SKY MOON CELESTIAL, The Patek Philippe Celestial Grand Complication 5102J is a very special timepiece. Introduced at the 2002 Basel Fair, the Celestial depicts the night sky as it appears over Geneva Switzerland. The astronomical display utilizes a system of rotating sapphire plates, which turn at different speeds and are layered, to reproduce the relationships of the various celestial bodies at various times. The watch also indicates moon phase. Patek Philippe reports calculating 25 trillion "ratio combinations" to arrive at the most accurate possible system for measuring the movement of the stars. I could go into the mechanics of the watch, but suffice to say that building a mechanism to animate such an amazing cosmological microcosm was a feat uniquely suited for Patek's master watchmakers.
Case is 18k yellow gold with dimensions of 43mm wide by 10mm thick. The case sides are embossed with the Calatrava Cross, to very nice effect. Sapphire crystals front and back. Crown at 2 o'clock sets the time and winds the watch. The crown at 4 o'clock is for setting the astronomical display.
Dial is blue and displays the aforementioned information. There is an elliptical window which is marked with the cardinal directions for orienting the celestial display to true north. There is a roman numeral elaborated minutes and hours chapter at the dial's edge. Skeletonized "Feuille" style hands.
Movement is the automatic winding Patek Philippe Caliber 240 LU CL with 45 jewels and 301 individual, hand-finished parts. Every tooth, on every gear wheel, was hand polished on a rotating hardwood disc. Patek requires several months to produce each Celestial caliber, and it's no wonder when one considers the innumerable steps and man hours required to produce such a machine. The caliber is stamped with the Geneva Seal, as would be expected.
The Celestial is one of Patek's many crowning achievements. Production is very low.
Price is $229,000.
Official website at http://www.patek.com/
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