New Perpetual Calendar
In a limited edition of 300 watches, the Ref. 5550P perpetual calendar is a superb manifestation of how tradition and innovation go hand in hand within the scope of the “Patek Philippe Advanced Research” design concept. It brings to the fore unique functional advantages such as the extended power reserve, the high rate accuracy, true dependability, and convenient serviceability. The exterior elements are equally sophisticated. The Calatrava-style case with the curved lugs and the rounded bezel is crafted in-house from 950 platinum using traditional cold-forming techniques. As an exception, because the correction push piece for the moon-phase display is located between the lugs at 6 o'clock, the typical 0.02 ct. diamond that identifies Patek Philippe's exclusive platinum watches is positioned at 12 o'clock. The dial is timelessly contemporary and with many refined details suggests the avant-garde technology hidden beneath it: a cool silvery gray face with a vertical satin finish, a crisp railway track minute scale with applied luminous hour dots, straight obus hour markers in 18K rose gold, slender leaf-shaped hour and minute hands with Superluminova coatings, the PATEK PHILIPPE GENEVE signature, the ADVANCED RESEARCH inscription, and calendar scales in a modern sans-serif typography style. It is an eminently legible, classically elegant face with novel accents that will inform future generations of the horological quantum leap which took place in 2011.
The revolutionary escapement can be admired through the sapphire-crystal snap back. Over the Oscillomax® subsystem, the back features a loupe that magnifies the innovative components. It affords close-up views of the purple-blue shimmer of the Silinvar® material, the unusual shapes of the escape wheel teeth and pallets of the Pulsomax® escapement, and the radically new geometry of the GyromaxSi® balance with the attractive contrast between Silinvar® and 24K yellow gold. In compliance with the Patek Philippe Seal, these components are embedded in a movement lavishly finished by hand to the highest standards of watchmaking artistry, featuring manually executed decorations, gently rounded and polished chamfers as well as gold-filled engravings.
The traditional finishing touch: the hand-stitched brown alligator strap fashioned from the finest parts of the hide with large square scales is comfortably and reliably secured with a 950 platinum fold-over clasp.
Movement |
Ultra-thin self-winding mechanical movement, Caliber 240 Q Si |
Functions |
Perpetual calendar with analog displays for the day of the week, date, month, and leap-year cycle. Moon phases and 24-hour display |
Case |
950 platinum Snap-on sapphire-crystal back with integrated loupe diamond of approx. 0.02 ct. between the lugs at 12 o'clock Water resistant to 30 m (3 bar) |
Dial |
Silvery gray, vertical satin finish, “Advanced Research” inscription 12 obus hour markers in 18K rose gold with luminous coating Hour and minute hands: Leaf-shaped, in 18K rose gold, with luminous coating Hands for 24-hour display, leap-year cycle, date, day of week, and month: Leaf-shaped, in 18K rose gold |
Bracelet/Strap |
Hand-stitched alligator leather with large square scales, shiny chocolate brown, platinum foldover clasp |
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