Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar White Gold 5140G-001
The Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar ref. 5140 is the successor to the legendary 3940, which was one of the first modern perpetual calendars which were being created towards the end of the Quartz Crisis in the 1980s.
It modernises the basic 3-subdial 3940 layout by updating the proportions and combining it with a more modern scheme of design, utilising a variety of dial colours. The fonts used are enlarged and updated to make the dial design more contemporary, while maintaining the elegance and timelessness of the original design.
The perpetual calendar is one of the watchmaking's oldest complications, being invented in 1762 by Thomas Mudge, an English watchmaker. At its core, the complication is essentially a 4-year calendar, with different wheels taking into account the length of days in each month.
The first perpetual calendar wristwatch was created by Patek Philippe in 1925, based on a calibre created about a three-quarters of a century earlier for a woman's pendant watch. Breguet created the first purpose built perpetual calendar wristwatch movement four years later.
PATEK PHILIPPE
To many, Patek Philippe is the epitome of the high-end watchmaker. Throughout its nearly two centuries' of existence, it has weathered everything from the World Wars to the Quartz Crisis of the 1980s. Even today, it's widely acknowledged to be amongst the most successful and prestigious watchmakers, with its creations gracing wrists of everyone from bankers and politicians to rappers and actors.
Patek Philippe began its life as Patek, Czapek & Cie. in 1839 and made its name by making some of the most accurate watch movements. By the turn of the century, Patek was venturing into the realm of high complications, including split-seconds chronographs, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters. The latter made it into wristwatch-form in 1924 as a piece unique for Ralph Teetor, the inventor of the cruise control function.
In 1932, the company ownership changed hands to the Stern family, who still run Patek Philippe. In that same year, the Calatrava wristwatch was introduced. By the 1970s, seeing the damage which the Quartz Crisis had done to the industry, Patek Philippe decided to introduce a bold new steel watch. Thus, the Nautilus was born.
Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, solidifying its reputation as one of the finest Swiss watchmakers. From the highly-desirable stainless steel sports watches, to the famed high complications, down to the "humble" Calatrava, Patek Philippe proves that it can do it all.
LessThe Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar ref. 5140 is the successor to the legendary 3940, which was one of the first modern perpetual calendars which were being created towards the end of the Quartz Crisis in the 1980s.
It modernises the basic 3-subdial 3940 layout by updating the proportions and combining it with a more modern scheme of design, utilising a variety of dial colours. The fonts used are enlarged and updated to make the dial design more contemporary, while maintaining the elegance and timelessness of the original design.
The perpetual calendar is one of the watchmaking's oldest complications, being invented in 1762 by Thomas Mudge, an English watchmaker. At its core, the complication is essentially a 4-year calendar, with different wheels taking into account the length of days in each month.
The first perpetual calendar wristwatch was created by Patek Philippe in 1925, based on a calibre created about a three-quarters of a century earlier for a woman's pendant watch. Breguet created the first purpose built perpetual calendar wristwatch movement four years later.
PATEK PHILIPPE
To many, Patek Philippe is the epitome of the high-end watchmaker. Throughout its nearly two centuries' of existence, it has weathered everything from the World Wars to the Quartz Crisis of the 1980s. Even today, it's widely acknowledged to be amongst the most successful and prestigious watchmakers, with its creations gracing wrists of everyone from bankers and politicians to rappers and actors.
Patek Philippe began its life as Patek, Czapek & Cie. in 1839 and made its name by making some of the most accurate watch movements. By the turn of the century, Patek was venturing into the realm of high complications, including split-seconds chronographs, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters. The latter made it into wristwatch-form in 1924 as a piece unique for Ralph Teetor, the inventor of the cruise control function.
In 1932, the company ownership changed hands to the Stern family, who still run Patek Philippe. In that same year, the Calatrava wristwatch was introduced. By the 1970s, seeing the damage which the Quartz Crisis had done to the industry, Patek Philippe decided to introduce a bold new steel watch. Thus, the Nautilus was born.
Since then, the company has gone from strength to strength, solidifying its reputation as one of the finest Swiss watchmakers. From the highly-desirable stainless steel sports watches, to the famed high complications, down to the "humble" Calatrava, Patek Philippe proves that it can do it all.