The night sky never fails to be alluring. As the sun sets and darkness covers the sky like a dark silk blanket, the moon and the stars come out to play at a symphony of silver lights. A vision most splendiferous. 6102R is about.
First established in Baselworld 2015, it is 1 of only 2 variants of this Ref. 6102, the other being a platinum case with blue dial. In the time of writing, I’ve barely had the Ref. 6102R for 6 months, but that’s more than enough for me to have the ability to articulate my ideas on this interesting timepiece. Before I jump in my experience with the watch, a few technical details are in order.
Measuring in at 44 mm in diameter, the Ref. 6102R is one of Patek Philippe celestial 6102 replica watches‘ largest timepieces, exceeded only by the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300. The watch does however keep a slim profile at a thickness of 9.8 mm. Along with a sloped bezel, the Ref. 6102R slides beneath a dress cuff or tight sleeve with ease. The aesthetics of the case is implemented in a way just Patek understand how. With announced measures on the lugs and about the bezel, the case is delightfully nuanced. Since the band is no longer engraved with the Caltrava cross (as was the situation from the previous Ref. 5102), the mirror-polished situation has become less baroque, but in cleaner and more elegant. Also on the band are just two oblique crowns at the 2 and 4 o’clock positions; the one at two o’clock is for winding and time-setting while another at 4 o’clock places the moon and the sky chart (more on those functions soon).
As magnificent as the case might be, it doesn’t hold a candle into the dial. The dial is made from three metalised sapphire cyrstal discs — one blackened to represent the night sky, one for the stages and orbit of this moon, and one which depicts the sky chart on front side along with the Milky Way on another side. The sapphire crystal on top of the dial is printed with an elliptical shape that frames the section of the skies visible from Geneva in any given time. There is also a radial date display surrounding the dial like an inner bezel and signaled by a red crescent-tipped hand; this attribute wasn’t present in the old Ref. 5102. The minutes and hours are signaled by hollowed feuille hands, which I feel strikes a good balance between not obstructing the view of the dial and maintaining an elegant appearance.
The Calibre 240 (celebrating its 40th anniversary this year) and its own functionally-enhanced incarnations also conquer inside numerous other Patek timepieces, like the new World Time Ref. 5131/1P-001 and Calatrava Ref. 6006G-001. The Calibre 240 LU CL C was designed to rotate at different rates the superimposed sapphire crystal disks which form the dial. The backdrop is provided by a black sapphire-crystal disc in a wheel with 279 teeth; it tracks the orbital position of the moon. Via a planetary gear system, it also drives a wheel which has a small sapphire-crystal disk that shows the moon phases in a small round aperture. And in addition, a 356-tooth wheel above it rotates the translucent sapphire-crystal disc that defines the sky chart.
On the wrist my personal experience
6102R is a’oversized’ watch. At 44 mm in diameter, it wears large on a mean wrist and can be unwearable on smaller ones. I deem the watch to be’acceptably large’ in my wrist, since the conclusion of the lugs are only touching and not overlapping the borders of my wrist. A watch like this should be large in order to increase the visual effects of the dial. Let me say this in spite of its diameter, even if you set the watch on, it feels great because: a) it’s thin, and b) it’s drop-dead stunning. There have been countless times where I’d find myself lost in the depth and beauty of this dial. Sure, rapid complications like chronographs and minute repeaters are enjoyable but it’s the slow, poetic and admittedly unworthy astronomical complications that really tug the heart strings.
With regards to the implementation of the date function from the Ref. 6102, many have criticised it is out of place and just serves to undermine the purity of the dial — I personally am much less cynical. The existence of a date work will significantly increase the practicality and sophistication of the timepiece and the best part is, Patek Philippe 6102p sky moon celestial replica watches sensibly chose the least obstructive way to display the date: a fundamental date hand and peripheral date scale. To add to this, the date feature, which marks the passage of times, perfectly complements all the slow astronomical issues on the dial and increases the poetry. Long story short, while the drawback of getting the date function is apparent, the added dimension it brings to the watch justifies its existence on the dial.
Placing the screens requires patience
Setting all of the screens properly and correctly on the Ref. 6102 is a comparatively time-consuming, arduous process, particularly when it’s your very first time. You would first have to go to a webpage on the Patek Philippe grand complications 6102p moon ss fake watch website dedicated to the placing of the Sky Moon Celestial, type in the time and date, then follow the instruction that’s generated. To set the moon, you might wind up turning the crown for up to ten minutes as you watch the moon revolve around the dial over 28 times along with the moon phase change in a languid pace. Obviously how long you will spend adjusting depends upon how far off you are from the actual moon period but the purpose is, the lack of a quick-set pusher — brightly or otherwise — makes this kind of drawn-out procedure. And here’s the real kicker: if you accidentally set the moon stage too far forward, you have to start the procedure all over again since you cannot go backward. Luckily, placing the sky chart is a lot quicker even though it involves a similar process. Is all this effort worth it? Really, yes! It is an awesome feeling knowing that you have an incredibly precise and correctly-set orbital moon phase and sky chart; it seems like you have the secrets of the heavens strapped on your wrist, as cheesy as this may sound.
Setting the displays of the Sky Moon Celestial to nail precision is not just a simple process. The moon and sky chart are adjusted together with the crown at 4 o’clock while the date is put by actuating a recessed pusher on the case group.
As far as astronomical watches proceed, the Sky Moon Celestial might be the best example there’s. I’ve enjoyed every moment that it has been around my wrist. The pleasure I gain stems not just from having the ability to admire the watch and its craftsmanship up close, but also from having the ability to share this kind of intriguing horological specimen and its own inquisitive complications with my fellow enthusiasts. Here is to hoping that Patek Philippe replica watches never quits cooperating in its whimsical Sky Moon Celestial series!
