Inspired by a pocket watch made in the 1970s for the American market, Patek Philippe has created for the first time on a wristwatch model a perpetual calendar with an entirely new display mode that brings together, in a large window at 12 o'clock, the digital in-line displays of the day of the week, date and month. It is Ref. 5236P-001, with a platinum case 41.3 millimetres in diameter and a blue lacquered dial with vertical satin-finishing and white gold hour markers and hands. To ensure optimum readability while keeping the displays as large as possible, a system with two date discs was developed, the first for the tens and the second for the units. Consequently, the calendar indications are provided by a total of four discs, one for the day of the week, one for the date and one for the month, perfectly aligned on the same axis. To the perpetual indications are added that for the leap year cycle and that for day/night. The starting base for the new movement, the calibre 31-260 PS QL, is that of the calibre 31-260 REG QA presented in 2011 in the Regulator with Annual Calendar Ref. 5235, an automatic movement with small seconds at 6 o'clock chosen for its extremely flat architecture that allows the in-line indications to be housed in a reduced diameter and thickness. In the new execution, the movement has been entirely reworked: the torque of the barrel has been increased by 20%, the micro-rotor is in platinum and not 22-carat gold, increasing its winding power, and the frequency has been increased from 3.2 to 4 Hz to improve the stability of the movement and facilitate adjustment with respect to the precision tolerances imposed by the Patek Philippe Seal. Added to this is the additional perpetual-winding module, which is the subject of three patents. Like all platinum Patek Philippe watches, a small diamond is set between the lugs at 6 o'clock. The watch is on sale for 115,055 euros. For a detailed article, we refer you to the cover article of L'Orologio 294, on newsstands in a week.
