Haute Complication: Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Reference 5327

It doesn’t happen every day that Patek Philippe introduces a new Perpetual Calendar, but in 2016 it added reference 5327 to its collection. It was set to replace reference 5140 (of which the platinum cased version remains in production) with whom it shares its movement.

What makes the reference 5327 especially different is the larger case. Patek Philippe increased the diameter of the watch to 39mm,  against 37.2mm for the reference 5140. This doesn’t seem like a big deal yet it is. This small increase in size has a big impact on the wrist. The watch simply looks more substantial. More so, the increase in diameter also provides Patek Philippe with ample room to introduce Breguet numerals on the dial. The result is a stunning, classical looking perpetual calendar, yet in a more contemporary size.

The fact that Patek Philippe carried over caliber 240 Q to reference 5327 has a good reason, as it remains one of the benchmark movements in the world of Haute Horlogerie. It started its career in 1977 when the base movement, ultra slim caliber 240, was first introduced in the Golden Ellipse. In 1985 the perpetual calendar version, caliber 240 Q, was released in reference 3940. With a height of only 3.75mm it is incredibly slim for a perpetual calendar movement, yet also very attractive, not only because of its superb finish but also because of the stunning micro-rotor. The fact that the movement has such a long, and distinguished, history, hasn’t kept Patek Philippe from innovating as over the years they improved the going train, fitted it with a Spiromax® balance spring, and a lever and escape wheel in Silinvar®, all aimed at increasing the reliability and precision of the caliber.

Patek Philippe offers the Reference 5327 in white, yellow, and rose gold. The last two feature an ivory lacquered dial, with applied Breguet numerals to match the color of the case, while the white gold version comes with a stunning blue sunburst dial, that gives the watch a rather contemporary look. Interesting to note is also that all three versions come with two interchangeable casebacks. One of them is closed, while the other one provides you a view of the manufacture caliber through the sapphire crystal. Whichever you prefer, you do get a benchmark perpetual calendar, in a contemporary size, making for one very desirable watch!