5738/50G-039

Naples’ big cat This limited edition of six wristwatches represents “Crouching Lion”, a sculpture by Pasquale Ricca created in 1866 and installed on Piazza dei Martiri. Here, however, it is depicted on Piazza del Plebiscito, in front of the grand colonnade of the San Francesco di Paola Basilica in Naples. To recreate this setting, Patek Philippe turned to the highly complex technique of grisaille enamel au blanc de Limoges, a white oil-based enamel that was drawn out and sculpted with a tiny brush and a needle on a base of opaque black enamel to obtain skillful monochromes shading from black to white. The enameller required particular mastery of his art to render the volumes of the monument, the crackles in the stone and the effects of light and shadow. Each dial underwent from 19 to 20 firings at temperatures ranging down from 780°C to 755°C. The white-gold case contains a solid case back and harmonious proportions inspired by the ancient golden section. The hours and minutes are displayed by cheveu-style hands, stamped in white gold. This watch houses a caliber 240 ultra-thin self-winding movement. The shiny black alligator leather strap is endowed with a prong buckle in white gold reflecting the elliptical shape of the case.