014 reproduces a section of the painting Qingming Festival on the Banks of the River, in the version of 1736 after the 12th-century original by Zhang Zeduan, a scroll Patek Philippe gives as 11.5 metres long — here a bridge over the river. The technique is miniature painting on enamel over hand-engraving: the plate was engraved with wavelets and coated with translucent blue enamel so the river appears to move, then painted in 8 colours of miniature painting on enamel for the figures and buildings, and sealed under coats of flux, a transparent enamel. Each dial took an average of 15 firings at 780°C to 830°C. Patek Philippe presents it as a limited edition of three watches, on a shiny bottle green alligator strap with a yellow gold prong buckle.
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 yellow 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.
- DialMiniature painting on enamel over hand-engraving, after the 1736 version of Qingming Festival on the Banks of the River: wavelets engraved into the plate under translucent blue enamel, 8 colours of miniature painting for the figures and architecture, sealed under coats of flux; an average of 15 firings at 780°C to 830°C.
- HandsCheveu-style hour and minute hands, stamped in the case metal.
- Strap and buckleAlligator leather with square scales, hand-stitched, shiny bottle green, on a yellow 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 | 5738/50J-014 |
|---|---|
| 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 | Yellow gold |
| Water resistance | Not water-resistant |
| Strap | Alligator leather with square scales, hand-stitched, shiny bottle green |
| Clasp | Yellow gold prong buckle |
| Jewels | 27 |
| Power reserve | min. 48 hours |
| Frequency | 21,600 semi-oscillations/hour (3 Hz) |
| Piece | Chinese Festival |
Buying with HYPA
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