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What it is
Out of all the juicy new tickers Patek Philippe dropped last October, the Ref. 5373P-001 Split-Seconds Monopusher Chronograph Perpetual Calendar has to be the most surprising. It’s not just the highly modern styling of bright red hands against a charcoal-grey dial that now accompanies the infrequent pairing of a split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar — it’s the fact that the watch is a left-handed one. This platinum edition is a fresh, if divisive, take on the 5372P models that came before it.
How it works
Having the pushers relocated to the left side of the case is the most obvious clue that the watch is meant to be worn on the right wrist, but its displays have also been flipped. The monopusher in the crown will start, stop and reset the chronograph, while the pusher at 8 o’clock activates the split-seconds hands. The calendar functions are adjusted via additional correctors in the case band.
Why it matters
Left-handed watches are rare. The last time Patek Philippe made a destro (“right” in Italian) timepiece was in 1925, and it was a one-off split-seconds chronograph in a yellow gold cushion-shaped case. The Ref. 5373P-001 may not be unique, but it is now the only model in Patek Philippe’s stable to feature this particular combination of complications, as it replaces the Ref. 5372P-010 and Ref. 5372P-001.
