86Σ︎
Patek Philippe
Ref. 5738/50G-019
Golden Ellipse Rare Handcraft "Callithrix"
An exquisite, extremely rare and enormously collectible automatic white gold elliptical wristwatch with cloisonné and miniature enamel dial made by Anita Porchet's atelier; part of a 6 pieces limited edition
Full-Cataloguing
- Cloisonné and miniature enamel dial by Anita Porchet’s atelier
- Produced in a limited edition of 6 pieces
- Preserved in practically flawless condition and offered with it's full set of accessories
Patek Philippe has long been regarded as a custodian of traditional watchmaking. This philosophy is perhaps best exemplified by the brand’s “Rare Handcrafts” collection. Originally conceived as a means to preserve historic decorative techniques—enameling, engraving, guillochage and gem-setting, later joined by marquetry—it was, at its inception, a purely philosophical endeavor. Indeed, it may be one of the very few, if not the only, company divisions created in response to a declining market rather than a growing one.
Even in the absence of strong demand for such creations, Patek Philippe chose to safeguard, perpetuate, and protect these artisanal skills through the Rare Handcrafts collection—at the risk of not selling every piece produced. As collectors well know, the sophistication and appreciation of the market have grown exponentially over time, and today Rare Handcrafts timepieces, by virtue of their beauty, difficulty of execution, and intrinsic rarity, are among the most sought-after creations by high-end Patek Philippe collectors. Each acquisition is worn almost as a badge of honor within the collecting community.
The present piece is immediately set apart from the more “common” (a word rarely so misplaced) Rare Handcrafts timepieces by its use of an Ellipse case rather than the more typical Calatrava one. The dial is exceptionally intricate and masterfully executed, combining cloisonné enamel—evident in the gold wires outlining the monkey and each bamboo leaf and stem—with miniature painting, used to render the subtle nuances and highlights of the composition, such as the face and fur of the animal and the bamboo stems.
It comes as no surprise that the execution of such an intricate design was entrusted to the atelier of Anita Porchet—indicated by the AP signature at 6 o’clock—widely considered the foremost enamel artist in the field. Equally unsurprising is its rarity, with only six examples ever produced.
Patek Philippe
Swiss | 1839Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.
Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.