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THE COLLECTION
A TIMEPIECE AS
FINE ART
Patek Philippe’s Golden Ellipse “Yellow Crested Cockatoo”
transforms the art of timekeeping into a museum worthy masterpiece, blending Japanese artistry, cloisonné enamel, and horological precision into one of only ten collectible watches worldwide.
JESSICA HALL
There are watches, and then there are works of art that happen to tell time. Patek Philippe’s “Yellow Crested Cockatoo,” a limited edition of just ten Golden Ellipse wristwatches, falls firmly into the latter category. Conceived as part of the maison’s long tradition of artistic dial creations, this rare masterpiece marries Swiss horological perfection with Japanese artistry at its most delicate.
The inspiration reaches back to the eighteenth century, to a silk painting by Itô Jakuchû, the Kyoto master whose renderings of flora and fauna are revered as national treasures. On the dial, his vision lives again: a serene cockatoo poised on a pine branch, executed in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel with a precision and vibrancy that rivals the original canvas.
To achieve this effect, each dial demands nearly ninety centimeters of gold wire, hand shaped into infinitesimal partitions, then filled with more than twenty shades of enamel—translucent, opaque, and opalescent. Color is built layer by layer, the dial fired fifteen times in an oven exceeding 800 degrees Celsius before miniature painting brings the plumage to shimmering life. The result is not a dial, but a tableau, each one singular in its nuance.
The case is pure Golden Ellipse: yellow gold in perfectly balanced proportions that follow the golden ratio, framing the enamel scene with quiet harmony. Within, the ultra thin caliber 240 self winding movement beats discreetly, a reminder that this is still, beneath all its artistry, a watch crafted to the highest standards of horology.
The details extend to every touchpoint. A coral toned, hand stitched alligator strap adds a flash of daring refinement, secured by a yellow gold elliptical prong buckle that echoes the geometry of the case. Even here, restraint and exuberance coexist—a dialogue between classic elegance and artistic flourish.
For the collector, this is no ordinary acquisition. With only ten pieces in existence, the “Yellow Crested Cockatoo” is a fleeting chance to wear eternity on the wrist. It belongs as much in a vitrine as it does under a cuff, a bridge between East and West, craft and time, rarity and permanence.
Price upon request. For those who acquire it, possession is not simply ownership—it is guardianship of art.
Discover more at www.patek.com