Two useful complications come together for the first time
With its round Calatrava case with unique design and decorative features, an inimitable dial and the new self-winding caliber endowed with eight patents, the Ref. 5326G-001 Annual Calendar Travel Time delivers a perfect example of an approach that combines all facets of watchmaking artistry with balanced elegance.
A mechanical challenge
The connection between the Annual Calendar and the Travel Time function involved several technical challenges. The issue wasn’t just to accommodate both mechanisms in the same case. They had to interact in such a way that the displayed date corresponded with local time, hence the time at the location of the wearer of the watch. In the new caliber 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H movement, the Annual Calendar is controlled by the Travel Time function and it is the local-time hour wheel that drives the calendar.
The inception of a style
To accommodate this mechanical movement with its exclusive functions, Patek Philippe created a new white-gold case with a diameter of 41 millimeters. The dial is charcoal gray with a fine gradation to the periphery and has a slightly granular structure that is reminiscent of the cases of old photo cameras. The Ref. 5326G-001 is delivered with two interchangeable straps, one beige calfskin with nubuck texture (original version), the other black calfskin with embossed textile finish and beige decorative stitching.
For those who particularly appreciate the exclusive design of the new Ref. 5326G-001, Patek Philippe can offer a further watch in the Calatrava collection with the same aesthetic looks but with a somewhat smaller diameter (40 millimeters) and without additional functions. This new Calatrava Ref. 5226G-001 in white gold with a guilloched hobnail motif on the caseband is powered by the self-winding caliber 26-330 S C movement with center hour, minute, and second hands and an aperture date at 3 o'clock.