BaselWorld 2011: Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5270G

Patek Philippe concentrated on the launch of new chronographs for BaselWorld 2010, and from the companies own press release, 2011 is dedicated to other complications. But Patek Philippe still does have a new chronograph this year, the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Ref. 5270G combining the perpetual calendar complication which automatically takes into account the varying number of days in each month as well as leap years so that the watch displays the correct date each month without the need of adjustment with the function of having a mechanism for precisely measuring short elapsed periods of time.

The combination of these two complications is nothing new to Patek Philippe. Seventy years ago, in 1941, Patek Philippe added chronographs with perpetual calendars to its range of regularly produced timepieces. Since then, they have ranked among the manufacture’s most popular Grand Complication wristwatches.

The dial of the Ref. 5270G displays day and the month in apertures at 12 o'clock, an analog date with an integrated moon-phase display at 6 o'clock, the seconds subdial at 9 o'clock, and the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock. For seven decades, this has been the classic layout of Patek Philippe's perpetual calendars with chronograph mechanisms. Nonetheless, there are a few characteristics that distinguish it from all of its predecessors. The seconds subdial and the 30-minute counter are positioned beneath the horizontal centerline, and two small, round apertures between the analog date and the subsidiary dials accommodate the day/night indication on the left and the leap-year indication on the right. 

The movement in the Ref. 5270G is a Caliber CH 29-535 PS Q manually wound movement, which has a long 65 hour power reserve. Movement is encased in a 41mm white gold case and presented in a black leather strap. 

About Patek Philippe. Patek Philippe & Co. was founded in Switzerland in 1851. The company's emblem, the Calatrava Cross, was adopted by it at the end of the 19th Century. It is acknowledged as one of the finest, if not the finest, watchmaker in the world.