Patek Philippe
All my Patek Philippe articles - From its origins in 1839, Patek Philippe has matured through nearly 200 years to become one of the most respected brands of traditional watchmaking. The Stern family, who looks after it since 1932, has deepened its know-how to provide the most sought after timepieces today. Patek’s name is synonymous with the most sophisticated mechanical watches, in the purest horological terminology: complication, innovation, preservation. Timeless designs, technical mastery showing no unnecessary complexity, superior movements have become their signature.
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The Patek Philippe 5326G Annual Calendar Travel time – Get ready to wear it everyday
Hi everyone, There are watches that aren’t the most expensive nor complicated but that get the most wrist time. I’m sure many can recognize their own experience in that statement. It is the kind of watches you feel comfortable with, in every meaning of the word. It is seemless on the wrist, you aren’t (too) afraid of scratching it, you find it appealing aesthetically, it possesses one or two functions that are practical to you, a color or a shape that you’ve been quickly finding yourself very in line with, etc… I have that with an old Speedy of mine. Presented during the last Watches & Wonders 2022 fair, the…
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The Patek Philippe 5236P Perpetual Calendar – Maybe their most beautiful modern QP
Hello everyone, To me, one of the very attractive recent novelties was the launch of the new Patek Philippe 5236P “in-line” Perpetual Calendar. Indeed, a new interpretation of a QP (Quantième Perpétuel in French) from the brand is an event on its own, knowing its legacy, thus legitimacy. Furthermore, it was (at last!) the second introduction only of the gorgeous micro-rotor 31-260 caliber base, after the 5235 “Regulator” (2011). However, the main matter is maybe the fact Patek has created with the 5236P, the perfect interpretation of a new classics for our current era. It might be the way the brand is setting in a masterstroke a new standard of…
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The Patek Philippe 5320G Perpetual Calendar – DNA revisited with a Salmon dial
Hello everyone, In 2017, we’ve been granted with the launch of the first 5320G Perpetual Calendar reference, cream-colored lacquer dial. This new 3448-style dial layout was presented one year after the traditional 240-caliber-based 5327 references (the natural successors to the 5140) were unveiled. It is a clear new offer next to the already available PC-only collection (5159/5160, 5140/5327 and 2021’s “in-line” 5236). As a reminder, the 5496 family was discontinued in 2020. The brand is therefore presenting today 4 main QP mechanical profiles in parallel. However, two months ago, we have discovered a very seductive new version of the Patek Philippe 5320G Perpetual Calendar with a Salmon dial! It is…
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The Patek Philippe 5270P Chronograph Perpetual Calendar in Green – From the king dial maker
Hi everyone, A little over a month ago, the brand has offered a stunning piece to keep uniting traditional watchmaking and an ongoing evolving world: the Patek Philippe 5270P Chronograph Perpetual Calendar with a ravishing new green dial. In 2018, the brand had launched a rare Platinum version of this legendary complications assembly with a Salmon dial, thus a little more traditional. As usual with the brand, the rarer platinum versions hold a very special place in the catalogue. But in this case today, we surely go even further with this version which stands proudly as a symbol of a new offer. Don’t be misled by the unusual colour; it…
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The Patek Philippe 5470P 1/10th of a Second Monopusher Chronograph – Doing it right
Hi everyone, Patek Philippe has just unveiled a brand new chronograph: the Patek Philippe 5470P 1/10th of a Second Monopusher Chronograph. (The previous references unveiled during the 2022 Watches & Wonders week can be found here: Watches and Wonders – The Patek Philippe 2022 novelties) It is not a Split-second Chronograph but a Chronograph with a 1/10th of a second additional complication based on a higher beating rate (5Hz i.e. 36 000 vph). This requires a better accuracy from the caliber (otherwise counting 1/10th becomes useless) and a very well managed energy consumption. You will see this isn’t a mere achievement when done the best as it can. It is…
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Patek Philippe – 2022 Rare Handcrafts Collection
Hi everyone, Patek Philippe has unveiled its 2022 Rare handcrafts collection. In recent years, next to the more visible regular collection novelties, Patek presents a range of rare, sometimes unique, pieces in link with hand-made craftmanship. It has been a while since the brand has been involved in those highly skilled fields. We can of course recall the early 1950’s/1960’s enamel pocket and wrist watches or last decades pieces decorated from feather working, wood marquetry, painting crafts but in fact you can follow pieces decorated that way from the early origins of Patek in the 19th century. These are pieces that are very difficult to come buy, even on pictures.…
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Watches & Wonders – The Patek Philippe 2022 novelties
Hi everyone, So here it is, the long awaited 2022 novelties presentation which now is held at Watches and Wonders in Geneva. Let’s have a quick look at all the wristwatches unveiled this week with a little emphasize on what characterizes them or what should be noticed, as a buyer or just as a watch amateur. However, as usual, the true appreciation of the watch can only be valued from the “live” experience. The colors, the details’ size, hence visibility etc… can be so tricky to assess from pictures (whether they are official or live ones). Yet, it is still worth making a little owner’s tour, especially to determine what…
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The Patek Philippe 5230R World Time – Cherishing the art of Universal Timers
Hello everyone, A few years ago, the Patek Philippe 5230 World Time was launched in two versions, rose and white gold, with updated time zones, together with the 5930G World Time Chronograph. It was a very exciting event considering this complication is a famous icon not only in the brand’s history but also within the watchmaking world. It is a must-have in a collection, not only for real travellers but also for those whose imagination brings them in a journey through the places marked on the dial. With the Perpetual Calendar and Minute-repeaters, it is their third “signature” complication. Indeed, when involved in a World Timers discussion, Patek Philippe automatically…
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The Patek Philippe 5327G Perpetual Calendar – A traditional QP desire
Hello everyone, The Patek Philippe 5327 Perpetual Calendar is the latest interpretation of the classical and more traditional QP-only family. Not only it is the recent generation but it conveys Patek Philippe’s dedication and history regarding this grande complication they endeavoured since 1925 for wristwatches and even earlier for pocket watches. It is available in rose, yellow or white gold and it is this latter version I wish to talk about here. The previous generation reference 5140 had been in the catalogue for 10 years and is one of the very fine examples of what Patek classics means: a thin and smooth case, an elegant dial in spite of the…
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The Patek Philippe 5227R Calatrava – Almost 10 years of this marvel
Hi everyone, I still remember the day I was presented the Patek Philippe 5227R Calatrava. I was at a Patek Salon to have a look at more complicated models when the salesperson kindly brought this 2013 novelty. The model was replacing the 5127 generation. It wasn’t the kind of model I focus on, not complicated enough, hence I didn’t spend much time looking at the first pictures available on the net when it was released. In fact, though I aesthetically like some Calatravas, I’m more interested by complicated watches as mechanism is an important reason why I like watchmaking. Hence, my first thought was that I wasn’t very tempted by…
