Patek Philippe Ref. 5326G-001 Annual Calendar Travel Time
In this new timepiece, Patek Philippe copy has combined two of its outstanding patented complications: an annual calendar and a travel time system for displaying a second time zone.
The date display is synchronized with the respective local time. It also adjusts the date for time zone correction. The new self-winding 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H movement has eight patents.
For this model, the manufacturer created a brand new Calatrava case. It features a unique stud pattern on the sides, and the dial features a vintage-style frame inspired by old cameras. The same unique design graces the Ref. The 5226G-001 Calatrava, a watch without additional complications, is powered by the 26-330 SC self-winding movement.
For Patek Philippe, the technical and aesthetic perfection of a timepiece has always had the same meaning. The composition of the movement, the case and the dial is always the focus of the manufacturer’s creations.
With its self-winding movement with two unique functions, a round Calatrava case with unique design and decorative features, and an unparalleled dial, the new Ref. An approach combined with balanced elegance.
In 1996, Patek Philippe merged all its Geneva studios in Plan-les-Ouates under one roof and gained attention for the launch of its patented annual calendar. This is a full calendar of days/days/months and only needs to be manually corrected once a year on March 1st.
To develop a system that automatically distinguishes months from 30 and 31 days, engineers devised an innovative mechanism based primarily on wheels and pinions. Since then, the annual calendar has been a highlight in the manufacturer’s complex watches.
A new technology followed in 1997, this time in the field of travel timepieces. The unique travel time mechanism is equipped with a clutch based on a Patek Philippe patent acquired in 1959. The clever system indicates the second time zone via the second hour hand in the center.
There are two buttons on the left side of the case that can be adjusted in one-hour increments in both directions without affecting the precise rate of movement. Today, the travel time function is also available on various watch models, including the self-winding Ref. 5990 Flyback Chronograph or Ref. 5520 Alarm travel time.
For the first time, Patek Philippe has expanded its useful complications by combining the annual calendar and travel time in one watch. The manufacture deviates from the ultra-thin self-winding calibre 31-260 introduced in 2011 in Ref. 5235 Annual Calendar Regulator (31-260 REG QA), then redesigned as Ref in 2021. 5236 Online Perpetual Calendar (31-260 PS QL).
Among the optimizations introduced in 2021, the new 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H movement retains the 20% barrel torque gain, increases the winding power of the micro-rotor due to the use of platinum, and operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 half-oscillation per hour) and a reduction wheel that disconnects the automatic winding when hand-winding, thus reducing wear. In terms of energy, the performance of the new movement is further enhanced by a minute wheel suspended between bearing jewels for greater efficiency.
The link between the almanac and travel time functions involved several technical challenges. The problem is not just accommodating both mechanisms in the same case. They have to interact in such a way that the date displayed corresponds to the local time, and thus the time of the watch wearer’s location.
And may need to be adjusted when correcting the time zone. Thus, in the new calibre 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H, the annual calendar is controlled by the travel time function, which is driven by the local hour wheel. Connoisseurs will be pleased to note the principle of Ref. 5531 World Time Minute Repeater (2017) has been reserved. As the world time mechanism controls the minute repeater, it is the first minute repeater to always issue local time.
For a new reference. 5326G-001, Patek Philippe also redesigned the travel time function. While the basic principle of setting the two hour hands from the center (solid hands for local time and perforated hands for home time) is retained, the two usual time zone buttons on the side of the case on the left are replaced by a winding lever setting mechanism with three Position. It premieres in 2021 with Aquanaut Luce Travel Time (Ref. 5269/200R-001).
The user can adjust the local time hour hand in one-hour increments in either direction by simply pulling the crown to the neutral position and turning it clockwise or counterclockwise, without affecting the precise rate of the movement.
Aesthetic reasons favored the decision of this split crown setting system: Patek Philippe wanted a sleek Calatrava-inspired design to emphasize the special pattern on the side of the case. The time in the home time zone is set in the classic way, with the crown in the outermost position.
The 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H movement has a stop-seconds mechanism that sets the time with one-second precision. This function only works when the crown is pulled to the outermost position. This prevents the movement from stopping when a new time zone is selected and maintains the movement’s rate accuracy. When the owner is not traveling, the two hour hands can be superimposed on the crown and then look like a hand.
Engineers also had to revise the almanac mechanism to ensure that the watch always displayed the date that matched local time.
In a traditional annual calendar, the display around midnight continues approximately 90 minutes earlier, so if the time zone is adjusted within this time span, the date may be misaligned. To ensure users see the correct date for longer, Patek Philippe engineers reduced the display advance time of the almanac disc by a factor of five to approximately 18 minutes. copy swiss watch
Thanks to a cam system with partial teeth attached to the hour wheel, the 24-hour wheel performs its rotation in four stages, instead of continuous rotation: 180° in 3 hours (close to midnight), 9 hours at rest, 180 in 3 hours ° hours (near noon), 9 hours of stillness. This improves the coordination of the calendar switching phase with local time. But the word acceleration also implies higher energy consumption.
To optimize the efficiency, precision, durability, safety and ease of operation of the 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H calibre, engineers developed a number of innovations and received eight patent applications. For example, these technical improvements can reduce energy consumption and wear on certain components, switch from 30th to 1st and from 1st to 30th when adjusting time zones without desynchronizing calendars, prevent shift changes and doubling if moon phases , month or day of the week is corrected within a time frame that is clearly not recommended, showing jumps or avoiding damage to movement components.
The sapphire crystal caseback reveals the structure of the 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H movement, with elegant cuts and gently curved bridges. It offers a better view of the wheels of the base movement, as well as the refined hand-finished finishes reflecting the strict instructions of the Patek Philippe seal.
The newly designed white gold case has a diameter of 41 mm. Its slightly chamfered bezel and polished sloping lugs underline the sleek and timeless elegance of the Calatrava design while expressing its unique personality.
The entire circumference in the middle of the case showcases Patek Philippe’s signature stud pattern. The famous Ref. 3919 Calatrava 1985 “Clous de Paris”; it has been in production for over 20 years and has become one of the most recognizable models in the horological world. For 2021, it makes a strong comeback in the highly modern new Ref. 6119 Calatrava “Clous de Paris” in rose and white gold.
In the case of Ref . The 5326G-001 Annual Calendar Travel Time, which offers a new perspective on this very refined element of Patek Philippe style. In order for the stud pattern to adorn the entire side of the case so elegantly, Patek Philippe conceived a special case design in which the strap lugs are attached to the back of the case.
The vintage-inspired dial is entirely crafted in Saint-Imier by Cadrans Flückiger, the dial specialist that has been part of Patek Philippe since 2004.
The dial is charcoal grey with subtle gradients around the perimeter and a slightly grainy structure reminiscent of old camera housings. The time of day is indicated by white gold Arabic numerals with a beige luminous coating.
The hours and minutes of local time are displayed by a luminous white gold “Seringue” hand with a long tip that resembles a syringe. The perforated “Seringue” hand indicates the home time. The three windows of the annual calendar – the day and month on a line at 12 o’clock and the date at 6 o’clock – display legible black inscriptions on a white background.
Two small round windows marked “LOCAL” at 8 o’clock and 4 o’clock are the day/night indicators for local time and home time, respectively. The moon-phase aperture at 6 o’clock sweeps over the small seconds, complimenting this balanced arrangement.
The calendar indications can be adjusted with the help of small correctors located in the case straps near the respective functions: the day of the week at 10, the month at 2, the date at 4 and the moon phase at 8 o’clock. The slightly raised box design sapphire crystal accentuates the retro side.
Eight patents for the new calibre 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H movement
Time Setting with Three Crown Positions (Swiss Patent Application CH 716383 A2): This time setting system has a lever with three positions that can deactivate certain wheels as long as they do not perform any correction. This reduces energy consumption and wear on the respective wheels. The result is a gain that balances amplitude (rate accuracy) and reliability
Forward/Backward Mechanism of the Almanac (European Patent Application EP 3776095 A1): The system relies mainly on the addition of a tooth and a spring to the month lever, allowing the transition from the 30th to the 1st and from the 1st to the 1st 30th, without Make the dates out of sync. As a result, users can easily switch time zones back and forth via the winding stem.
Linear Time Zone Spring (European Patent EP 3650953 B1): This system consists of a star wheel and a jumper spring. It allows the powerful torque between the local time hour wheel and the local time hour wheel to increase, so the date accelerates despite the increased energy consumption. It provides users with more accurate information.
Rotatable Fixed Bridge (European Patent Applications EP 3714336 A1 and 070431/2021): This system keeps the sun disc in place without the use of a central screw. To remove the disc, the watchmaker simply turns the cleat to one side. This frees up the star without removing the movement and without making any modifications to the setup. This time saving and simplification is part of the watch maintenance improvements.
Inertia increment (European patent application EP 3822711 A1): This mechanism counteracts the difference in inertia between heavier and lighter wheels. It prevents the time display (local time, local time, minutes) from being accidentally shifted forward or backward when the time zone is corrected in either direction. This increases the accuracy of the display. fake swiss watch
Braking mechanism for the date disc when making corrections (European patent application EP 3882716 A1): This system with an additional spring (brake) only works when the crown is pulled to the neutral position. It prevents the date disc from double jumping if the user pushes too hard. It guarantees higher reliability of the mechanism (amplitude gain and wear reduction).
Flexible Corrector (European Patent Application 20205322.9): With the help of a flexible leaf spring system for switch protection purposes, this mechanism prevents the risk of material failure when the user corrects within an unfavorable time window. This increases the reliability and longevity of the movement.
technical details
Model: Reference. 5326G-001 Almanac Travel Time
Movement
Calibre 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H
Self-winding mechanical movement. Annual calendar with aperture showing date, day and month. Two travel time zones (local time and local time) with day/night indicators for local and local time
Moon phase and small seconds
Diameter: 33mm
Inner Shell Diameter: 31.74mm
Height: 5.6mm (2.6mm for base movement, 3mm for annual calendar and travel time modules)
Number of parts: 409
Number of gems: 47
Power reserve: min. Up to 38 hours 48 hours
Winding rotor: Off-centre micro-rotor in 950 platinum, unidirectional winding
Frequency: 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour (4 Hz)
Balance wheel: Gyromax®
Hairspring: Spiromax® in Silinvar®
Hairspring stud: adjustable
Function
3-position crown
• Push back to origin: manual winding
• Pull to middle: set the local time in either direction in one-hour increments
• Full pull out: set origin time, hours and minutes, stop seconds
pointer display
:
• Hour hand and central minute hand for local and local time
• Auxiliary second hand at 6 o’clock
In windows:
• Day and month at 12 o’clock on a line
• Date at 6 o’clock
• Day of the week at 8 o’clock local time/night indication •
Day/night display for home time at 4 o’clock
• Moon phase display at 6 o’clock
Correction
month at 2 o’clock
Date at 4 o’clock
Moon phase at 8 o’clock
Displays the day of the week at the 10 o’clock position
logo
Patek Philippe Seal
case
18K White Gold
Sapphire crystal case back
Waterproof to 30 m (3 bar)
Case Size: Diameter: 41mm
Height (back to crystal): 11.07 mm
Dial granular,
Charcoal grey with black perimeter
Gradient Hours, 18K White Gold, Beige Lacquer Small Seconds with Dagger Hand, 18K White Gold Lacquer Beige
shoulder strap
Calfskin with nubuck finish, hand-stitched, beige
Supplied with calfskin strap with embossed textile pattern, black with beige decorative stitching
18K white gold folding clasp
