Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 5102 Hands-On

amanico · 2016-11-12T23:24:02Z

amanico reviews the Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 5102, discussing its complicated astronomy, 42mm size, engraved case, and the Caliber 240 movement.

amanico

WPS member · Patek Philippe forum

28 replies10544 views4 photos

amanico shares his long-awaited encounter with the Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 5102, a watch he had admired for years. His hands-on experience delves into the watch's poetic complication and aesthetic appeal, while also raising pertinent questions about its technical aspects and value proposition.

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This is one of the few watches I was never able to see in the flesh... Till this week, when I met one of our Purist friend who was wearing it and accepted to let me play with it.

The Ref 5102 was one of my first Patek love. Because of its " complicated " complication, of course, because of its natural poetry, also.

The size, 42 mm, is good, the proportions are great wand while I am not a fan of engraved side cases, with this one, it works quite well.

Once on my wrist, I noticed that my heart beat faster...

Two reserves, though:

1/ The astronomical complication is hard to understand, and even harder to set, if your watch stops for a while.

BUT this is the price to pay for such watches, and this is far from being a no go.

2/ The movement, the Cal 240, is causing me some trouble. Not that it is a bad movement, of course not, but knowing that it is basically the same movement housed in a 15 / 20 000 Euros watch and in a + 200 000 Euros watch disturbs me a bit.

Still, a magic watch, one of the few which makes my heart beat faster. Which is a strong sign.

Best,

Nicolas

About the Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 5102

Patek Philippe Celestial Reference 5102

The reference 5102 represents Patek Philippe's Celestial within the Sky Moon Celestial series, distinguished by its Northern Hemisphere sky chart complication. This astronomical timepiece displays celestial configurations alongside traditional timekeeping functions. The model was produced from 2002 to 2019, establishing its place within Patek Philippe's complicated watch offerings.

The 43mm case is crafted in 18k white gold with a smooth bezel and sapphire crystal. The blue celestial dial houses the automatic caliber 240 LU CL movement, providing 48 hours of power reserve. Water resistance extends to 30 meters, and the watch is fitted with an alligator leather strap.

This reference appeals to collectors seeking astronomical complications and celestial display functions. The 5102 occupies a specialized position within Patek Philippe's catalog, combining the brand's movement expertise with astronomical indications. The production span of seventeen years indicates sustained collector interest in this particular celestial configuration.

Specifications

Caliber: 240 LU CL

Case: 18k White Gold

Diameter: 43 mm

Dial: Blue Celestial

Water Resist.: 30m

Crystal: Sapphire

Key Points from the Discussion

The Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 5102's dial is preferred over the 6102 for its cleaner aesthetic, and the case engraving adds significant appeal, with the dial changing color beautifully in different lighting conditions.
The Celestial complication is highly intricate and can be adjusted to a specific residence, making it one of Patek's most interesting and innovative movements, alongside the 5370P, despite its base caliber origin.
While the astronomical complication is difficult to understand and set if the watch stops, this is considered a minor trade-off for such a poetic and magical timepiece.
The use of the Caliber 240, also found in less expensive models, in a high-value Celestial watch can be a point of contention for some collectors, despite the movement's reliability.
The black dial version of the Celestial, especially in platinum, is considered superior to the blue for its representation of the night sky, enhancing the visual impact of the stars and moon.
The Celestial is seen as a great collector's item and a piece of jewelry and handcraft, with its slim automatic movement being a necessary design choice.

The Discussion

joenghenry

Nov 12, 2016

It is indeed rare to catch a celestial PP on a wrist! [nt]

amanico

Nov 12, 2016

So you can imagine my excitement. Thanks for looking, Joe. [nt]

dr.kol

Nov 12, 2016

When you have an opportunity,

check the RG with black dial. The black dial is even better and my dream would be to get that together with P case. I spoke with a Patek's Master Watchmaker a full morning about this watch. In fact it is much more complicated than what it looks. The cool thing is that you can adjust it to your own place of residence. I had a bit similar ideas about the base movement. However, the Master Watchmaker said to me that if we exclude the MR, he finds the movements of Celestial together with 5370P the m

amanico

Nov 12, 2016

Not a big fan of colored gold, so, for me, the G is the one to get or dream about.

As for the movement, I don't know. Disturbed, yes, but I would have to study it a bit more. Best, Nicolas

dr.kol

Nov 13, 2016

I would personally not get such a watch in coloured gold

but in platinum. What I tried to say is that the black version of the dial is much better than the blue one. Night sky is black and the stars and moon against that. Stunning. Best, Kari

amanico

Nov 13, 2016

Yes, in platinum with a black dial, that would be very interesting, Kari. [nt]

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Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 5102 Hands-On

About the Patek Philippe Celestial Ref. 5102

Specifications

Key Points from the Discussion

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