A Star Is Born

Meticulously melding tradition and innovation, the new Ref. 5303 Minute Repeater Tourbillon is among the latest to enrich Patek Philippe’s extensive family of grand complications

- Tan Siok Hoon

Patek Philippe is acclaimed for possessing one of the most sweeping collections of regularly produced grand complications in the fine watchmaking universe. From minute repeaters with perpetual calendars to astronomical watches, timepieces with tourbillons and references that incorporate several of these highly sought-after functions, the manufacture’s repertoire continues to be refreshed and reinvented with the generational transfer of know-how coupled with the most advanced and sophisticated research.

The Genevan icon’s history of minute repeaters began as far back as 1839 when the company was founded. Among the first timepieces to be crafted was a quarter repeater, now proudly exhibited at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. From then, it has embarked on an eternal journey to fulfill its passion for grand complications, resulting in endless eras of horological creations and patents. From legendary supercomplicated pocket watches in the 20th century featuring chiming functions and elaborate astronomical displays, Patek Philippe ventured into miniaturising grand complications to be worn on the wrist—giving rise to the first known wristwatch with a perpetual calendar in 1925.

Towards the end of the 20th century, the trailblazing pursuit gave the manufacture two first-of-its-kind pocket watches: the Calibre 89 with 33 complications that maintained its status of the world’s most complicated portable mechanical timepiece for 25 years, and the Star Caliber 2000 with 21 complications.