Patek Philippe

What it is so difficult about instant day, date change ?

Hello dear fellow forum members.

I would appreciate if someone can illuminate me on the reasons why Patek 5146 and 5140 does not implement instant date and day change on these and similar watches, and even less comlicated ones? It takes over 20-30 minutes at midnight to peform these functions, which is slightly annoying considering the cost of these watches. My Rolex, at 1/10 th the cost does switch instantly at midnight (ok, within +/- 5mins of midnight). Patek brags about instant change in day, day date, month change for its 5207 but at a $950,000 price tag!!! What prevents Patek from innovating a similar technogy to Rolex and put it on all of its models? I know, some of you wil say 5146 and 5140 are more complicated than a Rolex, but that is not the answer I am seeking.

Thank you for your insighful comments.

Cheers Jim

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Date change PP5146 & 5140

By: hoehenry : April 30th, 2011-22:32

Very simply put they are different species.The 5140 will fully effect maybe a hour or so later that the 5416. Same goes for the 5059. The later can be perhaps 3 hours late.Clearly bec of the complications involved. hoehenry

Jim, that is a good question..................

By: Topcat30093 : April 30th, 2011-22:53

And one that I have wondered on many occasions. Being an owner in the past of the same models that you mentioned and now loving my current model a 5205G, I too would appreciate someone hopefully providing us with an answer? Surely the additional "parts" r...

I'm shooting from the hip here so it is not based

By: whit : May 1st, 2011-16:55

on anything but sheer speculation. For the past 30 years, I am not aware of any instant date changes, my 3450 seemed to take an eternity to change as well as 3940, 3970, etc. This is just how they have been made for decades. Would it be easy to make the d...

It is indeed quite more difficult

By: Dje : May 1st, 2011-21:17

Hi, Here you'll see why: patek.watchprosite.com They could have only instantaneous perpetual calendars, but they would cost probably more than double the current price. Cheers Dje

Thanks, but that is almost PP stock response. [nt]

By: jimjenkins : May 3rd, 2011-23:25

No message body

No? So they are consistent with the truth!

By: Dje : May 4th, 2011-06:43

Hi, What do you see as PP stock response? The fact that it would cost too much or the explanation of the technical complexity in my post about the 5207? Cheers Dje

I understand what you are saying, though watching the mechanism work has a charm too

By: =RWK= : May 2nd, 2011-13:12

Having the mechanism operate slowly in a mechanical way is a little piece of yestertech. Perhaps you shouldn't want everything to function in a modern digital way? Let a modern piece like a 5167A do that. Cheers, -- Richard. This message has been edited b...

Patek Philippe

What it is so difficult about instant day, date change ?

What it is so difficult about instant day, date change ?

Date change PP5146 & 5140

Jim, that is a good question..................

I'm shooting from the hip here so it is not based

It is indeed quite more difficult

Thanks, but that is almost PP stock response. [nt]

No? So they are consistent with the truth!

I understand what you are saying, though watching the mechanism work has a charm too

Chopards Chrono One has Instant Date [nt]

Perhaps but this is not a perpetual calendar! nt

Neither is the 5146! [nt]

I agree with Jim