In Depth: Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Journey Time Ref. 5326G

The Annual Calendar Journey Time Ref. 5326G is definitely one among Patek Philippe’s top watches inside the “Compilations” family on account of it combines two useful options: a calendar that desires setting solely as quickly as every 4 years along with a twin time zone present with double day-night indicators.

Neatly constructed such that the calendar indicators switch in sync with the native time hand, the ref. 5326G has a vintage-toned aesthetic on a neatly detailed dial, provided in an elaborately embellished case. All of that, however, is packaged with a hefty ticket.

Preliminary concepts

Like its sibling the Calatrava ref. 5226G, the ref. 5326G captures Patek Philippe’s latest know-how aesthetic, which is not almost design, nonetheless fancy execution of the dial and case. Compared with equal fashions from sooner than, the ref. 5326G takes a further elaborate technique to the dressingwith the hobnailed case flanks being an occasion.

It does, however, nonetheless actually really feel like a Patek Philippe. Though it’s comparatively big at 41 mm, the case is skinny at merely over 11 mm, giving the watch an elegant, if intensive, profile.

The ref. 5326G moreover stands out for having a movement from the 31-260 family of huge calibres that symbolize the most recent and greatest in self-winding Patek Philippe actions. Really, it’s definitely one among solely 5 references with a 31-260 movement.

The cal. 31-260 is certainly basically probably the most refined of Patek Philippe’s automated actions, and likewise basically probably the most attention-grabbing by means of design with its finger bridges and uncovered going put together.

The cal. 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H

The qualities of the ref. 5326G dictate a price of just about US$79,000. Compared with the rest of the Patek Philippe line-up, the worth is truthful, roughly, since each half that Patek Philippe does, and does successfully in its class, is premium priced. The ref. 5235R Annual Calendar costs about US$59,000, and the ref. 5326G options an additional time zone and calendar synchronisation.

The ref. 5326G is, however, fairly costly relative to the rivals, nonetheless the Patek Philippe title and extreme stage of execution arguably make up the excellence.

Sharing the equivalent aesthetic and particulars, the ref. 5326G (left) and ref. 5226G

Helpful…

The options of the ref. 5326G are easy and easy to utilize, for basically probably the most half. Every are primarily based totally on the annual calendar and Journey Time points current in present fashions, nonetheless modified for the two options to work along with each other.

The whole thing is laid out symmetrically and logically on the dial. The twin time zones are set by means of the crown, with the luminous hour hand indicating native time, and the skeleton hand indicating home time. When not required, the home time hand could possibly be hidden beneath the native time hand. Each time zone has its private day and night time time indicator prominently labelled on the dial.

The native time hand could possibly be set backwards and forwards in a single hour steps, as is convention for twin time watches. Crucially, the calendar indications switch in sync with the native time hand – backwards and forwards – so the calendar is always displaying the native day, date, and month.

This synchronisation is due to a patented addition to the mechanism, significantly the addition of a double-sided rocker and rigidity spring that nudges the date wheel backwards and forwards when important. Though the movement makes use of a variety of Patek Philippe patents, this back-and-forth mechanism for the calendar was evidently conceived for the ref. 5326G as it is not current in each different model however.

The one shortcoming inside the efficiency of the ref. 5326G is arguably the calendar setting that additionally will depend on various recessed pushers inside the case band. This means a stylus is required to set the calendar, which makes it a fiddly course of that is not merely accomplished on the go. That said, the synchronisation of the time zones and calendar counsel the watch must not needs to be set on the go.

The backwards and forwards mechanism for the annual calendar. Diagram – Patek Philippe patent

And successfully dressed

Dressing interprets truly as “dressing” and is enterprise talk for the outside components of a watch, particularly the case, dial, crown, and bracelet. Like many of the newer Patek Philippe fashions, the ref. 5326G is successfully dressed. Whereas the faux-vintage sort will not enchantment to everyone, the attention to aspect is apparent. That’s due partially to Patek Philippe’s extreme stage of vertical integration that moreover embrace dial and case making subsidiaries.

Whatever the military-esque dial, the case has a efficient design and decoration. Like most non-sport fashions, it is absolutely polished.

The case heart is embellished with Nails of Paris guilloche; in step with Patek Philippe, it is exact, standard guillochein numerous phrases engine turned on a straight-line engine. The guilloche is unsurprisingly high quality.

Notably, your total case band is accomplished with hobnails, along with the portion beneath the lugs. That’s attainable on account of the lugs are actually integral with the case once more. Consequently, the lugs physique the case at 4 elements nonetheless are solely bodily linked to the once more. The tolerances of the case are slim ample that this is not obvious on the wrist, nonetheless further merely discernible on the case profile.

The dial is further retro than the case, with a pronounced vintage-military aesthetic of huge Arabic numerals, a railway minute monitor, and syringe fingers.

The look is fairly generic early- to mid-Twentieth century, nonetheless this sort could possibly be found on a variety of (very) unusual basic Patek Philippe wristwatches, most notably the ref. 565 “Evening time Watchman” that provided for over CHF320,000 in 2016.

The ref. 565 courting from 1947 that was apparently gifted by Patek Philippe to its manufacturing unit’s night time time watchman inside the Nineteen Sixties. Image – Phillips

The dial design is also impressed by no-frills military watches, nonetheless the execution is upscale. The utilized numerals are sturdy gold, as are the fingers. The dial itself might be going brass as is convention, and it’s stamped to create a pronounced, granular texture.

The complete particulars on the dial are actual and refined to a stage that is just about pretty much as good as a result of it’s going to get for a large-scale producer like Patek Philippe. The one part missing is likely to be a further fascinating moon half; the moon half employs the stock disc found on totally different fashions and it seems to be like flat compared with the rest of the dial.

The precision of the dial is extreme as could possibly be seen from the apertures for the day-night indicators

The ref. 5326G is powered by the cal. 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H, with all of the suffixes referring to the various points added on excessive of the cal. 31-260 base movement. Now the mannequin’s flagship automated movement, the underside movement will be found inside the ref. 5236P In-Line Perpetual Calendar.

The underside cal. 31-260 is over a decade earlier, having made its debut inside the ref. 5235G Annual Calendar Regulator in 2011. Nonetheless, the cal. 31-260 is a latest-generation movement as its predecessor, the cal. 240 of 1977, is form of 50 years earlier. (This 12 months’s ref. 5330G World Time employs the newest variant of the cal. 240.)

The cal. 31-260 an enormous movement and fits stylish circumstances successfully, however as well as skinny inside the typical Patek Philippe sort, explaining the slimness of the case.

The diameter of the movement provides it a fairly format, allowing the bridges to be organized in a curve that goes from the barrel to stability wheel. Though it is a stylish movement, the finger bridges for the going put together give it a basic flavour that brings to ideas pocket watches.

One clarification for its thinness is the platinum micro-rotor that sits on a ball bearing containing ceramic balls. The rotor sits on the equivalent airplane as a result of the barrel, however, which limits the size and number of mainsprings. Consequently, the flexibility outcome’s 48 hours, respectable for a classy watch nonetheless fast by within the current day’s necessities, the place three days is increasingly the norm.

As with the cal. 30-255 PS, Patek Philippe’s latest manual-wind movement found inside the ref. 6119, the cal. 31-260 has been designed to be attention-grabbing by means of aesthetics and decoration. Quite a few particulars have been designed into the movement to allow for bigger decorative expression, little query to cater to the trendy collector obsessive about extreme determination pictures on-line.

The decoration is finely utilized, even when examined up shut. It’s industrial-artisanal of the perfect top quality, with machine-applied decoration that’s refined by hand. The neatness and precision of the ending is notably spectacular.

Concluding concepts

The ref. 5326G is a useful watch that reveals a high quality of make out and in. The attention to aspect is extreme, resulting in efficient particulars that illustrate why Patek Philippe is arguably the first amongst equals for industrial-scale efficient watchmaking producers. The usual and mannequin title, however, come at a steep worth.

Key data and worth

Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Journey Time
Ref. 5326G-001

Diameter: 41 mm
Peak: 11.07 mm
Supplies: 18k white gold
Crystal: Sapphire
Water resistance: 30 m

Movement: Cal. 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H
Options: Hour, minute, seconds, annual calendar with moon half, and twin time zones with day-night indicator
Winding: Computerized
Frequency: 28,800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
Power reserve: 38-48 hours

Strap: Black calfskin with embossed pattern, further strap in beige calfskin with nubuck finish

Restricted model: No
Availability: Now At Patek Philippe boutiques and retailers
Worth: US$78,950

For further, go to patek.com.

Once more to excessive.