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.
-
The Patek Philippe 30-255 caliber – The manual wind beauty is waking-up
Hi everyone, In 2021, Patek has released a brand new thin manually-wound movement, the Patek Philippe 30-255 caliber. It was presented for the first time in 2 new Calatrava references, the 6119G and 6119R. Since the 2 last decades, Patek Philippe has released, one after another, new calibers to keep progressing in the search of better accuracy and improving complications’ functionality as well as convenience. Indeed, in line with the origins of 3 or 4 centuries of watchmaking development aiming at miniaturizing clocks and improving working performance, watchmaking isn’t about standing still. It would have been easy to provide the same features forever, not mentionning the Quartz crisis, and we…
-
New 2022 Patek Philippe bracelet lockable size adjustment system
Hi everyone, In 2018 and 2019, Patek Philippe had unveiled 2 major evolutions for its fold-over clasp design: a “2 pushers” fold-over clasp, more secured and convenient to use (2018, still valid today); an adjustable links display, allowing to easily adjust the bracelet’s length (2019, this is the feature that has just been improved in October 2022). I posted in early 2021 an article about those 2 improvements that you can find here. However, in October 2022, together with the launch of the Nautilus 5712/1R, the new 5811G and the 5990/1A, Patek Philippe has released an evolution of the bracelet size adjustment mechanism that was presented in 2019: they call…
-
The Patek Philippe 5712/1R Nautilus – Thrill in rose gold
Hello everyone, I’m a huge fan of the Nautilus line-up, the thinner models in particular, which I discovered more than 10 years ago, much before last years’ market strong blossoming. I find it’s a watch according casualness and elegance wonderfully. Excitingly (and finally I would say), we’ve just been presented a new 5712: the Patek Philippe 5712/1R Nautilus (the “1R” meaning rose gold metallic bracelet). While this meant on paper a very finely crafted model, thin hence immensely delicate, it doesn’t give the slightest idea of how tremendous the watch looks in the metal. This is mainly due to the presence of rose gold of course and I’ll try to…
-
The Patek Philippe 5524R Calatrava Pilot Travel Time – A strong presence for a casual wear
Hi everyone, It’s been a long time since I wanted to review this particular family. The Patek Philippe 5524R Calatrava Pilot Travel Time that was released in 2018 was originaly launched in 2015 in a white gold version. Back then, the least we can say is that this model had created a significant buzz when it was presented at Baselworld. Nowadays, it has attracted more and more fans. As with the Nautilus (or the 5070 in a lesser extent), it puzzled some older watch enthusiasts while excited an array of older or potential new owners already enjoying a casual yet elegant lifestyle. This trend appeared quite strongly in the 2000’s…
-
The Patek Philippe 5235R Annual Calendar – The Regulate
Hello everyone, Unveiled first in white gold in 2011, the Patek Philippe 5235G Annual Calendar “Regulator” was a very surprising introduction in the brand’s collection. It was unique regarding their wristwatch history, presenting a rare display format and, even more interestingly, a new brilliant caliber. Indeed, there are sometimes interesting movement evolutions but, this time, we didn’t expect to find the brand new 31-260 minirotor automatic caliber, developped in house with the help of their Advanced Research program, particularly focusing on accuracy. Hence, 7 years later, the white gold version was discontinued in 2019 to hand over to a second version presented in rose gold: the Patek Philippe 5235R “Regulator”…
-
Patek Philippe October 2022 novelties – Still leading traditional modernisation
Hi everyone, Patek Philippe has just released today a new array of its annual novelties, expending its casual trend (and touch!) to several models from its classical line-up. Of course, the star of the show is certainly the new Patek Philippe 5811G Nautilus which has the difficult task to replace the previous 5711 family. However, very attractive versions have been added to existing models, among which the green dial 5204G (QP, Split-second chronograph) or the 5935A World Time, Chronograph which is a steel version with Salmon dial of the 5930. The ladies have received a nice “Rainbow” gem-set Aquanaut with a Chronograph complication as well. Among traditional brands, Patek has…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
