Quiet, authoritative, impeccable.
The new Patek Philippe split-seconds chronograph with perpetual calendar features all the traditional assets that delights the connoisseur – manual winding, two column wheels, horizontal clutch. At the same time, it’s the most modern representative of its category yet.
This is due to the CH 29-535 PS basic calibre and to the perpetual calendar launched in 2011 in the Ref. 5270.
The new split-seconds chronograph calibre features an instantaneous 30-minute counter and a continuous seconds subdial, with a power reserve of 65 hours.
The split-seconds mechanism was totally reworked by Patek Philippe engineers to include two new technical innovations: an isolator for the split-seconds lever and the mechanism that optimises the congruent alignment of the split-seconds hand and the chronograph hand.
Perpetual calendar
The perpetual calendar mechanism of the new Patek Philippe split-seconds chronograph made its debut in 2011 with Ref. 5270. The manufacture’s competence in dealing with complex components such as large levers, date wheels, day and month stars, leap-year cams, lever springs, and other intricate parts is undeniably impressive.
The lavish finishing work invested in each part is done not just for the sake of beauty. Smoothly polished surfaces generate less friction, reduce wear, and transmit kinetic energy more efficiently.
The Ref 5204 Patek Philippe calendar chronograph is the same as that of the Ref. 5270, only this time with the addition of a split-seconds hand.
As expected, the day of the week and the month are displayed in two in-line apertures beneath 12 o’clock. The analogue date dial at 6 o’clock incorporates the moon phase display. The continuous subsidiary seconds and the jumping 30-minute chronograph counter are located at 9 and 3 o’clock, respectively.
The opaline dial is made from 18K gold with twelve applied baton hour markers in white gold with luminescent fillings. The black-oxidised gold hour and minute hands, also with Superluminova fillings, assure easy legibility in the dark.
The new Ref. 5204 is housed in a 40mm platinum case with a height of 14.19 mm.
The platinum casing lends the watch its cool silvery glow. As with all Patek Philippe’s platinum watches, the case is marked with a flawless Top Wesselton diamond discreetly set between the lugs at 6 o’clock, noticeable only to the weare.
The watch comes on a hand- stitched, matt black alligator strap with square scales, and secured with a platinum fold-over clasp.
Ref 5204 is another peerless example of chronograph workmanship from Patek Philippe.
