Creating the Grande Sonnerie

Beauty is integral to all parts of a Patek Philippe watch, not least what is visible when on the wrist. The Grande Sonnerie stands-out with finesse, true to the Patek Philippe key principle that even the grandest complications are at their best, resting comfortably on a wrist.

Explore its creation in glorious detail.

Difficult to master acoustically, a platinum case requires the know-how that the manufacture has handed down from one generation to the next.

The Ref. 6301 case design is strikingly subtle and balanced in its curves and rounded contours with concave bezel and counter-sunk satin-finished case flanks.

Like all Patek Philippe platinum cases it sports a small diamond, set in this instance at 12 o'clock, with slide switch for the strikework mode at 6 o'clock.

The new caliber GS 36-750 PS IRM can be admired through the sapphire-crystal case back.

Classic yet contemporary, the Grande Sonnerie 6301P is the product of traditional artisanship and rare handcrafts, evident on the black grand feu enamel dial with glacé finish, hand applied 18K white gold Breguet numerals and leaf-shaped hour and minute hands with luminescent coating.

The display of the hours, minutes, and jumping seconds is perfectly balanced with the two power-reserve indicators for the movement and the strikework at 9 and 3 o’clock, respectively, with semicircular scales identified with the inscriptions MOUVEMENT and SONNERIE.

Each individual component from case and dial to movement fulfils the Patek Philippe Seal. This applies to the technical parameters (rate, accuracy, dependability) and to the finissage and attractive architecture of the individual components.

Special attention has been devoted to the design of the movement bridges, notably the barrel bridge and transveral balance cock, a Patek Philippe rarity that assures a secure seat and pleasing visual proportions.

Connoisseurs will discover other aesthetic details - like the centrifugal governor, which regulates the speed of the time strikes, having an exquisitely smoothed and polished finish, that are now visible to the observer.