The Patek Philippe ref. 5101 is with no doubt a sleeper in the lineage of complicated watches manufactured by the firm. With its simple aesthetics and clear-cut dial layout and design, one may think of it as just a large rectangular-shaped wristwatch. However, when one zooms their lenses on the subtle details on the dial, a 10-Day power reserve indicator is witnessed and furthermore a tourbillon inscription on the 6 O’clock subsidiary dial. Laying hidden underneath the dial, a highly complex tourbillon escapement is subtly rotating on its axis.

With great attractiveness, the rectangular stepped case is classy, elegant and romanticizes with great inspirations from the Art Deco period. However, the largest challenge and the most fascinating element was the execution of the desired 10-Day power reserve. In a rectangular case with a new movement fully developed specifically for the reference, a new barrel had to be developed to achieve its purpose. Philip Barat, Director of Development for Patek Philippe realized that in order to achieve such result, the right amount of turns was needed for the barrel, the positioning of the barrel as well as the introduction of two barrels instead of the traditional one. The idea of implanting a twin barrel in the movement was to reduce mechanical wear and torque for enhanced efficiency and robustness.

With variations in yellow gold, pink gold, white gold and platinum, the reference was first introduced in 2003 in platinum with a salmon dial. The platinum edition was replaced by pink gold in 2009, which was then replaced by white gold in 2011 and in 2012 the yellow gold version was introduced. It is estimated that only 100 pieces in white gold fitted with a blue dial was ever produced compared to 500 pieces in platinum. The present example in white gold is preserved in absolute excellent overall condition and is complete with the Certificate of Origin and all the other accessories.