Comments:
Overview of a masterpiece: Patek Philippe ref. 5101
The 10 Days Tourbillon ref. 5101 won the GPHG 'Aiguille d'or' in 2003, the year of its introduction.
a/ Model from 1938 in yellow gold with Breguet numerals
b/ Model from 1939 in yellow gold with Roman numerals
credit: onbehalf
credit: onbehalf
credit: antiquorum
credit: @l951.1
credit: @goldentimeco_official
credit: the keystone
credit: wind vintage
credit: déployant
with ref. 5004P - credit: @cagidue
credit: the keystone
credit: European watch company
credit: @essentialwatches
credit: the watch 101
credit: the keystone
credit: the 1916 company
credit: @sothebyswatches
credit: @watchprofessor
credit: pinterest
credit: the 1916 company
credit: @sky_global
credit: @vinontre
with ref. 5275P - credit: @patekcollector
credit: Sjx
credit: Ron DeCorte on people.timezone
From a design standpoint, it's a wonderful Art Deco timepiece, taking inspiration from three previous models: ref. 514, 524 & 520.
From a technical standpoint, caliber 28-20/222 , also named TO 28-20 REC 10J PS IRM includes a Tourbillon (TO), measures 28 x 20 mm (28-20), is Rectangular (REC), runs for 10 days (10J - 10 'Jours' in French), has a small-seconds subdial (PS - 'Petite Seconde'), and features a power reserve indicator (IRM - 'Indicateur de Réserve de Marche). And it is finished to the best level.
The different variants have been launched as follows:
- 2003: ref. 5101P-001: platinum case & salmon dial
- 2009: ref. 5010R-001: rose gold case & grey dial
- 2011: ref. 5101G-001: white gold case & blue dial + ref. 5101/100 rare handcrafts with engraved case (in rose or white gold, as well as platinum, according to Sjx, but possibly also in yellow gold)
- 2012: ref. 5101J-001: yellow gold case & silver dial
- circa 2013: special request 5101P with platinum case & black dial
Pre-2009 models feature the Geneva Seal, and models built from roughly summer 2009 sport the Patek Philippe Seal.
The Gondolo ref. 5200 arrived in 2013, marking the end of the line for ref. 5101.
Lastly, in his different reviews of the 5101 (on Quill & Pad and on YouTube: cf. below), Tim Mosso mentions that it is the style, the beauty, and the uncompromising standards of this Ten-days Tourbillon which first spurred Rexhep Rexhepi’s resolve, during his five-years apprenticeship at Patek Philippe, to create his own watch...
I wish you all a great weekend !
Best,
Emmanuel
A/ THREE TIERED FLANKS INSPIRATIONAL MODELS FROM THE LATE 1930's
1/ Ref. 514 with caliber 9-90
a/ Model from 1938 in yellow gold with Breguet numerals
b/ Model from 1939 in yellow gold with Roman numerals
credit: onbehalf
2/ Ref. 524 with caliber 9-90: model in stainless steel from 1938 with Arabic numerals
credit: onbehalf
3/ Ref. 520 from 1937
credit: antiquorum
B/ REF. 5101: SEVEN VARIANTS
1/ Ref. 5101P-001 (2003)
credit: @l951.1
credit: @goldentimeco_official
credit: the keystone
credit: wind vintage
credit: déployant
with ref. 5004P - credit: @cagidue
2/ Ref. 5101R-001 (2009)
credit: the keystone
credit: European watch company
credit: @essentialwatches
credit: the watch 101
3/ Ref. 5101G-001 (2011)
credit: the keystone
credit: the 1916 company
credit: @sothebyswatches
credit: @watchprofessor
4/ Ref. 5101J-001 (2012)
credit: pinterest
credit: the 1916 company
credit: @sky_global
5/ Ref. 5101P unique special request platinum model with black dial (circa 2013)
credit: @vinontre
6/ Ref. 5101/100G-001 rare handcrafts in white gold (unique piece)
with ref. 5275P - credit: @patekcollector
7/ Ref. 5101/100R-001 rare handcrafts in rose gold (note that a yellow gold variant and a black dial, possibly in platinum, can be seen here)
credit: Sjx
C/ CALIBER 28-20/222 aka TO 28-20 REC 10J PS IRM (pre-2009 model with Geneva Seal - for a deep dive into the movement, you can read the recent thread by AndCavanaugh)
credit: Ron DeCorte on people.timezone
Tim Mosso's Collector's Guide to the 5101
Yes, and a pity that it's so hard to see
in real life. And that really good photos are so rare.
Yeah, it seems like they were either over produced or overpriced. Slow sellers.
The retail price for a 5101P in ~2010 was $325k, you can get them for less than half that today.
Thanks for this post.
The wealth of photos is impressive; though that seems to be your forte. This is probably my favorite Patek; and one of my favorite watches of any brand. Hope to see one someday.
I hope so too!
In fact good photos of this reference are incredibly hard to find and the ones I chose, though being the best I could find, could often be better, imo. I imagine that not so many people own a 5101 and very few seem to care to take good live photos.
Fantastic watches…the design on these references
Is near perfect…Especially the Ref 524 with the black dial.
The case reminds me of the Bugatti 57S, very nice streamlined🤗
Thanks again for your impressive writing on these watches, once again.
I had to check what a Bugatti 57S looks like,
as I know nothing about cars, and I see the resemblance too! Thanks for your kind words and have a nice weekend.
A big gun, quattro.
These recent-ish square PP movements -- the tourbillon and the 10-day -- are glorious.
Emmanuel, first of all, I truly respect the amount of time and effort you put in your post.
It is an unbelievable world class reference. It truly exemplifies the art of watchmaking.
Thank you, Tony. I also think this one is a masterpiece.
In his different reviews of the 5101 (on Quill & Pad and on YouTube), Tim Mosso mentions that it is the style, the beauty, and the uncompromising standards of this Ten-days Tourbillon which first spurred Rexhep Rexhepi’s resolve, during his five-years apprenticeship at Patek Philippe, to create his own watch...
A absolute amazing and beautiful PP .
Although that salmon dial would be my favorite but those engraved cases 😱👌🏻🤩
I think my pick
would be the regular rose gold, but I haven't seen one in real life, yet.
Thanks for looking.
Thanks for looking.
Patek at it best!
Beautiful design and technically innovative.
I’ll take this (Salmon dial) everyday over a platinum cubitus!
Thank you for posting
I’ll take this (Salmon dial) everyday over a platinum cubitus!
Thank you for posting
Thanks Emmanuelle for this wonderful post !
The ones with the full on Brequet numerals are so tasty (especially with salmon dial) IMO
Emmanuel, many thanks for another illuminating and beautifully illustrated post - this time about the gorgeous and highly complex 5101!
Including the 3 stepped rectangular historical antecedents creates context for the highly modern modern 5101. Both the beatuful antecedents which at one time were highly desired and the 5101s are sadly not so widely appreciated today. I have a small wrist but can easily wear the 5101 because of its curved case. (Compare this to the flat back similarly sized 5135 which I cannot wear.)
I have never owned a 5101, but have tried it on more than once. I particularly like the P version, although since it was popular when it came out and sold well there are many more than the gold versions. Now it seems the platinum may actually be less expensive than the gold versions. I have been tempted more than once, but never pulled the trigger. and probably never will.
Again, thanks for another well researched and fun read!
Best, Patekova
Thank you, Patekova.
For my personal taste, the yellow gold 514 with Breguet numerals and the rose gold 5101 really stand out. I would love to see one of these for real.
On the secondary market, the P is indeed a little less unaffordable than the rose gold. And the J seems nowhere to be found.
Hopefully, Patek will create another, new and different, statement caliber and design in the future.
Best, Emmanuel
On the secondary market, the P is indeed a little less unaffordable than the rose gold. And the J seems nowhere to be found.
Hopefully, Patek will create another, new and different, statement caliber and design in the future.
Best, Emmanuel