This Patek Philippe 5205G is sized at a contemporary 40.2mm, and has a distinctive amorphous, bevel-free shape. The case features a rounded bezel, thin lugs and the manufactures' signature crown, which work proportionately well together. The entire watch is polished and mirror finished, while the crown itself engraved with the Patek Philippe Calatrava Cross.
It features a classic Patek Philippe dial layout with three apertures at 12 o’clock telling the day, date and month respectively and a moon-phase at 6 o’clock with a 24 hour indicator surrounding it. It has a two-tone concentric dial mixing matt black and slate grey to produce a modern and elegant aesthetic. Furthermore, it has dauphine hands and centre sweeping-seconds with white gold applied index markers on the dial. Well sized, with pierced lugs and a concave bezel, it wears proportionately well on the wrist.
The 5205G houses the self-winding caliber 324 S QA LU 24H. It is a very useful modern day movement, with complications that have an emphasis on usability. Firstly, it has an annual calendar complication, which means that the watch only needs to be set once a year in February as it takes into account 30 and 31 days in each respective month. Moreover, it is an instantaneous annual calendar, with the date apertures changing exactly at midnight, ensuring accurate reading of the date at all times.
The 5205G also has a 24 hour indicator to ensure ease of use when setting the annual calendar and a very accurate moonphase that deviates from the true lunar cycle by only one day every 122 years. As expected, this 5205G has everything one would expect in a modern Patek Philippe watch: A Gyromax balance wheel with a Spiromax balance spring and the Patek Philippe seal, a testing process that is far more stringent than by the industry standard COSC. It has a power reserve of 35-45 hours.
What is not known, is that Patek Philippe invented the annual calendar complication in 1996 as they realised there was a discrepancy between ordinary calendar watches that had to be set every month, and perpetual calendars which were extremely complicated. Composed of 356 parts, it is by no means a simple watch, yet it is an incredibly user-friendly timepiece that can be worn everyday.
This watch comes as a full set, with box and papers, and is guaranteed for authenticity. It also comes with its original black alligator strap and white gold tang buckle.
Viewings can be arranged in Central London by appointment.
