Patek Philippe | Basel Report: New Watches for 2013

Patek Philippe

2013 New Watch Releases: Basel Report

For All Who Appreciate Mechanical Watchmaking

A watch brand that reigns at the pinnacle of the watchmaking world, captivating enthusiasts globally as a coveted timepiece to aspire to own. At Baselworld 2013,BaselworldPatek Philippe unveiled the Calatrava Ref. 5227, a new addition to its most popular round collection, featuring an officer's style hinged case back. This captivating model marks a new step forward in its timeless, essential style.

Text by SHIBUYA Yasuhito

A New Step Forward in Timeless, Essential Style

Patek Philippe stands at the apex of Swiss watchmaking. Its popularity continues to soar, even amidst a booming watch market. As a brand that many aspire to own one day, its recognition is ever-increasing. Sales in the Japanese market, particularly through department stores, are exceptionally strong, and acquiring a desired model can often require a significant waiting period.

Yet, Patek Philippe remains unpretentious, dedicating itself sincerely to the evolution and advancement of the luxury watch world it defines.

The allure of Patek Philippe, as needs no further explanation, lies in its mechanical movements, born from a fusion of traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology, praised for their beautiful brilliance as if they were "jewels." Even with numerous complications on the dial, such as hands and indicators, the design maintains an orderly and refined impression, characterized by an eternal, essential style instantly recognizable as Patek Philippe.

In 2013, a captivating model that takes a new step from this essential style was introduced to the Calatrava collection, its most popular round model.

Calatrava Ref. 5227

The hinged case back of the Calatrava Ref. 5227, featuring a newly developed invisible hinge.

This is the Calatrava Ref. 5227, which merges the beautiful, simple style of the traditional Calatrava, instantly recognizable by connoisseurs of watches throughout history and across the globe as something to "desire," with the captivating mechanism of an "officer's model" featuring an opening and closing case back.

Similar to traditional officer's models, opening the door (lid) on the back of the case allows one to admire the beautifully finished automatic movement, protected by sapphire crystal, like a jewel. However, with the newly developed invisible hinge, it is difficult to discern that the case back opens from the front. Furthermore, even when holding the actual watch, the latch for opening the case back is surprisingly small, and the case thickness is slim, resulting in an exquisitely precise and ingenious construction that makes it hard to believe it is indeed an opening case back.

Indeed, upon encountering the actual watch after the press conference at Baselworld, I myself instinctively searched for the case back latch.

Additionally, the new long-reserve model "8 Days Gondolo Ref. 5200" in the Gondolo collection, characterized by its elegant Art Deco-style rectangular case, and the "Ref. 7121" in the Calatrava collection, a ladies' model with a moon phase display, are both exceptional timepieces that are not to be missed by Patek Philippe fans or anyone interested in the world of mechanical watches, offering appeal in both their mechanisms and styles.