- Movement
- Self-winding
- Size
- 34.5 × 39.5 mm
Overview
The Golden Ellipse as a canvas
The Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts Donjons on the Cliff, reference 5738/50R-021, a Golden Ellipse in rose gold with a dial in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel and miniature painting showing Keiss Castle above the sea, on a grained navy blue calfskin strap. Self-winding calibre 240, hours and minutes only; 34.5 × 39.5 mm, 6.58 mm high.
The rose gold execution 5738/50R-021 shows Keiss Castle in Caithness, the partly ruined seventeenth-century fortress with the Z-shaped plan Patek Philippe says is typical of Highland defences, with the sea breaking at the foot of its cliff. The building took about 32 cm of gold wire (~0.22 g); the waves, the walls and the leaden sky are filled from transparent and opaque enamels in 18 colours, and miniature painting on enamel in 6 colours adds the stonework, the foam and the birds in the wind. Each dial took 11 to 12 firings at 820°C. Patek Philippe presents it as a limited edition of fifteen watches, on a grained navy blue calfskin strap with a rose 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 rose 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 Keiss Castle above the sea: about 32 cm of gold wire (~0.22 g) for the building, transparent and opaque enamels in 18 colours for the waves, walls and sky, and miniature painting on enamel in 6 colours for the stonework, the foam and the birds; 11 to 12 firings at 820°C.
- HandsCheveu-style hour and minute hands, stamped in the case metal.
- Strap and buckleHand-stitched calfskin, grained navy blue, on a rose 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 | 5738/50R-021 |
|---|---|
| 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 | Rose gold |
| Water resistance | Not water-resistant |
| Strap | Calfskin, hand-stitched, grained navy blue |
| Clasp | Rose gold prong buckle |
| Jewels | 27 |
| Power reserve | min. 48 hours |
| Frequency | 21,600 semi-oscillations/hour (3 Hz) |
| Piece | Donjons on the Cliff |
Buying with HYPA
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