- Movement
- Self-winding
- Size
- 34.5 × 39.5 mm
Overview
The Golden Ellipse as a canvas
The Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts Festivities by the River, reference 5738/50J-015, a Golden Ellipse in yellow gold with a dial in miniature painting on enamel over hand-engraving, a scene from 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-015 reproduces the festivities of the Qingming festival, the Chinese day for sweeping and tending the tombs of the dead, from the 1736 version of the scroll Zhang Zeduan first painted in the 12th century under the Song dynasty. 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 layers 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 Zhang Zeduan's Qingming scroll: wavelets engraved into the plate under translucent blue enamel, 8 colours of miniature painting for the figures and architecture, sealed under layers 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-015 |
|---|---|
| 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 | Festivities by the River |
Buying with HYPA
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