Rousseau Exhibit at the Patek Philippe Museum

Not Chicken, Not Beef, it’s a Patek Philippe Neptune

Mike Mellia – The Latest Watch Photographer in Town

As we all know Photography is big news at the moment, and in horology circles Watch Photography is becoming more and more important, Photographers are all turning their hand to it, but only a few have the eye and inginuaty to get it right.

In  Mike Mellia, The Watch Review Site thinks we have stumbled across one of the few exceptional photographers within the Watch World. I say stumbled, more like it landed straight on our desk (or laptop screen in this day and age) from one of our contributors. So thank you Meehna Goldsmith for introducing us to Mike Mellia’s work.

Mike lives in New York City and in his spare time he is an avid watch collector and pianist. But the interesting stuff comes now, His profession is as an advertising and fine art photographer based in New York City. His passion for watches and photography have led to the photography of some lovely timepieces and Mike has  several wristwatch clients including Christie’s New York, several wristwatch magazines and Altamarea Cinturini.In collecting watches, as all collectors Mike has his favorite brands, which include Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, Rolex, and Officine Panerai.

This passion for watches has led to a specific section on his website being dedicated to wristwatches, www.mikemellia.com/wristwatches.html. As a Wristwatch Advertising Photgrapher, Mike Shoots the wristwatches in the studio and on location, using multiple studio strobes and lighting generators to achieve a flawless, glossy composition.  It is often the case that clients are interested not only in portraying a particular wristwatch with extreme clarity, but also how the wristwatch itself adapts to suit the personality of the individual wearing it. The final shots can often lie anywhere on a spectrum between photorealism and extreme surrealism. Mike always seeks to translate his passion for life and horology into his final photographs.

Along with his great eye for Watches, Mikes other photography assignments are great pieces of art and really worth a look on his website www.mikemellia.com, some of my favourite pieces other than the watches are amongst Mike Mellia’s ‘The Psychological Portrait Gallery http://www.mikemellia.com/thepsychologicalportraitgallery.html

Now for a few more pieces from Mike Mellia’s Watch Selection

A Special Patek Philippe Reference 2499: A Game Changer

Introduced in 1950 the Patek Philippe reference 2499 has a well-deserved reputation as one of the greatest watches ever created.  It replaced the celebrated reference 1518, the world’s first perpetual calendar chronograph made in series. Just this year Patek Philippe released another perpetual calendar chronograph featuring their own in-house chronograph movement, the 5270.

So exclusive is the reference 2499 that only 349 pieces were ever produced over a period of 35 years, the majority cased in yellow gold. A simple calculation reveals how rare this model is, with an annual average of only 9 watches produced in Patek Philippe’s workshops.

The arrival of this specific Patek Philippe 2499 rocks the horological world. Not only is it the first “fresh to market” first series pink gold to  since 2004 and only the fourth ever publicly offered example, but its existence was previously unknown to scholars and therefore redefines the history books.

Other known models of this reference in pink gold are all in 36.2mm Vichet case that’s recognized by its flat back and prominent elongated and downturned fluted lugs. Different from its siblings, this watch sits in a case by Wenger, featuring a larger diameter and more rounded lugs, creating a very strong impact.

This Patek Philippe 2499 is in magnificent condition, which would make any collector drool. Without blemishes and with just the right level of ivory-colored patina, the dial remains in a natural state, undisturbed by cleaning or restoration. Well-defined lugs and crisp hallmarks, including the case number, round out this beautiful portrait. According to the family, the watch was always in the possession of their late father.

This reference 2499 is definitely a game-changer, a unique piece that came out of nowhere. It makes me wonder what other treats could possibly materialize in the future from Patek Philippe…

This watch goes up for sale at the Christie’s on May 14th in Geneva. See the lot here.

You may also be interested in Other Articles at The Watch review Site relating to Patek Philippe such as /patek-phillipe-platinum-men-grand-complications/ or /patek-philippe-ref-5940-ultra-thin-self-winding-perpetual-calendar/ or even the /patek-philippe-ref-5204-men-grand-complication/

Article provided by Meehna Goldsmith you can also follow Meehna on Twitter @thewatchlady

Original article can be viewed at http://www.watchmatchmaker.com/1_mens_watches/a-special-patek-philippe-reference-2499-a-game-changer.html

Patek Philippe Sticks the Landing with the Ref. 5204

Written By: Meehna Goldsmith

Further to The Watch Review Sites recent article on the Patek Philippe Ref. 5204 Men Grand Complication  Meehna has a bit more of a horologistic view on matters. Lets see what Meehna’s thoughts are on the Patek Philippe 5204 Men Grand Complication below;

It’s extremely hard to climb Mount Everest. Most wouldn’t even think of walking up to that challenge. It takes a lot of perseverance and grit to top the highest mountain in the world. Only a few can claim the feat. Doing it once might be luck. Doing it twice shows some skill. But continuously reaching the summit demonstrates mastery and expertise. That’s exactly what Patek Philippe continues to do in its high complications.

At Patek Philippe, topping themselves isn’t just a goal, it’s a mantra. And so they’ve proved again with the release of the Ref. 5204 Men Grand Complication, a split-seconds chronograph with a perpetual calendar. The title sounds relatively simple compared to what this thing does. Let’s break it down. The Ref. 5204 tells time, obviously. For everyday use, this will be the function you’ll go to most, providing you don’t make it a safe queen.

In addition to telling time, the Patek Philippe 5204 Men Grand Complication  is a perpetual calendar. Not one you’ve got to reset several times a year (a regular calendar), or even once a year, twice if it’s a leap year (annual calendar) but never. That’s right, never! You don’t ever have to wonder where you are in the leap year cycle. If you keep it wound up. The Ref. 5204 will keep track of the Gregorian calendar long after you’ve kicked the bucket.

Now we come to the chronograph. A de rigeur complication for the sportsman, the chronograph breaks time into intervals. For example, in Los Angeles, you can time your meter so you don’t get a ticket or use it for barbecuing so you don’t make Uncle Bernie’s steak well-done when he likes it medium rare—or even time how long your Aunt Gladys keeps yapping at you before you can get away.

So you’ve got your perpetual calendar and chronograph, but that wasn’t enough for Patek Philippe. No, they wanted to top that chronograph summit with a split seconds. With a split seconds, you can measure intervals within intervals. There are two chronograph hands, one under the other. Once you make the split and note the time, the second hand catches up to the first (called a rattrapante) so you can mark another interval when you want to.

Patek Philippe reworked the splits function to include two innovations to optimize the alignment of the split-seconds hand and thus increase accuracy. They did this through an isolator for the splits-seconds lever, and a congruent alignment mechanism for the split- seconds hand and the chronograph hand, which qualified for a patent application.

When are you going to use a split seconds if you’re not a horse trainer or high-school coach? Probably never. Still, it’s a rad complication and fun to play with.

Such complicated watches tend to have fussy dials, making the functions more of an art than a practice. But Patek Philippe nailed a crisp layout with in-line apertures for the day of the week and month below 12 o’clock, while a moonphase and date dial balance out the picture at 6 o’clock. The upside moonphase adds a provocative design element. Sub seconds and jumping 30-minute chrono counter reside just below the horizontal centerline at 9 and 3 o’clock respectively. A quick look between 4 and 5 o’clock reveals the leap-year cycle and a day/night indicator looks out between 7 and 8 o’clock.

While Patek Philippe previously used the outsourced Lemania for its chronographs, in 2009 they introduced the in-house produced manually wound, column-wheel-controlled CH 29-535 PS. Of course you could still expect the meticulous finishing Patek Philippe is known for, the finishing that makes grown men practically break down in tears. Gentleman that they are, Patek Philippe made the chronograph Ref. 7071 for ladies first and made the men wait. Chivalry is not dead at Patek Philippe.

The Patek Philippe 5204 Men Grand Complication steps it up a level (are you surprised?) and uses the in-house chrono caliber, culminating the brand’s expertise in producing a stunning triple-complication watch that demonstrates the utmost in technical virtuosity. It’s like doing a triple back flip with a half twist and sticking the landing.

I can’t wait to see it in other metals and perhaps with a rich Havana Brown dial, in a rose gold case and chocolate brown strap. Now that would be sweet.

Read a great explanation of the watch and technical innovations by Ron DeCorte here.

You may also be interested in Other Articles at The Watch review Site relating to Patek Philippe such as /patek-phillipe-platinum-men-grand-complications/ or /patek-philippe-ref-5940-ultra-thin-self-winding-perpetual-calendar/

Article provided by Meehna Goldsmith you can also follow Meehna on Twitter @thewatchlady

Original article can be viewed at http://www.watchmatchmaker.com/1_mens_watches/the-patek-philippe-sticks-the-landing-with-the-ref-5204.html

Patek Philippe 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar

Written By: D Constant for The Watch Review Site

We look at the Patek Philippe 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar and we can clearly see that the growing love affair of women with mechanical watches and complicated functions is one of the great current trends in the world of horology. That must be the reason Patek Philippe saw fit to launch the 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar before any of its new Men’s novelties in 2012.

Could their decision also be based on the response to the Ladies First Chronograph launched by Patek Philippe in Autumn 2009, along with further ladies complications launched 2 years later in 2011, being an ultrathin split-seconds chronograph and a minute repeater. Now in 2012 with the Patek Philippe 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar, they hope to fasscinate every woman with a penchant for the pinnacle of watchmaking artistry and with the perpetual calendar, a grand complication that qualifies as an incarnation of eternity with its functionality, lasting value, reliability across generations, timelessly elegant design, and enduring array of diamonds. The workshops’ design team and the complications ateliers spared no effort to endow this complicated timepiece with an irresistibly feminine personality.

The Ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual is beautiful and everlasting

This was Patek Philippe’s objective and it has been accomplished with panache and style. All of the elements of this elegant timepiece reflect feminine poise, from the classic round Calatrava case in 18K rose gold and the gracefully curved lugs to the shimmering creamy white dial, the interchangeable mink gray and royal purple alligator straps, the lovely bezel, and the clasp set with precious diamonds that deserve to be called a girl’s best friend.

The dimensions of the case are suited to a feminine wrist with its compact diameter of 35.10 mm and a height of 8.8 mm. Still even though it is neatly designed in a compact package the ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual still has eight indications, these being hours, minutes, date, day of the week, month, leap-year cycle, 24-hour subdial, and moon phases. All of these are well organised on the dial and are clear and easily read. This is achieved by the contrasting components to the White Opalescent Dial

The Patek Philippe 7140 Ladies Perpetual Calendar has no less than 68 Top Wesselton diamonds totaling approx. 0.68 ct. on the dial. The Ladies Perpetual Calendar comes with a solid-gold case back and an exchangeable sapphire-crystal display back that allows you to admire the magnificently intricately designed and artistically decorated mechanical caliber 240 Q. This is A Patek Philippe legendary caliber, which is assembled in the manufacture’s ateliers for it’s complicated watches.

Composed of 275 individual parts, it is only 3.88 high, despite the fact that it is self-winding. This feat was made possible by recessing the off-center 22K gold minirotor in the plate, combined with an ingenious arrangement of the mechanisms for the perpetual calendar and the moonphase display. A key feature is the 7140 Ladies Perpetual Calendar’s mechanical memory of 4 years, which allows the perpetual calendar to always indicate the correct date, automatically taking into consideration the months with 31, 30, or 28 days, and the 29th of February in leap years. This means that as long as the 7140 Ladies Perpetual Calendar is worn regularly  and not let to run down the Ladies Perpetual calendar will take until 2100 before the calendar has to be manually adjusted and at that point it will only be by one day. So we have a watch if worn regularly that will most likely outlast you and see you to the grave (for want of a better term) or just think this is definately one for the family collection.

This timepiece has been designed for eternity and is has a hand-stitched alligator strap with a prong buckle in 18K rose gold which has a further 27 Top Wesselton diamonds totaling about 0.20 ct.

The Ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar definately adds to, and enhances Patek Philippe’s collection of ladies’ watches and we look forward to the next installment in Patek philippes portfolio of complicated watches for women.

Technical details – Patek Philippe Ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar

Complicated ladies’ wristwatch with perpetual calendar in 18K rose gold

Movement: Caliber 240 Q, Ultra-thin self-winding mechanical movement.

Perpetual calendar with analog displays for the date, day of the week, month, and leap-year cycle. Moon phases.

Diameter: 27.50 mm

Height: 3.88 mm

Number of parts: 275, Number of jewels: 27

Power reserve: 48 hours

Winding rotor: Recessed 22K gold minirotor, unidirectional winding

Balance: Gyromax®

Frequency: 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hz)

Balance spring: Spiromax®

Functions: Two-position crown – Pushed in: To wind the watch – Pulled out: To set the time

Displays: Center hour and minute hands

Subsidiary dials: – Day of week and 24-hour dial at 9 o’clock – Month and leap-year cycle at 3 o’clock – Date and moon phases at 6 o’clock

Correctors: At 9 o’clock: Day of week correction, Between 11 and 12 o’clock: date correction, Between 12 and 1 o’clock: month correction,

At 6 o’clock: moon-phase correction

Features

Case: Round Calatrava case in 18K rose gold (4N),

cambered sapphire crystal glass,

bezel with 68 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds totaling approx. 0.68 ct.

Snap back in 18K rose gold and interchangeable sapphire-crystal display back.

Water-resistant to 30 meters

Case dimensions: Diameter 35.10 mm, Height: 8.8 mm (overall), Height: 8.7 mm (back to glass), Width between lugs: 21 mm

Dial: White opalescent, Six applied Breguet numerals in 18K rose gold, Thin leaf-shaped hour and minute hands in 18K rose gold

Subsidiary dials: – Day of week and 24-hour dial at 9 o’clock: leaf-shaped hand, – Month and leap-year cycle at 3 o’clock: leaf-shaped hand, – Date and moon phases at 6 o’clock: leaf-shaped hand

Diamonds Bezel set with 68 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds (totaling approx. 0.68 ct.)

Clasp set with 27 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds (totaling approx. 0.20 ct.)

Strap: Alligator strap with square scales, hand-stitched, shiny mink gray, prong buckle in 18K rose gold, diamond-studded.

Additional handstitched alligator strap with square scales in royal purple.

You may also like to see some other Patek Philippe Watch reviews

/patek-phillipe-platinum-men-grand-complications/or

/patek-philippe-ref-5940-ultra-thin-self-winding-perpetual-calendar/

The Sound of Time

By JESSICA MICHAULT

Published: March 8, 2012   

PARIS — For most of the past decade the watch industry has been entranced by the tourbillon’s hypnotic revolutions, with brands spinning out the cagey little complication in ever greater numbers and more ingenious ways.       

Digital Luxury Group unveils haute horlogerie World

Watch Report results

23 January 2012 | By Laura McCreddie

Patek Philippe Ref. 5940

Ultra-thin self-winding perpetual calendar

A great classic reasserts its tradition

The ultra-thin self-winding Perpetual Calendar has ranked among Patek Philippe’s most popular complicated watches for many years. Now, the workshops are relaunching it in a format that emphasizes the brand’s heritage in perpetual calendars: the Ref. 5940 in an 18K-gold cushion-shaped case.

The new ultra-thin perpetual calendar Ref. 5940. With a length of 44.6 mm and a width of 37 mm, it features a very contemporary format with strong masculine appeal due to its modest height of merely 8.6 mm. The watch is delivered with a sapphire-crystal snap back, which allows the owner to observe the consummately finished movement at work, and with an interchangeable snap back in solid yellow gold.

The caliber 240 Q movement is composed of 275 individual parts, it is only 3.88 high, despite the fact that it is self-winding. The perpetual calendar always indicates the correct date, automatically taking into consideration the months with 31, 30, or 28 days, and the 29^th of February in leap years. It does not need to be corrected until 2100, a secular year that omits the leap daypursuant to the rules of the Gregorian calendar. But this adjustment can be made quickly and easily, and thereafter, the watch will continue to display the correct date for the next 100 years, provided it remains wound without interruption. The moon-phase display is similarly accurate: it deviates from the true position of the moon by one day every 122 years, which is equivalent to a daily error of 0.002‰. And finally, the rate accuracy of the movement – responsible for timekeeping precision – is impressive as well. It ranges from -3 to +2 seconds per day as stipulated by the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal for all mechanical movements with diameters of over 20 mm.

This stunning rate accuracy is celebrated on a dial that deserves the attribute timelessly elegant in every respect. It has a grained, cream-colored surface that perfectly matches the gold hue of the case and is framed by a black transfer-printed railway-track minute scale that faithfully follows the contours of the bezel. Applied Breguet numerals as well as slender, leaf-shaped hands in gold indicate the time, accompanied by three subsidiary dials for the calendar displays. At 9 o’clock: the day of the week and the 24-hour dial. At 3 o’clock: the month and leap-year cycle. At 6 o’clock: the analog date and the moon phases.

All indications are well organized and crisply legible, as is customary at Patek Philippe. With its new Ref. 5940, Patek Philippe opens up a new chapter in perpetual calendars with the revival of the cushion-shaped case that looks as topical today as the 1920s and 1930s Art Deco showpieces in the Patek Philippe Museum that inspired it. The stately timepiece is worn on a matt black hand-stitched alligator strap with square scales and a prong buckle in 18K yellow gold.

Technical details

Movement: Caliber 240 Q Ultra-thin self-winding mechanical movement. Perpetual calendar with analog displays for the date, day of the week, month, and leap-yearcycle. Moon phases.

 Diameter - 27.50 mm

 Height - 3.88 mm

 Number of parts – 275

 Number of jewels- 27

 Power reserve – 48 hours

 Winding rotor – Recessed 22K gold minirotor, unidirectional winding

 Balance - Gyromax®

 Frequency – 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour (3 Hz)

 Balance spring – Spiromax®

 Functions -Two-position crown, Pushed in: to wind the watch, Pulled out: to set the time

 Displays – Center hour and minute hands

 Subsidiary dials – Day of week and 24-hour dial at 9 o’clock, Month and leap-year cycle at 3 o’clock, Date and moon phases at 6 o’clock

 Correctors – At 9 o’clock: day of week correction, Between 11 and 12 o’clock: date correction

                     Between 12 and 1 o’clock: month correction, At 6 o’clock: moon-phase correction

                     Setting stylus in ebony and 18K yellow gold delivered with the watch.

 Hallmark – Patek Philippe Seal

 Case – Cushion-shaped case in 18K yellow gold, cambered sapphire glass.

            Sapphire-crystal snap back and interchangeable solid snap back in 18K yellow gold.

 Water-resistant - to 30 meters

Case dimensions – Length x width 44.60 x 37.00 mm, Height: 9.25 mm (overall), Height: 8.5 mm (back to glass)

Width between lugs: 21 mm

Dial – Cream-colored, grained

Nine applied Breguet numerals in 18K yellow gold.

Leaf-shaped hour and minute hands in 18K yellow gold.

Day of week, month, and date hands in 18K yellow gold.

24-hour and leap-year-cycle hands in blued steel.

Strap – Alligator leather with square scales, hand-stitched, matt black, prong buckle in 18K yellow gold.

Press Release

 Baselworld 2012

 Patek Philippe, Geneva

 March 2012

 Patek Philippe Ref. 5940

Ultra-thin self-winding perpetual calendar

 A great classic reasserts its tradition

 The ultra-thin self-winding Perpetual Calendar has ranked among Patek Philippe’s most popular

complicated watches for many years. Now, the workshops are relaunching it in a format that emphasizes the brand’s heritage in perpetual calendars: the Ref. 5940 in an 18K-gold cushion-shaped case.

In the category of grand complications, which includes tourbillons, minute repeaters, or split-seconds chronographs, the perpetual calendar unquestionably offers the greatest everyday utility because it always indicates the correct date by taking into account the different durations of the months. Perpetual calendars were coveted complications in Patek Philippe pocket watches dating back to the 19th century. And when wristwatches became fashionable, the manufacture in Geneva was the first to miniaturize the ingenious calendar mechanism to such a degree that it would fit in cases for the wrist, which incidentally were much smaller then, than they are today.

It was 1925 when Patek Philippe presented the world’s first wristwatch with a perpetual calendar. Watch No. 97’975 displayed the hours and the minutes from the center, the seconds in a subdial at 9 o’clock, and the moon phases at 3 o’clock. Its analog calendar indicated the date with a hand from the center, the day of the week at 12 o’clock, and the month at 6 o’clock, taking into account leap years but without actually displaying the 4-year cycle as is customary today. The calendar functions were implemented asinstantaneously jumping displays – a particularly challenging degree of difficulty.

Ref. 5940. Ultra-thin perpetual calendar in a form case

 Around this time, the Art Deco movement established itself in Europe. With its clear and creative style elements, it influenced the fine arts and architecture, furniture, and product design in a distinctive way that has lost none of its persuasive eloquence. Patek Philippe embraced the style as well. Not as a short-lived trend, however, but as a sustainable design philosophy that continues to manifest itself in the Gondolo collection. The class of so-called form watches includes all timepieces whose cases are not round. Form watches can be square, rectangular, or triangular as well as rhombus-, tonneau- and cushion-shaped. The still young and readily visible wristwatch soon acquired the status of a design accessoire and remains very much en vogue to this very day. At Patek Philippe, cushion-shaped watches were highly popular, and some models can now be admired in the showcases of the Patek Philippe Museum. Alongside the round Calatrava classics, the unique Golden Ellipse, and the inimitable, casually elegant Nautilus, they are envoys of Patek Philippe’s timelessly beautiful design language.

The cushion-shaped case experienced a first renaissance in 2010 with the ultra-thin split-seconds monopusher chronograph Ref. 5950 in stainless steel, and now, it stands in the limelight again with the new ultra-thin perpetual calendar Ref. 5940. With a length of 44.6 mm and a width of 37 mm, it features a very contemporary format with strong masculine appeal due to its modest height of merely 8.6 mm. In the high-tonnage presses at Patek Philippe’s workshops, the slender silhouette is literally wrought out of 18K-gold blanks with the traditional cold-forming technique, followed by numerous consecutive machining steps. Finally, long hours of manual work are invested in polishing each case to a mirror gloss. It has gracefully curved flanks that appear to melt into the seamlessly integrated strap lugs. The watch is delivered with a sapphire-crystal snap back, which allows the owner to observe the consummately finished movement at work, and with an interchangeable snap back in solid yellow gold.

Caliber 240 Q: a legend for eternity

 The caliber 240 Q movement is a masterpiece of technology crafted in its entirety in the manufacture’s ateliers for complicated watches. Composed of 275 individual parts, it is only 3.88 high, despite the fact that it is self-winding. The basic movement launched in 1977, with a 22K-gold off-center mini-rotor recessed in the plate, already accounts for 2.53 mm. So merely 1.35 mm remain for the mechanical memory that spans an entire 4-year cycle and at the same time emulates the lunar orbit. The perpetual calendar always indicates the correct date, automatically taking into consideration the months with 31, 30, or 28 days, and the 29^th of February in leap years. It does not need to be corrected until 2100, a secular year that omits the leap day pursuant to the rules of the Gregorian calendar. But this adjustment can be made quickly and easily, and thereafter, the watch will continue to display the correct date for the next 100 years, provided it remains wound without interruption. The moon-phase display is similarly accurate: it deviates from the true position of the moon by one day every 122 years, which is equivalent to a daily error of 0.002‰. And finally, the rate accuracy of the movement – responsible for timekeeping precision – is impressive as well. It ranges from -3 to +2 seconds per day as stipulated by the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal for all mechanical movements with diameters of over 20 mm. This beats the values required for officially certified chronometers.

A timelessly elegant face

 This stunning rate accuracy is celebrated on a dial that deserves the attribute timelessly elegant in every respect. It has a grained, cream-colored surface that perfectly matches the gold hue of the case and is framed by a black transfer-printed railway-track minute scale that faithfully follows the contours of the bezel. Applied Breguet numerals as well as slender, leaf-shaped hands in gold indicate the time, accompanied by three subsidiary dials for the calendar displays. At 9 o’clock: the day of the week and the 24-hour dial. At 3 o’clock: the month and leap-year cycle. At 6 o’clock: the analog date and the moon phases. All indications are well organized and crisply legible, as is customary at Patek Philippe. With its new Ref. 5940, Patek Philippe opens up a new chapter in perpetual calendars with the revival of the cushion-shaped case that looks as topical today as the 1920s and 1930s Art Deco showpieces in the Patek Philippe Museum that inspired it. The stately timepiece is worn on a matt black hand-stitched alligator strap with square scales and a prong buckle in 18K yellow gold.