The Patek Philippe Reference 5249R-001 Automaton

Patek Philippe occupies a unique place in watchmaking. The house has been making watches in Geneva since 1839, and the Stern family has owned it since 1932. Today, it remains the last of the great Genevan houses still in private hands. This independence allows the brand to create watches that are genuinely rare, such as the Reference 5249R-001. It is a piece built for the collector who values watchmaking history and high mechanical art.

The Story and the Dial

This model is the first automaton wristwatch in the modern history of Patek Philippe. It takes its inspiration from a pocket watch designed by Louis Cottier in 1958, known as "The Crow and the Fox" (Reference 784), which now sits in the Patek Philippe Museum. The watch tells the story of La Fontaine's fable.

The dial plate is 18K gold in an opaline matara brown. It carries twelve gold appliqués, nine of which are engraved by hand. The foliage on the dial is rendered in gold. Each watch requires 150 hours of hand engraving to complete. The decorative small seconds feature is set with a single diamond.

The Automaton Movement

The watch is powered by the calibre 31-260 PS HMD AU, a self-winding movement. It features a platinum off-centre mini-rotor, a Gyromax balance, and a Spiromax balance spring. The movement consists of 267 parts and 28 jewels, operating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour. It provides a power reserve of 38 to 48 hours and carries the Patek Philippe Seal.

To operate the automaton, you press the pusher at two o'clock. The hours and minutes then appear on demand. The retrograde hours and minutes are told by the animals from the fable. The movement measures 33.8 mm in diameter and is exceptionally thin at 4.00 mm.

The Case and Finish

The case is made of rose gold in the classic Officer's style with a fully polished finish. It measures 43 mm in diameter and 11.55 mm in thickness, with a turban-style crown. The watch is water resistant to 30 metres.

On the back, a sapphire crystal display is protected by a hinged dust cover. The strap is made of shiny chocolate brown alligator leather with square scales. It secures with a patented triple-blade fold-over clasp in rose gold.

Sourcing This Watch

The Reference 5249R-001 is a highly exclusive piece from the Complications collection. We source this watch to order, and the price is available on request. If you are interested, we will confirm availability and the price. We will also arrange a personal viewing for you in Port Harcourt, or closer to you, before any payment is made. You can view the details and start your inquiry at https://getorbitx.shop/shop/p/patek-philippe-5249r-001 on the Orbit X shop.