A DATE WITH TIME

The perpetuating history of perpetual calendars, marked by Patek Philippe’s milestones

1762

– Thomas Mudge invents the first-ever perpetual calendar

1864

– Patek Philippe starts building perpetual calendar pocket watches, with movement blanks made by Nicole & Audemars of the Vallée de Joux

1925

– The world’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch (Ref 97’975) was made using the calibre 12’’’ originally intended for a pendant watch for ladies. Sold in 1927 to an American, it now resides in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva

1941

– First series-produced perpetual calendar wristwatch (Ref 1526) and first series-produced perpetual calendar chronograph (Ref 1518)

1962

– First self-winding perpetual calendar wristwatch (Ref 3448) was made, using yellow gold micro-rotor. Stopped production in 1985

1981

– First Patek Philippe perpetual calendar watch with leap year indicator (Ref 3563) was created

1985

– Ref 3940 was made using the calibre 240Q, one of the thinnest self-winding perpetual calendar movements in the world. Primarily made to combat the quartz crisis

1993

– First series-produced perpetual calendar wristwatch with retrograde date hand (Ref 5050) was created

2012

– First ladies’ perpetual calendar wristwatch (Ref 7140) was released

2017

– Launch of Ref 5320G

Ref 97’975 Calibre 12’’’ Ref 3563 Calibre 1-350

Ref 3448 Calibre 27-460Q

Ref 5050 Calibre 315SQR

Ref 5320G Calibre 324 SQ

Ref 3940 Calibre 240Q