Borna Bosnjak
Patek Philippe renders the five grail-worthy complications in a case combining classical and contemporaryThe sapphire dial subtly shows off the inner workings of the manually wound movementUnlike many pieces, the 5316 hides the tourbillon from the dial, only displaying it via an interchangeable sapphire or solid casebackIt’s always a special occasion when Patek Philippe introduces a new super-complicated model, though the 5316P isn’t your run-of-the-mill grand comp, if such a thing even exists. It features the highly regarded trifecta of tourbillon, perpetual calendar and minute repeater complications, casing them in a 40mm platinum case topped by a smoky sapphire dial that’s somewhat of a departure from classically styled Grand Complications pieces we’re used to seeing from the brand. Alongside the two Grandmaster Chimes, the World Time Minute Repeater 5531G and flinque enamel-dialled 5178G minute repeater, the 5136P is the most contemporary of the Grand Complications releases.The platinum case is an unusual choice for a minute repeater, as its density and molecular structure tend to muffle the sounds of the chimes – Patek Philippe themselves showed off the superiority of their Advanced Research tech in a platinum case. 40.2mm in size and 13.23mm in height, it’s surprisingly compact considering the amount of complications it houses.Even though the dial is a smoked sapphire disc, it does well to balance between showcasing the inner workings of the perpetual calibre and amazing finishing. The sword-shaped markers are all in solid gold, with even the truncated 3 and 9 o’clock indices receiving four polished surfaces with razor-sharp transitions. Apertures for the day, month and leap year indicator are surrounded by polished and grained frames, while the date indication spans three quarters of the dial in a retrograde display. The moonphase and running seconds are combined into a single sub-dial, which hints at the tourbillon complication that’s only visible through the caseback.Oversized wheels, skeletonised bridges and chamfered plates are just some of the talking points of the impressive R TO 27 PS QR calibre. The manually wound movement features a power reserve of between 38-48 hours, depending on how often you trigger the minute repeater, but it can also be completely obscured from view, as the 5316P also comes with an included solid caseback.Patek Philippe 5316/50P Grand Complications pricing and availability:The Patek Philippe 5316/50P is available now for enquiries. Price is on request.ModelReference Number5316/50PCase Dimensions40.2mm (D) x 13.23mm (T)Case MaterialPlatinumWater ResistanceNot water-resistantDialSapphire with blue metallisation and black gradient rimCrystal(s)Sapphire crystal front, interchangeable sapphire crystal or solid casebackStrapEmbossed blue calfskin leatherMovementCalibre R TO 27 PS QR, manually woundPower Reserve38-48 hoursFunctionsMinute repeater, tourbillon, perpetual calendar with retrograde date, hours, minutes, small secondsAvailabilityFor enquiriesPriceOn request
29.03.23