Patek Philippe - Grand Complications 6104G 44mm Celestial Blue SS/LE Dia/Num MY9015 Mod

GRF Factory Patek Philippe Grand Complications 6104G, Top Edition!

Introduction of Patek Philippe Grand Complications 6104 and 6102:

Model 6104 (Grand Complications Celestial)

Horological Complexity: The 6104 is one of Patek’s most elaborate astronomical watches. It combines a rotating sky chart of the northern hemisphere with moon-phase/orbit indications, a pointer–date, and even a special pointer for Sirius’s meridian passage. Like its predecessors, the Celestial displays sidereal time: three superimposed, metallized sapphire disks (each only 0.2 mm thick) simulate the stars, the Moon’s orbit, and the Milky Way. These disks rotate at different speeds (engineers tested trillions of gear-ratio combinations to sync them). A skeletonized white-gold hour/minute hand pair reads off the time in regular solar hours and minutes, while a red-tipped crescent hand around the dial indicates the date. The movement is automatic Caliber 240 LU CL C (micro-rotor), providing a 48-hour power reserve. It is comprised of roughly 300–315 parts and 45 jewels, and all finishing meets Patek’s haute horlogerie standards (polished bevels, Geneva stripes, perlage, and a 22K gold micro-rotor with Calatrava cross). In short, the 6104’s mechanism is “hugely complicated” – essentially a streamlined descendant of the 5102 (original Celestial) and even the ultra-complex 5002 Sky Moon Tourbillon.

Technical Specifications:

• Caliber: Automatic Cal. 240 LU CL C (micro-rotor, 48 h PR).

• Movement Finishes: Patek Seal – polished chamfers, Geneva stripes, perlage; gold micro-rotor.

• Case: 44 mm diameter, 10.8 mm thick. Available in 18K rose gold (ref. 6104R-001) or 18K white gold (6104G-001). Water resistance ≈30 m (3 ATM).

• Bezel: Fixed 18K gold set with 38 baguette-cut diamonds (~4.27 ct total).

• Dial: Deep blue or black “celestial” sky dial; three layered sapphire discs with meteorized stars, sapphire blue background, and moon-phase disk. A printed ellipse on the crystal marks the horizon line of Geneva. White-gold skeletonized hour and minute hands and Arabic hour indices. Red-tipped pointer-date hand with a crescent tip travels around 31 fine Arabic numerals on the periphery. (This pointer-date is not a perpetual or annual calendar – the date must be corrected manually at month ends.)

• Bracelet/Strap: Black or blue alligator strap; fold-over clasp in matching gold set with 22 baguette diamonds (~1.13 ct).

• Functions: Hours, minutes, pointer date, moon phase & orbit, star chart (sidereal time), times of meridian passage of Sirius and the Moon.

Artistic Craftsmanship: The 6104’s most arresting feature is its dial. Three ultra-thin metallized sapphire disks create a realistic rotating sky: one blue disk (fixed) represents the sky background; a second carries the moon-phase/aperture; the third (transparent) bears a field of 237 hand-printed stars, including a marker for Sirius. As the celestial discs move, one watches the sky transit overhead – a poetic effect emphasized by the fine elliptical aperture showing Geneva’s local horizon. This artistic dialwork is paired with extreme gem-setting and finishing. The bezel’s 38 perfectly aligned baguettes (and 22 on the clasp) total 5.4 carats, lending the watch a “resplendent” elegance. A Sotheby’s catalogue notes that the 6104R is “breathtaking in both its sheer beauty and complexity,” with an “attractive black dial in contrast to the blue dial of the white-gold Celestial,” and a Geneva Seal-grade movement visible through sapphire back. Every finish (polished flanks, hand bevelling, engraved Calatrava motif on the crown) attests to Patek’s top-tier craftsmanship.

Market Status & Trends: The 6104 is an ultra-limited, top-tier Grand Complication. Patek reportedly produces only a few dozen Celestial watches per year (across 6102/6104 models), taking over a year to craft each. The original 6104R-001 retailed around $470,000 USD, yet on the secondary market it frequently commands a significant premium. Watch publications cite mint 6104R examples around $330,000 (wholesale), with white-gold about $11,600 higher. In practice, dealer listings and auctions often show much higher figures (e.g. $550–$800K on Chrono24), likely reflecting supply scarcity and buyer demand. Collectors view the 6104 as one of Patek’s crown jewels. Its combination of technical daring and diamond-set luxury makes it “one of the most exclusive and hard to find models of Patek Philippe’s modern production”. Enthusiasts laud its astronomical tableau as a “masterpiece” of watchmaking art, even if its flamboyance (large case, heavy gem-set bezel) limits it to a niche clientele.

Model 6102 (Grand Complications Celestial)

Horological Complexity: The 6102 shares the Celestial lineage but with a more restrained (non-set) presentation. Mechanically it is virtually identical: Caliber 240 LU CL C automatic (48 h) drives a triple-sapphire sky display. The stars rotate in sidereal time while a moon-phase aperture and orbit scale track the lunar cycle. On the 6102, Patek added a red-crescent date hand and 1–31 Arabic numerals around the dial, a feature absent on the earlier 5102. Two crowns operate the watch: the 2 o’clock crown winds/sets time, and the 4 o’clock crown adjusts the sky chart and moon indices. In effect, the 6102 is a “slightly larger case with an additional date indication” compared to its precursor. Like the 6104, it emphasizes poetic astronomy over practicality: the main attraction is the slow-moving sky disc rather than the chronometric hands.

Technical Specifications:

• Caliber: 240 LU CL C, automatic with 22K micro-rotor; ~48 h PR. Engineered to incredible precision – Patek notes annual lunar deviation of only ~6.5 seconds.

• Case: 44 mm (≈10.8 mm thick); available in 18K platinum (6102P-001) or 18K rose gold (6102R-001). No gem-set bezel – the bezel is polished metal matching the case. Water resistance ~30 m. Casebands are polished (unlike the engraved Calatrava cross of vintage 5102).

• Dial: Blue (platinum model) or black (rose gold) celestial dial with sapphire sky background. The hour track is marked by 12 Arabic numerals and smaller 24-hour scale, while the date is read via a red-tipped pointer against 1–31 numerals at the dial’s. White-gold leaf hands are skeletonized for legibility. An elliptical horizon (same design as 6104) delineates Geneva’s sky view.

• Bracelet/Strap: Black or blue alligator strap with matching metal buckle (no diamonds).

• Functions: Hours, minutes, pointer date, moon phase/orbit, rotating star chart (with Sirius pointer). There is no perpetual/annual calendar – date requires manual month-end correction (the movement is not QP).

Artistic Craftsmanship: The 6102’s appeal lies in its astronomical dial, which is identical in principle to the 6104’s but more austere. Its trio of sapphire discs (same 0.2 mm thickness) creates a deep, moving sky that draws the eye. The dial layering and printing are done to the same high standard: stars and milky-way are metallized on the crystals, with minute, hand-applied details. The watch is finished with the Patek Philippe Seal; movement decoration matches that of the 6104 (Côtes de Genève, polished screws, etc.). Even without jewels, the 6102 is beautifully executed – a September 2017 auction noted a 6102R-001’s dial as “stunningly attractive” and remarked on its sapphire back revealing the exquisitely finished Cal. 240.

Market Status & Trends: The 6102 is rarer than mainstream Pateks but more common than the diamond-set 6104. It continues in production (in platinum or rose gold). Secondary-market guides put a 6102P-001 at roughly $208,000 pre-owned and $259,000 new (USD). Auction results confirm the $200–300K range: for example, Phillips sold a 6102R for HKD 2,286,000 in 2017 (~USD 292K). Unlike the extravagant 6104, the 6102’s more “scientific” aesthetic appeals strongly to purist collectors of complications. Enthusiasts praise its dial as the essence of Patek craftsmanship. Some do criticize its large 44 mm size and abundance of data (moon, date, stars) as busy or impractical, but most agree it is a “masterful” and romantic Grand Complication. Overall, the 6102 commands a healthy premium over its original list price and is generally regarded as a mature, collectible piece among Patek’s astronomical watches.

Sources: Authoritative descriptions and data were drawn from Patek Philippe catalogs and press, specialist reviews (Monochrome, Phillips, Chrono24 articles), and recent market analyses, as well as luxury-watch retailers and auction house. These provide the technical details, artistic insights, and market valuations cited above.