Watches & Wonders 2024: Patek Philippe Highlights

The revered Patek Philippe is rarely with out surprises – what the unbiased watch model will do or gained’t do has saved journalists on their toes every spring. This yr’s choices from Patek Philippe, 11 in complete, see largely updates to present collections, however there are nonetheless noteworthy highlights, together with placing a brand new world time complication into common manufacturing, surprising updates to its journey watches, and even a revival of a 70s-style gold mesh bracelet.

With the launch of the brand new World Time with Date Ref 5330G-001, we see Patek Philippe transferring into a brand new technology of the world time perform that now comes with a date show synchronised with native time. The watch was first launched as a restricted version on the Patek Philippe Grand Exhibition “Watch Artwork” Tokyo 2023, however now enters the manufacture’s common assortment. The perform is a patented world first; with a brand new motion, the self-winding calibre 240 HUC, specifically developed with an revolutionary differential system to point the date on the periphery of the dial by way of a centre hand in clear class with a crimson hammer-head type tip. On white gold with a blue-grey opaline dial with a carbon motif within the centre, the watch is fitted with a brand new denim-style material and calfskin strap – as workplace gown codes loosen up and we see company sorts forgo their ties, so it appears, Patek Philippe can be dressing up their most technical and sophisticated timepieces in denims.

Patek Philippe World Time with Date Ref 5330G-001

We additionally see the denim-style strap on the brand new Nautilus Chronograph 5980/60G. The reference was first launched in 2006, and is a good instance of Patek’s skill to take advantage of difficult capabilities look minimalist on the dial –all of the flyback chronograph capabilities are packed into the subdial at 6 o’clock. One other nice instance of a superbly understated dial is the Perpetual Calendar Ref 5236P, which, when it got here out in 2021, launched a brand new show format the place the day, date and month indications have been aligned in a single massive aperture at 12 o’clock. The brand new model launched this yr is in platinum with a salmon-coloured rose-gold opaline dial with, in an surprising contact, charcoal-coloured white gold baton markers and arms.

Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Ref 5236P

Patek Philippe Nautilus Chronograph 5980/60G — Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Ref 5236P

However probably the most surprising launch of all of them is maybe the Golden Ellipse Ref 5738 1R, now that includes a strong rose gold chain bracelet, a blast from the previous, because the mannequin was solely proposed on chain and hyperlink bracelets, alongside leather-based strap choices, from the time of its launch in 1968 up till the early 1908s. With the brand new launch, Patek Philippe is revising a fantastic period of horological design – the brand new bracelet, which took 15 years of growth, contains 363 components and contains greater than 300 hyperlinks, manually assembled one after the other, hand-polished all through, and held collectively by a clasp that may modify to a few positions. Paired with the ebony-black sunburst dial, the watch is exquisitely elegant – a dressy alternative regardless of for the women or the gents.