A SHADE ABOVE
The choice of color and material can alter the personality of a timepiece. Not convinced? The 2019 version of this edition will make your mind up.
Unveiled to the public for the first time in 2011 in a white gold case and a silver-gray dial, the Annual Calendar Regulator by Patek Philippe has been brought back to life this year with a stylish new version. The dial sports an impressive combination of graphite and ebony-black shades, enhanced by a vertical satin finish. It contains two subdials which indicate the hours, at 12 o’clock, and the seconds, at 6 o’clock. The date, day and month are spread across the dial in their respective windows. This annual calendar only requires one adjustment per year, at the end of February. Sweeping over this timepiece is a large white central minute hand which is characteristic of regulators of the past which were used as accurate reference watches. This spacious composition ensures a very easy-to-read layout of all the information.
The time information is brought to life by the 31-260 REG QA caliber. This self-winding movement, equipped with a high-tech regulator made from a silicon derivative, is located in a 40.5 mm rose gold case. The sapphire crystal of the case back provides a breathtaking view of the offset gold mini-rotor and several components of the mechanism, which offers a power reserve of 38 hours once wound.
To accentuate this refined identity, the 5235/50R series comes with a matte black alligator strap finished with a pin buckle.
Price: 47,020 EUR patek.com
By Dan Diaconu