Patek Philippe’s new Celestial timepiece features a massive 18K white gold case, coupled with an equally astronomical price.
Unlike the company’s hyped Nautilus, which carries a legendarily high secondary retail market value despite having a basic movement, the 6105G-001 Celestial delivers actual horological innovations, that somewhat justify its sky high ask.
Case
With a space module-inspired, dual-crown, 30-meter water-resistance design that includes a solid caseback, and cut-outs on the bezel, flanks and back, Patek gave the case a unique aesthetic while also reducing the total weight. This is an important considering the case’s is crafted from heavy 18K white gold, with measurements that are substantial at 47 mm x 12.39 mm. To put it in context, the Ref. 6105G-001 Celestial is not as large as Patek Philippe’s ultra-complicated Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300 (47.7 mm x 16.07 mm), though, it’s pretty close.
Movement
Patek Philippe’s caliber 240 C LU CL LCSO movement measures 38 mm x 7.93 mm, which such a large case is needed to accommodate it. Consisting of 51 jewels, a Spiromax balance spring, a Gyromax balance wheel, and a 22K gold off center micro rotor, the 3Hz movement has a maximum power reserve of 48 hours. The movement took five years to develop and is the subject of 6 pending patent applications.
Patek Philippe 6105G-001 Celestial features 11 complications:
1- Celestial
2- Sunrise and sunset time indications
3- Summer time/winter time correction
4- Hours and minutes of mean solar time
5- Sky chart
6- Ellipse representing the visible part of the sky for a given latitude
7- Meridian
8- Time of meridian passage of Sirius and of the Moon
9- Angular motion of the Moon
10- Date by hand
11- Moon phases
Dial
Depicting the sky, as seen from Geneva, the 6105G-001 Celestial features a sapphire-crystal dial showing the exact configuration of the sky in the northern hemisphere. An ellipse frames the portion of the sky visible from Geneva and all other cities located at the same latitude. Apparent movement of the stars and the phases and orbit of the Moon. Skeletonized hour/minute white varnished hands are rendered in white gold. Sunset and sunrise time are indicated by hands. The date is displayed on a disk at the periphery of the dial and indicated by a red varnished hand. The dial maps the night sky as seen from Geneva, layering in a rotating sky chart, lunar display, meridian tracking, and a floating horizon ellipse that mirrors what’s visible at a given latitude.
Final Thoughts
Completing this astronomical timepiece is an integrated black composite strap with X-shaped pattern and patented fold-over clasp in white gold, that diverges from the glossy leather typically found on Patek’s grand complications. This design will look oversized on smaller wrists, however, it’s rather thin compared to other complicated timepieces such as the iconic Sky Moon Tourbillon, or the Grandmaster Chime. Retail is $437,610.
Learn more at Patek Philippe.
Photos by Patek Philippe.
