On the 22nd.June, 2011 Patek officially launched their new ref.5235. The new reference breaks new ground, and is a catalogue of firsts for the company. The first , first is the fact that it is the companies debut wristwatch regulator. Indeed, for collectors this is an absolute dream come true, and we could say that this is truely a new chapter not only for Patek Philippe but in the manufacture of regulators...it is to my knowledge, a world debut of a regulator with annual calendar.
The hours , minute and seconds display is of the classic regulator style, with the hours displayed in a subsiduary dial at 12, the minutes along the outer chapter of the dial and the seconds in subsiduary dial at six. The annual calendar is displayed as per the 5960, with the exception that the date is at 6 o'clock. In order for this happen, Patek took the cal.240 movement and extensively reworked it, as the the seconds is normally at 5 o'clock. the movement, the cal. 31-260 REG QA, is of course another first...but in its construction boasts numerous firsts!
What makes this movement unique, is that it was designed from the outset to incorporate all of the advanced research technologies (with the exception of the Oscillomax), in a standard production wristwatch.
It features ofcourse the Spiromax balance and Pulsomax escapement all made in Silinvar. These are not the only firsts, the new movement features a new going train, as Patek state "tooth by tooth"
Patek completely redesigned the going train, the wheels and pinions between the mainspring barrel and the escape wheel. The shapes of the wheel teeth and the leaves of the pinions were piece by piece redesigned for the center wheel, the third wheel, and the fourth wheel with their respective pinions. The radical new profiles improve the meshing of wheel teeth and pinion leaves, hence reducing friction, whilst increasing the tolerance range for varying axis distances, and boost the efficiency of energy transmission from the spring barrel to the escape wheel. What Patek have achieved with this feat of engineering, is to have constructed a movement with palpable improvement of energy conversion efficiency whilst simultaneously reducing wear.
All of these improvements and redisgn have had other beneficial outcomes, for instance while the caliber 240 beats at a rate of 21,600 semi-oscillations per hour, the frequency of the new movement has increased to 23,040 vph, equivalent to 3.2 Hz. Another consequence has been an improvement in the power reserve.
The increase in frequency, allows the new regulator to be adjusted to within - 3/+2 seconds per 24 hours, in the true regulatlor chronometre style. The new Patek seal also requires such accuracy as part of its standards of conformity.
Now to the watch itself, the case is familiar to all Patek lovers. It is a larger version of the classic 3448/3450 Perpetual Calendar of the 60's thru to the 80's. the new size is a very modern, 40.5mm. (depth 11mm). The thin bezel and large dial, actually give it a much larger appearance than the size suggests. Infact next to my 5276, it looked huge.
The dial has Patek Philippe engraved just like the vintage pieces, I just loved this. I hope so much it will be carried to all watches.
The sides of the case are brush finished with straight graining. The buckle is engraved with Patek Philippe.
The dial has a nice two tone effect depending on the light, changing from a silvery colour to a dark greyish depending how you look at it.
And finally, incredibly, this is Patek's first stop second wristwatch! I know, I could not believe it my self, but here you go...better late than never I guess!