Editor’s Note: Just need a quick watch fix? This preview of the new Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo is a GET TO THE POINT (GTTP) review with all the info you want / need to know QUICK. For our actual hands-on reviews, please head to the dedicated section here. Now let’s get to the point.
What Is It
The new Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo with a White gold dial featuring a black nickel-plated snailed base and four patents:
- Loudspeaker with freely oscillating wafer PCT/EP2021/066501
- Sound amplification mechanism EP3812844 A1
- Platinum hammers CH00153/21
- Gong Assembly EP21203307.0
The Reference 5178 inspired, 40mm diameter and 11.1mm thick polished 950 platinum case with a minute-repeater slide on the left-hand side flank — not water-resistant but protected against moisture and dust — sets the frame for a dial that’s a visual marvel and a complication that’s for the refinement of the hearing senses.
Inside ticks the 28mm x 6.05mm automatic with micro-rotor movement, the in-house Calibre R 27 PS. Along with featuring the patented fortissimo “ff” system for sound amplification, the movement inside the new Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo features 342 components and 39 jewels, beats at the lower frequency of 3Hz, provides a min. 43 and max. 48-hour power-reserve, and displays the functions of central hours and minutes, small seconds at 6’o clock, and minute repeater chiming on two classic gongs.
For our non-musician readers, Fortissimo (or ‘ff’ as it is written in sheet music) means ‘very loud’ and is most commonly used in the context of music direction. Think the Surprise in Haydn’s Surprise symphony.
Underneath the sapphire crystal of the display casebook, the Calibre R 27 PS also features the use of a Gyromax balance and Spiromax balance spring. And an exquisitely decorated off-center laser-textured platinum mini-rotor.
The new Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo comes on a shiny orange with black contrast stitching hand-stitched alligator leather with large square scales and a 950 platinum fold-over clasp. The strap seems another version of my bright blue Patek Philippe strap (photographed below) which I can attest is shiny with an elegant debonair charm.
Why & When
Because Patek Philippe wanted to create a different sounding chiming watch that in comparison with conventional minute repeaters would deliver a “clearly amplified sound of excellent acoustic quality”.
Because now and then Patek Philippe needs to remind the industry who’s the boss; but jest aside, watches like the new Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo are made possible, simply, because the brand can.
First announced on 14 December 2021.
Where
Contact a boutique near you. In Sydney, both J Farren-Price & The Hour Glass are official retailers.
These are available in limited numbers of 15-pieces only and will retail for 590’000 CHF.
Who Is It For
Select connoisseurs who appreciate Patek Philippe’s constant quest to raise the bar of watchmaking. Also, for anyone who loves the idea of chiming timepieces.
New Patek Philippe 5750P & “Advanced Research” Department
- 2005 – The first escape wheel in Silinvar®
- 2006 – Spiromax® balance spring
- 2008 – The Pulsomax® escapement (2008)
- 2011 – The Oscillomax® ensemble
- 2017 – A further optimised version of the Spiromax® balance spring
- 2021 – A sound amplification system with a sapphire-crystal oscillating wafer
How Does It Do
After simply using another colour segue to green and ‘Tiffany’ blue for the Patek Philippe Nautilus, Patek Philippe is back to doing more interesting and innovative things. This is the brand that I respect and admire.
True, commercially the two different Patek Philippe Nautilus colours feed the market frenzy and make for a commercial sound decision, but like I have said in my hands-on review of the Patek Philippe 5159R, there is much, much more to the Patek Philippe brand than simply its steel watches (though of course like any sane person I wouldn’t say no to either the green or the blue Nautilus).
There is one positive from a consumer point of view that I like about the ‘waiting list’ drama over Patek Philippe steel watches; and that’s that it gives collectors a wonderful chance to explore the rest of the amazing Patek Philippe range while they wait for these steel models.
As for one of the best timepieces to come out of 2021, for me personally, the combination of the dial design and the sound mechanism is what makes this to be a stellar release.
Visual star: The open-worked ray motif on a black base with hand-guilloched edging. The hour circle features a circular satin finish and the appliqué kite-type hour markers in blackened 18K white gold present a dial worth drooling over.
Audible star: The patented sound amplification and diffusion system comprises a flexible suspended sound lever, a sapphire-crystal oscillating wafer and a titanium ring with four openings.
Innovation such as the new Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo shoots straight at heart of any uncertainly of whether Patek Philippe truly sits at the pinnacle of fine watchmaking. It is time to introduce this horologically refined ‘loudspeaker’ to your collection.
To find out more about the new Patek Philippe 5750P “Advanced Research” Fortissimo and other PP watches, please head to their website here. All images unless otherwise stated are © 2021 PATEK PHILIPPE SA.
