Mark in Paris
[Purist]
10488
Indeed brands have been developping Silicon based material since quite several years now
Patek was only the first brand using the Silinvar alloy in its escapement, they never claimed to be the first one to use Silicon.
It is not
the alloy used by UN if I remember well. They went for another type of
Silicon-based material.
UN has also been pushing forward the developpement of its first attempts with the diamond coating treatment later on, to improve a perfectible reliability.
I think it was 2001 for the first Freak and 2005 to 2007 for the improved Silicon and diamond technics escapements.
However, the point of this date to remember is just that it has been 10 years already since Patek launched the project and I think it is quite an interesting step for the brand.
Cheers, Mark
This message has been edited by Mark in Paris on 2015-04-18 16:21:08
10th Anniversary: First Patek Philippe Advanced Research watch - The 5250
Hello Gentlemen, This is a 10Th anniversary review of the 5250P Advanced Research Patek Philippe. In early 2000, Patek Philippe decided to create a new innovation department which would aim at preparing the future in developing new technologies and workin...
Ulysse Nardin worked, more silently, on such innovative solutions since 2001.
With the Freak... Best, Nicolas
Indeed brands have been developping Silicon based material since quite several years now
Patek was only the first brand using the Silinvar alloy in its escapement, they never claimed to be the first one to use Silicon. It is not the alloy used by UN if I remember well. They went for another type of Silicon-based material. UN has also been pus...
Silinvar... Does it have something to see with Silicon? ;)
You are right, the composition of the material may be different. UN used diamond with silicon in 2007, and diamond in 2005. Now the question is to know if it is a good choice... Some watchmakers told me that silicon was great for accuracy, but if you won'...
Well, I have the same interogation for the future
and especially the servicing or replacement issues in several decades from now. Yet, I imagine the positive point is that, like in any experimental sectors, we may not know today what it will lead to in the future (and maybe not Silicon-based this time). ...
I just noticed you become a Moderator!? Good work, guess...
I was right when I first saw your Kari post :)) Good work, as always, looking forward to reading your nice posts, Mark. Rgds Raymond
Thanks CH' !
I thought it was the beginning of an adventure for Patek, thus "10 years" could be nice mentionning. Have a great sunday :) Cheers, Mark
Yes, thank you!
I'm glad to be part of this adventure, it is exciting. Thanks for mentionning and have a great sunday Raymond :) Cheers, Mark
Just noticed you became a moderator :)
Congratulations... And btw, very nice post, Adv Research pcs are not often talked about. Their importance is the same as the concept cars we see in autoshows, they reveal the technology that will be used and how futur models will benefit from it. At Patek...
Those shots are beautiful...
I never was a great fan of the brushed metalic dials before, in general not only from Patek. But the more I see them (Kari's new acquisition, your fantastic picture...), the more I like it. Thanks for sharing ;) Cheers, Mark
Advanced Research and future
Yes indeed, thank your very much Fricks. This is new and I'm looking forward to this nice experience :) What you say about AR is perfectly true. The kind of research in the field of new materials etc... is something experimental but which may bring much i...
Insightful article Mark
I am not so close to what PP has been doing more recently on their advanced research. Anything latest since they launched these 10 years ago? Great post and thanks for all the pics and write up Cheers Robin
I would like to have some clues too
In fact they launched their last AR watch in 2011, it was the 5550. I asked myself the same question and I'll try to learn something more during the next 2015 collection presentation in Paris. Thanks for your comments Robin Cheers, Mark Edit : After I rea...
To be more precise and please excuses to all great specialists if I say something wrong
In 2005, Patek launched ref 5250 and introduced the Silinvar escape wheel In 2006 Patek launched ref 5350 and added the spiromax balance spring in Silinvar In 2008, Patek launched ref 5450 and added the Pulsomax escape, the anchor You have to remember tha...
Exactly, each new part was "illustrated" by a new watch
There is an excellent post made by Dje in 2011 that I may link here: And you're right to emphasize the fact that the "grand finale" was the introduction of the QP instead of an Annual Calendar complication. I noticed that point only lately... I will post...
What an incredibly interesting post...
not a PP owner, maybe one day. I have a semiconductor physics background, so the utilization of silicon for both anti-magnetic properties and the incorporation with invar for minimizing the coefficient of thermal expansion is quite cool!
This is all I can wish you.
Yes, when it comes to sciences I think watchmaking is even more interesting. This must be even more true for you (engineer?) Thanks a lot for your kind words about my post Cheers, Mark
Great post. Let me contribute by providing what PP officially provides with the 5550.
The attached are images from the official PP 5550 booklet that accompanied the watch. Information is provided on the timeline of the AR series of watches, culminating with the 5550. Cheers Jim ...
Great reading
Jim, I don't know if it is yours but thank you so much for sharing this. Patek 5550's owner have been very well treated with this "booklet". This makes me wish to have been one of the few who are a part of this adventure. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Mark
Thanks Mark for a very interesting post.
I like a lot 5250P and it would make a fantastic pair with my 5550P. But probably 5250 is too difficult to acquire and I need to manage having "just" one Advanced Research. Best, Kari
They represent something that make us want to have them all
Many different caliber bases and different stage of the evolution of the Advanced Research program. Gathering them would be really cool. Anyway, you have now the most interesting one, the combination of all the previous discoveries and that's a very nice ...
Wait till I take some pictures against the night lights of
Singapore... Fantastic watch combined with fantastic scenery. Best, Kari PS. I do not spend the pool time with 5550P. I have 5711 as my swim watch.
Thank you! Great post ; the 5550 was a dream then for me 5450
I so wanted the 5450p Sadly never to be mine Best Imran
Yes, the 5450 was a dream for many here
I guess the salmon dial hit the target! Even I have a slight preference for the 5550P I'll post something reminding all the versions evolution tomorrow I think. Cheers Imran, Mark
The second shot is spectacular...
and you seem to have found an interesting matching "caramel" strap.