One of the great watchmaking complications par excellence is the so-calledperpetual calendar, the one that “knows” how many days a month has including the months of February with twenty-nine or twenty-eight depending on whether it is a leap year or not. Implanted by Julius Caesar in the year 45 BC. and corrected in 1582 by Pope Gregory
And one of the great watch manufacturers that masters the art of creating and producing watches with this almost magical complication is Patek Philippe, which in 1927 was the first to present a perpetual wrist calendar (adaptation of a pocket calendar from 1925) and whose current collection is made up of no less than ten models if we count those presented this year at Baselworld 2017 and which include the fabulous rattrapante chronograph reference 5372P.
To be able to see them, recently, and thanks to Pere Quera 1887, I had the opportunity to attend one of the magical events organized by Patek Philippe. This time it was in what has been called an “incomparable setting”: the Vullpellac Castle in the province of Girona, a private residence that was expressly opened to host this presentation.
Because “presentation” is the correct word, since before touching and trying on the watches that had been brought for the occasion, we attended a talk given by the general director of the brand in Iberia (Portugal, Spain and Andorra), John Vergotti, supported by the watchmakers from the Patek Philippe technical service in Barcelona. And we learned a lot. For example, we speak of true “mechanical programming” when complicated gears with teeth of different depths are made to identify the different months, or that the management of the energy supplied by the mainspring contained in the barrel is vital because it has to drag the indications of days (week and month), months and years, sometimes simultaneously.
After this master class we went to the tables where not only the watches were but the watchmakers - including a heavyweight who they won't let me mention - explained to us with colored models the dynamic operation of what we had just heard. An educational task that abounds in the message that has been coming out from Patek Philippe for years: its mission is to preserve and disseminate the art of Fine Watchmaking in all its facets, from mechanics to artisanal crafts such as engraving, polishing and enamel, among others.
From the enamel dial of the new 5320G to the cushion-shaped case of the 5940G (which this year is presented in rose gold) or the engraved finishes of the 5160 retrograde indication, the succession of pieces was dreamlike, and if we multiply them by “perpetual” you could say that I had pure eternity in my hands.
Best watch strap | Best annual calendar watch | Best watch winder | Best Black Luxury watch | Best Luxury Watches Men | Best Swiss Luxury Watches Women | Best Men Diamond Watches under 1000 | Best Diamond Watches Women | Best Luxury Dive Watch
