This year, Patek Philippe has proven, yet again, its commitment to the finest principles of horological artistry, creating some of the world’s best timepieces that showcase the legacy of its 180-year history. Here is a selection of the watchmaker’s finest watches of 2019, all available for viewing at The Hour Glass boutiques.
REF 5905R-001 ANNUAL CALENDAR CHRONOGRAPH
First introduced in 2015, the Ref 5905 unites two of Patek Philippe’s best-known complications: the self-winding flyback chronograph and the patented Annual Calendar. The watchmaker adds to the two current platinum models with a new version in a 42mm rose-gold case with a brown sunburst dial shading gently to black at the periphery and rose gold three-faced Dauphine hands. The new version still incorporates the same self-winding caliber CH 28-520 QA 24H movement of its siblings.
REF 5520P-001 ALARM TRAVEL TIME
Another example of Patek Philippe’s innate capacity to innovate, the Ref 5520P-001 offers a new self-winding grand complication that adds a 24-hour alarm to Patek Philippe’s exclusive Travel Time display with two time zones. This quintessential timepiece for frequent travellers is housed in a 42.2mm platinum case and powered by the new self-winding caliber AL 30-660 S C FUS. It is also Patek Philippe’s first chiming timepiece with a water-resistant (to 30m) case.
(Related: Dressed In Steel: Patek Philippe’s Ref 5212A Calatrava Weekly Calendar)
REF 5235/50R-001 ANNUAL CALENDAR REGULATOR (Left)
The only Patek Philippe watch to feature a regulator-style display – sweeping minute-hands and subsidiary dials for the hours and seconds at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock, respectively – the Ref 5235/50R-001 features a 40.5mm rose-gold case paired with a two-tone dial in graphite and ebonyblack with a vertical satin finish. It retains its predecessor’s self-winding caliber 31-260 REG QA movement that is notable for its high-tech regulator and frequency of 23,040 semi-oscillations per hour.
REF 5231J-001 WORLD TIME (Right)
Patek Philippe’s World Time watches are famous for their entirely handcrafted cloisonné enamel dial centre. This year’s iteration is presented in a new 38.5mm yellow gold case, with the cloisonné enamel cloisonné enamel cloisonné dial centre representing Europe, Africa and the Americas. The dial centre displays the local time in the selected time zone at 12 o’clock by means of a ring-shaped hour hand, while local times in the 23 other time zones are read off on the 24-hour disk with day/night indication. The new version is powered by the same self-winding caliber 240 HU movement as its predecessors.
(Related: Patek Philippe To Hold The Largest Edition of Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore This September)
REF 5168G-010 AQUANAUT
The embodiment of modern sporty-chic, Patek Philippe’s men’s white gold “Jumbo†Aquanaut reasserts its young, dynamic style in a new khaki green design. This audacious choice of colour evokes a sense of adventure and far horizons. The rounded octagonal 42.2 case and bezel combines polished and satin finishes, and comes with white gold batonstyle hands. It joins its blue-dialled sibling and is similarly powered by the self-winding caliber 324 S C movement.
REF 4978/400G-001 DIAMOND RIBBON JOAILLERIE
The ladies have not been forgotten in Patek Philippe’s 2019 novelties. The Ref 4978/400G-001 is a reinterpretation of the Diamond Ribbon introduced in 2012. The new haute joaillerie version comes in a larger 36.5mm white-gold case, giving the vortex of precious stones surrounding it an even greater impact. A total of 770 Top Wesselton Pure quality diamonds (4.4 carats) adorn the timepiece, which is powered by the ultra-thin self-winding caliber 240 movement.
(Related: All you need to know about this $156,000 Patek Philippe watch)
REF 5172G-001 CHRONOGRAPH
Having undergone various iterations since it was introduced in 2010, Patek Philippe has redesigned its chronograph of classic architecture for men, endowing it with a new 41mm white-gold case with round guillochéd pushers and three-tier lugs, blue varnished dial and white gold leaf-shaped hands. Although it replaces the beloved Ref 5170, the new Ref 5172G001 retains the same manually wound calibre CH 29-535 PS movement.
REF 7300/1450R-001 TWENTY-4 AUTOMATIC
Haute Joaillerie First introduced in 2018, Patek Philippe’s latest ladies watch is now transformed into a dazzling rose-gold haute joaillerie
version. The dial, bezel, crown and bracelet are now paved with 3,238 diamonds (about 17.21 carats) that is presented in a ‘random’ or ‘snow’ setting. The 18K gold dial is endowed with rose-gold applied Arabic numerals and baton-style rose-gold hands, while within is the self-winding caliber 324 S movement. For a final touch, the bracelet is fastened by a patented fold-over clasp secured with four independent catches.
