If you keep a close eye on Patek Philippe, you probably remember the vintage-styled 3670A and 5950A chronographs that were equipped with hand-wound movements and featured only slightly modernized “historic” cases. The new Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar (Ref. 5940J-001) that was officially presented during the Baselworld 2012 show comes in the same cushion-shaped body, but is equipped with an ultra-thin self-winding caliber that not only brings you an advanced version of perpetual calendar, but is also considered to be one of the most accurate mechanical movements currently in production.
Being just 27.5 millimeters in diameter and less than 3.9 mm thick, the time-proven Caliber 240 Q movement features an off-centered unidirectional micro-rotor and is equipped with the aforementioned complete calendar module that adds only 1.35 mm of thickness to the total height of 2.53 mm of the “tractor” movement.
According to official data, this movement that bears the famous Patek Philippe seal on one of its bridges has a guaranteed accuracy of -3/+2 seconds per day, which makes it comfortably comply with COSC chronometer certification standards. In fact, the watch is more precise than most mechanical “chronometers” out there.
The only thing that somehow disappoints me here is that Patek Philip decided not to equip the watch with their relatively new version of the movement that features not only their high-tech Gyromax Si balance wheel with Silinvar parts but is also good for as long as 70 hours of power reserve!
The older version that powers this particular model can only run for 48 hours: good, but possibly not enough if you don’t plan to wear it on weekends and don’t like to put the precious thing into an automatic winder.
As I have already mentioned, the Ref. 5940 is presented in a vintage-styled cushion-shaped case, which is inspired by the gorgeous 1927 Patek Philippe Triple-Date Calendar, although its dial shed a great deal of Art Deco elements in favor of more minimalistic approach.
Only 37 millimeters in width and less than 45 mm in length, this beautiful case will look good on any manly wrist, whether it belongs to a football player or a skinny metrosexual.
Another nice thing about this watch is that it comes with a pair of interchangeable sapphire crystal and solid case-backs.
As it is usually the case with perpetual calendars, the cream-toned, grained dial looks somewhat cramped, since each of its three sub-dials serves not one, but two functions.
The one at 3 hours indicates the current month and leap year; the sub-dial at 6 o’clock displays phase of the moon, as well as date; and, finally, the counter at 9 hours shows the current day of the week, as well as 24-hour indication.
The last feature must be especially handy if you spend a great deal of your life in casinos or underwater on board of a huge nuclear submarine the size of Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier making final preparations to take over the world.
See also: Patek Philippe Triple Complication Ref. 5208P
Photos: Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar in Yellow Gold (Ref. 5940J-001) specification
Price: $94,000 (MSRP)
Movement: Automatic, Caliber 240 Q, 27.5 x 3.88 mm, 22-karat gold micro-rotor, ultra-thin, in-house, Swiss Made
Number of jewels: 27
Movement frequency: 21,600 vph
Movement decoration: Perlage (circular graining,) Geneva stripes, Patek Philippe Seal
Functions: Hours, minutes, perpetual calendar (day, date, month, leap year,) moon phase, 24-hour indicator
Power reserve: 48 hours
Case: 18-karat yellow gold
Shape: Cushion
Dimensions: 37.00 mm x 44.60 mm
Dial: Cream, grained
Numerals: Arabic, applied, yellow gold
Hour markers: Applied, yellow gold
Hands: Leaf-shaped, yellow gold
Water resistance: 30 meters
Strap: Hand-stitched, matt chocolate brown alligator leather strap with square scales on 18-karat yellow gold pin buckle
Crystal: Sapphire
Back: Sapphire / Solid (interchangeable covers)