
Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon, Ref. 5002
The rarest complications united in a wristwatch
On October 5, 2000, Patek Philippe unveiled the Star Calibre 2000, one of the most complicated pocket watches of all times. Barely six months later, the Geneva workshops are introducing a new Grand Complication - now in a wristwatch format. The "Sky Moon Tourbillon" Ref. 5002 is the most complicated wristwatch ever built by Patek Philippe, and it is the first double-faced wristwatch that features a complete presentation of the nocturnal sky on its reverse side. The new masterpiece displays the apparent movements of the stars, the orbit of the moon, the moon phases, as well as the hours and minutes in sidereal time.
A symphony of the most beautiful complications
As was already the case with the Star Caliber 2000, Patek Philippe's goal in the development of the "Sky Moon Tourbillon" was not so much the number of complications per se. The real objective was to accommodate the most fascinating complications in the small case of a wristwatch: a perpetual calendar with a retrograde date display, a minute repeater, a tourbillon, the display of sidereal time, and a depiction of the nocturnal sky with the motion of the stars, the orbit of the moon, and the moon phases. This turned out to be a formidable challenge because a chart of the heavenly canopy (as seen in the northern or southern hemisphere) requires a certain minimum space to demonstrate the movements of the stars in a sensible and clearly legible manner. The solution adopted by Patek Philippe was borrowed from the astronomical pocket watches made by the company: a moving sky chart on the reverse side of the timepiece. The mechanical module developed by Patek Philippe for the "Star Calibre 2000" was redesigned especially for the "Sky Moon Tourbillon" and was granted Swiss patent CH 688 171 B5.
Description Réf. 5002
The Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref. 5002 is the most complicated wristwatch ever produced by Patek Philippe and also the workshop's first double-face wristwatch. Its movement consists of 686 parts, some of which are microscopically small.
Mechanical manually wound movement
Caliber R TO 27 QR SID LU CL
Minute repeater with tourbillon escapement
Chime with two “cathedral“ gongs activated by a slide piece in the case
Front side: Perpetual calendar with retrograde date hand
Hours and minutes of mean solar time
Day, month, leap year by hands
Moon age
Crown at 4 o'clock: setting of the time and winding
Opaline-white dial with embossed Calatrava cross motif, gold applied Roman numerals
9 hands
Reverse side: sidereal time, sky chart, phase and orbit of the Moon
Crown at 8 o'clock (24-hour scale): correction of sky/moon indications
Case is humidity and dust protected only (not water resistant)
White gold
Case diameter: 42.8 mm
C.O.S.C. certificate
Recommended reading
The brand
Patek Philippe enjoys outstanding renown and rare prestige, due to the constancy with which the Manufacture has applied its philosophy of excellence ever since it was founded.
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