It is true that a watch can be a complete success if it’s made correctly, but not with Ref. 5378/1R-001. Patek Phillipe’s iconic watch was not a product of a particular trend. The original Golden Ellipse, and all subsequent editions that had bracelets, did have a problem with wearability. The bracelet was not resizeable and looked like a bangle. It was inevitable that the leather strap would be the only option, as the potential of the timepiece was limited. Golden Ellipse however is a design watch and the bracelet plays a key role.
Patek Philippe resolved the fit and feel issue this year with a new bracelet which can be resized. On the first fair day, when we heard this news, we didn’t know what to think. No exhibition caseback, no change to the movement…just a new bracelet; pretty ho-hum. It’s not true. The bracelet is a stunning piece of artisanal workmanship and could even make Nautilus owners envious.
It is amazing how well this bracelet works. And yes, that’s a reference to its presence of screws. The bracelet has no solid pieces as in the Nautilus Bracelet. This bracelet is hand-assembled from more than 360 individual pieces. It is this flexibility that allows the bracelet to easily fit a wide range of wrist sizes.
Other than that, the specifications of the Golden Ellipse watch are identical to all the other types. It has a solid back that hides the automatic calibre (which is covered by the Patek Philippe logo) and the water resistance is standard dress watch 30m. The cheveu-style hands, the gold dial plate, and the baton style applique hour markers are also standard features. The only price that is known is the CHF value, which comes out to CHF51,000.
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