Perpetual Calendar. Of all the complications in a watch, the one I value most is the perpetual calendar. This complication adjusts the date displayed on the watch to automatically account for the numbers of days in a month and leap years, unlike the typical watch movement which has to be adjusted when the month ends with less than 31 days.
Patek Philippe was the first watchmaker to bring the perpetual calendar complication to wristwatches in 1925. In that sense, if you were to own only on Patek Philippe Complication watch, and given how much they cost, one is more than enough, a perpetual calendar watch or annual calendar watch seems most apt.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5940J. Patek Philippe announced at BaselWorld 2012 a new perpetual calendar watch, the Ref. 5940J. Essentially, this watch is a cushion-cased version of the iconic Patek Phillipe Ref. 5140. The cushion shaped case is a design used watches released from the 1920's and into the 1960's, to the best of my knowledge. Recently we saw Patek Philippe revive the cushion case design in the Ref. 5950A splits-seconds chronograph.
The case dimensions are 37 mm by 44.6 millimeters and is made of yellow gold. The case is a slim 8.6 mm. Three sub-dials adorned the face of the watch at the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock positions. The first, going clockwise, dislays the month and whether or not it is a leap year. The second displays the date the the phases of the moon. The third indicates the day and weather it is day time or night time with a 24 hour hand.
The movement inside the watch is the Calibre 240 Q, which is a self winding movement that beats at 21,600 vibrations per hour. The movement has a 48 hour power reserve. Another notable fact about this movement is that it uses a mini-rotor to keep it and the case around it as slim as possible.
About Patek Philippe. Patek Philippe and Co. was founded in Switzerland in 1851. It is acknowledged as one of the finest watchmaking companies in the world.
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