The Extremely Rare Patek Philippe Advanced Research
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I have done many posts regarding luxury watches in the past; many of the watches I cover such as the Rolex Submariner, Omega Speedmaster or Breitling Chronomat cost $5,500 to $10,000 new. One type of watch that I have only touched upon but really have not covered are the super-luxury watches which often start at $75,000 and can climb up to $200,000. These tend to derive their high price from their extremely precise movements, which are seen by some as works of art. These types of super-luxury watches are crafted, painstakingly, by hand and are famous for their impeccable craftsmanship. They are often are not adorned with diamonds or gems.
One such luxury watch is the Patek Philippe Advanced Research 5250, this is really a work of art. Blending spectacular artistry and technical innovation, this watch was a very limited production with only 100 ever being made. In 2005 Patek Philippe was testing a revolutionary escape wheel (the part of a time piece's movement the timekeeping element is derived from) that was made of Silicium. This marks the first time (at least the first time that I am aware of) that this material was placed in a watch. Silicium is anti-magnetic, super-smooth, nearly twice as hard as steel, three times lighter and highly corrosion resistant. What makes this material even more incredible is that the faces of the Silicium wheel need never be lubricated. This was a very experimental watch for Patek Philippe and an internal decision was made to only release a "test run" of 100 pieces. Watch Sell.
Patek Philippe has released newer models that have incorporated and refined this technology, such as Ref. 5350 and Ref. 5450. But for collectors, the one hundred original watches are extremely coveted and sought after pieces & a very important part of watch history. The Advanced Research 5250 is currently estimated to be worth $120,000.
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