Patek Philippe: 5078G Minute Repeater

For its debut in 2005, the self-winding minute repeater Ref. 5078 sported a dial adorned with Roman numerals, followed up, in 2017, by Breguet numerals on a cream enameled ground. This year, it presents a new face: a white-gold version framing a black enameled dial. The 18K gold dial, fashioned with meticulous care by one of the manufacture’s master craftsmen, features a unique decor of scrolling arabesques, whose subtle contrasts of matt and polished surfaces create a play of light. Further refinements include the lozenge-shaped applied hour markers in white gold with their two facets, and the slender leaf-shaped hands, also in white gold. A small seconds hand turns discreetly on its subsidiary dial at 6 o’clock.

Inside beats a caliber R 27 PS self-winding movement of 342 parts, with a finely decorated miniro-tor in 22K gold. The striking mechanism for the minute repeater has two classic gongs. Activated by the slide piece into the left flank of the case, the watch strikes the hours, quarters and minutes on demand with the legendary sonority of the Patek Philippe minute repeaters – each of which is tested individually by the president of the manufacture.

The new Ref. 5078G-010 38mm in white gold comes with two interchangeable case backs, one in sapphire crystal, the other in solid white gold. The watch is combined with a black alligator strap with large square scales and a fold-over clasp.