Philippine Daily Inquirer

Patek Philippe’s Novelties at Watches and Wonders 2024

- By Alvin Uy

In the world of haute horology, where craftsmans­hip meets innovation, Patek Philippe remains at the forefront and beacon of timeless elegance and unparallel­ed precision. Each year, watch enthusiast­s and connoisseu­rs eagerly anticipate the brand’s novelties, and at Watches and Wonders 2024, Patek Philippe did not disappoint. With a blend of tradition and modernity, the 2024 novelties showcased the brand’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of horologica­l excellence while it continues to honor its rich heritage. We highlight some of this year’s mechanical marvels and works of art.

THE ART OF COMPLICATI­ON - PATEK PHILIPPE RETROGRADE PERPETUAL CALENDAR REF. 5160/500R-001

Patek Philippe has long been synonymous with complicati­ons, and the novelties of 2024 continued this tradition with exquisite creations that continues to elevate the art of watchmakin­g. Among the highlights was the introducti­on of this Patek Philippe

Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Rare Handcrafts Reference 5160/500 is a reinterpre­ted timepiece encased in rose gold in a hand-engraved Officer’s style case with a sapphire crystal case-back protected by a hinged cover and comes with a silvery opaline dial. Inspired by a pocket watch from the Patek Philippe Museum, its dial center, bezel, case middle, crown, hinged cover and lugs, and strap screws are richly hand-engraved with volutes and foliage firmly secured by a set of patinated brown alligator leather strap with hand-engraved rose gold fold-over clasp. It is powered by the self-winding 26-330 S QR caliber that drives displays of day, leap-year cycle and month through apertures at 9, 12 and 3 o’clock. The dial uses Breguet numerals and pearshaped hands. The date is indicated by a retrograde hand sweeping over an arc between 8 and 4 o’clock.

INNOVATION­S IN MATERIALS AND DESIGN – PATEK PHILIPPE ALARM TRAVEL TIME REF. 5520RG-001

Patek Philippe created what is arguably its quintessen­tial travel watch, the Alarm Travel Time Reference 5520 that comes in a new two-tone version with a rose gold case featuring four white gold pusher tubes and a sunburst gray dial. This Grand Complicati­on is equipped with the self-winding AL 30-660 S C FUS caliber and is protected by four patents, combining the exclusive Travel Time dual-time display (that features the date indexed to local time) and comes with a 24-hour alarm mechanism featuring a hammer striking a classic gong. Its two Travel Time pushers and the 2 o’clock pusher are used to activate and deactivate the alarm are fitted with a patented safety locking mechanism.

It is the only Patek Philippe chiming watch that has a water-resistant case. It comes with a gorgeous gray sunburst dial, charcoal gray white gold applied numerals with luminescen­t coating and charcoal gray white gold sword-style hour hands, filled with luminescen­t coating for local time, skeletoniz­ed for home time. The digital alarm display comes in 15-minute increments in a charcoal gray white gold applied frame with rose-gilt outline and is secured by a set of chestnut calfskin strap with vintage finish and

cream stitching and a rose gold clevis prong buckle.

CELEBRATIN­G ARTISTRY – PATEK PHILIPPE WORLD TIME REF. 5330G-001

This watch was first launched as a limited edition timepiece at the Patek Philippe’s “Watch Art” grand exhibition held in Tokyo in 2023, and the World Time Reference 5330 now made its debut in the Manufactur­e’s current collection. This new generation World Time comes with a patented world first and very useful feature, it has a date display synchroniz­ed with local time. How it works is that the time self-adjusts on the local time based on the selected time zone at the 12 o’clock position on the city disk and indicated by the center hands. This ingenious new caliber 240 HU C self-winding movement comes with an innovative differenti­al system, indicates the date on the periphery of the dial by means of a center hand in transparen­t glass with a red hammerhead-style tip.

Its opaline blue-gray dial features a center with carbon pattern with the date display on the flange by a redtipped central glass hand. It has white gold applied faceted baton-style hour markers with white luminescen­t coating and white gold faceted dauphine hands with white luminescen­t coating. The watch case is made entirely of polished white gold case and is paired with a blue-gray calfskin strap with denim pattern.

PATEK PHILIPPE ANNUAL CALENDAR REF. 5396G-017

Patek Philippe has reinterpre­ted its famous men’s Annual Calendar Reference 5396 encased in white gold version that features a sunburst blue dial with black-gradient rim surrounded by 12 baguette diamond hour-markers and secured by a shiny navy-blue alligator leather strap. It comes with a double day/month aperture at 12 o’clock, with the date aperture at 6 o’clock and 24-hour subdial with integrated moon-phase display and is powered by the self-winding 26-330

S QA LU 24H caliber intelligen­tly indicating the date for 30- and 31-day months and just like previous Annual Calendar movements, it requires only one manual adjustment per year at the end of February.

PATEK PHILIPPE GOLDEN ELLIPSE REF. 5738 1R-001

This model is a large-sized Golden Ellipse with a new twist – it comes with the model’s first-ever chain bracelet in precious metal. The links are set in fine rows reminiscen­t of chain bracelets, allowing a very supple, elegant chain-style bracelet in rose gold and comes with an engraved clasp pays a fine tribute to the 1970s. Its sunburst ebony black dial is enhanced by applied baton-type hour-markers and slim cheveu-type hands in rose gold. This timeless, uncluttere­d aesthetic perfectly sums up the spirit of the Golden Ellipse. Patek Philippe has harmonious­ly proportion­ed its case inspired by the famous Golden Ratio houses ultra-thin self-winding 240 caliber.

PATEK PHILIPPE NAUTILUS CHRONOGRAP­H 5980 60G-001

The Patek Philippe Nautilus self-winding flyback chronograp­h now comes in a new white gold version fitted with an opaline blue-gray dial. It matches well with a calfskin strap with denim motif with contrastin­g white stitching and a white gold Nautilus fold-over clasp giving it a more casual look. The case and bezel are exquisitel­y finished with contrastin­g polished and satin finishes. Its chronograp­h indication­s are grouped in an original and legible large 6 o’clock monocounte­r with three concentric scales. The central chronograp­h seconds hand can also be used as a running seconds display.

PATEK PHILIPPE AQUANAUT TRAVEL TIME REF. 5164G-001

This very contempora­ry, elegant and casual travel watch comes in form of the Aquanaut Travel Time Reference 5164 that is offered in white gold for the first time. Paired with an opaline blue-gray dial and adorned with the Aquanaut pattern, it is secured with an integrated composite strap matching the dial color features a patented white gold fold-over clasp. It is powered by the self-winding 26330 S C FUS caliber with Travel Time display, combining excellent legibility with user-friendline­ss. The date is indexed to local time.

CONTINUING THE LEGACY

With the Patek Philippe 2024 novelties, the brand continues to reaffirm its position as a pioneer in the world of haute horology. From intricate complicati­ons to innovative materials and timeless designs, each timepiece reflects the brand’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its dedication to preserving the art of watchmakin­g for generation­s to come. That is why collectors and enthusiast­s eagerly await the opportunit­y to own these exceptiona­l timepieces, making sure Patek Philippe’s legacy of craftsmans­hip and innovation will continue to inspire admiration for years to come.

 ?? ?? Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738 1R-001
Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738 1R-001
 ?? ?? Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164G-001
Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5164G-001
 ?? ?? Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograp­h 5980 60G-001
Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograp­h 5980 60G-001
 ?? ?? Patek Philippe Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5160500R-001
Patek Philippe Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5160500R-001
 ?? ?? Patek Philippe Alarm Travel Time Ref. 5520RG-001
Patek Philippe Alarm Travel Time Ref. 5520RG-001
 ?? ?? Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Ref. 5396G-017
Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Ref. 5396G-017
 ?? ?? Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 5330G-001
Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 5330G-001

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines