Description

The present reference 5077P-099 ‘Notre-Dame Cathedral’ is part of the out-of-catalog ‘Rare Handcrafts’ collection from Patek Philippe. This very exclusive platinum Calatrava was released on the occasion of Baselworld 2014, coinciding with Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary. It is part of a two-piece set representing cathedrals in Paris and Geneva, the other being the reference 5077P-100 ‘Saint-Pierre Cathedral’ (of Geneva).

The 38 mm platinum case houses a superb hand-made depiction of a gargoyle statue in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris. It utilizes an extremely rare and unheard-of technique named the ‘Grisaille au blanc de Limoges’. It consists of white enamel being applied on a black base using a fine brush or a needle, which creates subtle gradations from black to white including a variety of grey shades – allowing for an extremely fine level of detail and nuance. The dial then has to go through 22 firings (at more than 800°) in order to give it the present appearance while 24k gold powder was used to decorate the cathedral spires and the ‘Patek Philippe Genève’ and ‘Email’ engravings. Going through such a painstaking process to create a single dial guarantees the owner that his watch is truly unique.

Bringing the gargoyle to life is the ultra-thin self-winding caliber 240, the maison’s celebrated movement with its 22k gold off-center mini-rotor that provides up to 48-hour power reserve. The choice of this beautifully finished caliber combined with the compact 38 mm case allows it to be easy to wear despite the heavy case material.

A shiny dark green leather strap with a platinum pin buckle completes this unusual yet magnificent work of art, along with the trademark diamond set between the lugs at 6 o’clock reserved for platinum Patek Philippe watches.

Patek Philippe – Bio

Patek Philippe & Co. was founded in 1839, located in Geneva and the Vallée de Joux. It designs and manufactures timepieces and movements, including some of the most complicated mechanical watches. It is considered by many experts and aficionados to be one of the most prestigious watch manufacturers.
In 1868, Patek Philippe made their first wristwatch, which was sold on November 13, 1876 to the Hungarian Countess.
It is the last independent, family-owned Genevan watch manufacture with uninterrupted operating history spanning nearly 180 years.