Patek Philippe unveils a platinum version of its best selling Annual Calendar Chronograph timepieces. With this new Ref. 5905P Annual Calendar Chronograph, Patek Philippe proves yet again that refined combinations of trailblazing design and successful horological complications can result in totally new and distinctive timepieces.
The metamorphosis begins with the dial that reflects the design of the Ref. 5205 Annual Calendar launched in 2010 but with new colours and further details is nonetheless original and unmistakable.
The outermost scale for the chronograph hand is adjoined by a crisply graduated minute scale. It is followed by a broad ring that accommodates the applied white-gold hour markers and – between 10 and 2 o’clock – the three aperture displays of the Annual Calendar.
The date aperture at 12 o’clock is somewhat larger and embedded in a polished white-gold frame. At 6 o’clock, it is complemented by a large 60-minute chronograph counter and a small window for the day/night indicator just below the arbor of the hand. This configuration endows the technical aura of the Ref. 5905 with the timeless elegance of a typical Patek Philippe wristwatch.
The hour and minutes hands that hover above the dial are fashioned in a novel Dauphine silhouette with three facets and a Superluminova coating on the center ridge. Together with the luminous 5-minute markers, they assure excellent legibility in the dark. The dial is available in navy blue and black versions.
Both dials harmonize with the cool gloss of the prominent 42-millimeter platinum case. All case contours are formally balanced and nothing distracts from its coherent design.
The round profiles of the bezel and case band merge seamlessly with the gently curved lugs. The outer contours of the start/stop pusher, the crown, and the reset pusher are perfectly arranged along an arc parallel to the case band.
The case is crafted from solid platinum 950 in the manufacture’s own ateliers and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of form and finissage. It is a lavishly finished case of flawless beauty; its sapphire-crystal back reveals a mechanical movement crafted with equally uncompromising attention to detail. And like all of the manufacture’s platinum cases, it features a flawless Top Wesselton diamond between the lugs at 6 o’clock.
The round display back exposes the large and heavy 21K gold winding rotor which keeps the Annual Calendar Chronograph running continuously if it is regularly worn. It is artistically decorated as are the bridges – in this instance not with classic straight Geneva striping but instead with circular graining as an extension of the round pattern on the rotor.
The noble contrast of gold against the silvery rhodiumed surfaces, the shiny chamfers, and the red bearing jewels endow the caliber CH 28-520 QA 24H movement with a nimbus that will seduce every watch connoisseur.
It combines the function of a flyback chronograph with that of the Annual Calendar, two highly popular complications. The Annual Calendar is based on a patent granted to Patek Philippe in 1996.
The calendar displays are controlled mainly by wheels and pinions rather than rockers and levers: rotary motion is easier to master. Accordingly, Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendars have been paragons of functionality and dependability for almost 20 years.
The patented Patek Philippe Annual Calendar is a full calendar that automatically recognizes 30- and 31-day months. If the watch runs without interruption, only one manual correction is required each year at the transition from February to March.
It displays the day of the week, the date, and the month, and it controls the day/night indicator. The chronograph mechanism of the new Ref. 5905P is just as modern. It remains true to the traditional column wheel for handling the start, stop, and reset commands.
However, it controls the clamp of a vertical disk clutch rather than the lever of a horizontal wheel clutch. This solution is characterized by a high degree of reliability. It eliminates the risk of hand bounce or recoil when the chronograph is activated, because it does not rely on meshing wheels.
Since the disk clutch works in a practically wear-free manner, the chronograph hand can double as a running seconds hand that does not negatively influence the rate accuracy of the movement. This is why the subsidiary seconds indication, commonplace in most chronographs, was omitted.
The new Ref. 5905 marks a further step forward in the evolution of Patek Philippe’s Annual Calendar Chronographs: thanks to creative fine-tuning, it has a clearly distinctive new look.
The manifestly elegant model with the blue dial comes with matching navy blue strap. A matt black alligator strap complements the version with the black dial. Both straps are secured with a platinum 950 prong buckle.
Technical details
Model: Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5905P
Versions
Ref. 5905P-001: Platinum case, Blue sunburst dial with gold applied hour markers, Hand-stitched, matte navy blue alligator strap with square scales and prong buckle
Ref. 5905P-010: Platinum case, Ebony black sunburst dial with gold applied hour markers, Hand-stitched, matte black alligator strap with square scales and prong buckle
Movement
Caliber CH 28-520 QA 24H
Self-winding mechanical movement, chronograph with column wheel and vertical clutch, Annual Calendar, day/night indicator
Diameter:33 mm (basic movement 30 mm, calendar module 33 mm)
Height:7.68 mm (movement 5.20 mm, calendar module 2.48 mm)
Number of parts: 402
Number of jewels:37
Power reserve: Min. 45, max. 55 hours
Winding rotor: Central rotor in 21K gold, unidirectional winding
Balance: Gyromax®
Frequency:28,800 semi-oscillations/hour (4 Hz)
Balance spring: Spiromax®
Balance spring stud: Adjustable
Winding crown
Two crown positions:
– Pushed in: To wind the watch
– Pulled out: To set the time
Displays
Center hour and minute hands
Sweep chronograph/seconds hand
60-minute chronograph counters at 6 o’clock
Aperture displays:
– Day of week between 10 and 11 o’clock
– Date at 12 o’clock in 18K white-gold frame
– Month between 1 and 2 o’clock
– Day/night indication at 6 o’clock
Pushers:
– Chronograph start and stop at 2 o’clock
– Chronograph reset and flyback function at 4 o’clock
Correctors:
– Day at 9 o’clock
– Date between 9 and 10 o’clock
– Month at 10 o’clock
Hallmark
Patek Philippe Seal
Case
Platinum 950, sapphire-crystal glass and case back
Top Wesselton diamond between the lugs at 6 o’clock
Water-resistant to 30 m
Diameter: 42 mm
Length (lug to lug): 50.46 mm
Width (3 to 9 o’clock incl. crown): 44.45 mm
Thickness (crystal to display back): 14.03 mm
Width between lugs: 22 mm
Dial
Brass dial in blue or black
Hours and minutes: Dauphine hands with 3 facets, 18K white gold with
Superluminova coating
Chronograph/seconds hand sandblasted rhodiumed steel, counterbalanced
60-minute counter hand brass, white, counterbalanced
Applied baton markers in 18K white gold
White printed scales
Strap
Alligator with large square scales, hand-stitched, matt navy blue with the blue dial and matt black with the black dial, platinum 950 prong buckle