New design from old tradition – Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe has launched a new watch for its famous calendar series. Like the brands that like to innovate and are loyal to history, In-line Perpetual Calendar, Reference 5236, adopts a new patented single-line display, displaying the date, date and month on one line.

The brand-new perpetual calendar shows the family watchmaker’s continuous search for ways to break the boundaries of timepieces, and it has obtained three new patents. President Thierry Stern said:

“Even seemingly subtle changes are worthy of our most innovative ideas.”

The perpetual calendar is the main product of the brand. It was first launched in 1925 and is now housed in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. Also on display is a 1972 pocket watch, equipped with a panoramic window and a calendar system “à l’américaine”.

Grand Complications automatic winding, Ref. 5236P

Compared with the traditional perpetual calendar display, designing the calendar display as a row requires a patented mechanism with 118 additional components. Patek Philippe engineers developed a calendar display consisting of four rotating discs; one for the day, two for the date, and one for the month. All four disks are perfectly embedded in the same plane.

This is achieved through the professional skills, dedication and patience of Patek Philippe’s famous craftsmen. They assemble and hand polish the components of the new Reference 5236-their timepieces are not only practical, they are also works of art. Be consistent with the brand’s tradition.

This highly complex technical challenge resulted in an online display of the date, date and month in a large single hole at 12 o’clock. The design engineer has developed a new self-winding movement 31-260 PS QL with an additional online display module, and has applied for three patents for it. This highly refined new movement is housed in an elegant platinum case and has a vertical satin blue dial with black gradient edges.

Patek Philippe has added an exquisite timepiece to its perpetual calendar series. New designs and patents further prove that Haute Horlogerie is still thriving in their studio.

We have a series of exquisite Patek Philippe watches, including perpetual calendars:

Perpetual calendar, reference. 5496P-015

Patek Philippe blue, Ref. 5726/1A-014

Patek Philippe Nautilus, Ref. 5712/1A

Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon

A closer look at the Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon

Can you name another watch with a replica of the iconic 16-cylinder internal combustion engine? We don’t think so.

Since 1909, the French car manufacturer Bugatti has been obsessed with the pursuit of speed and perfection. Its first road car, the Type 13, was born in 1910. It was the epitome of high technology at the time. It was equipped with the world’s first 16-valve header-most road cars were equipped with an 8-valve engine-with a maximum speed of 125 per hour. Kilometers per hour (78 miles per hour). Type 13 even won second place in the 1911 Le Mans French Grand Prix.

Today, Bugatti produces less than 100 cars a year by hand at its headquarters in Morsheim, France. Its iconic model is the Chiron, a 420 km/h (261 mph) super sports car powered by a four-turbocharged W16 engine that produces 1,479 horsepower. With such a powerful machine, even the most complicated timepiece can be worth the money.

Jacobs and Bugatti
Jacob & Co. and Bugatti share a passion for developing some of the most unique and innovative products in the world. From watchmaking to super sports cars, the two brands recently reached a multi-year collaboration to develop a special edition Jacob & Co. x Bugatti timepiece.

The first results of this collaboration are Jacob & Co. Twin Turbo Furious and Epic X Chronograph. Both draw design inspiration from Bugatti’s work. Today, Watchonista carefully studied the new Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron Tourbillon.

The W16 engine automaton is activated by the crown on the right side of the timepiece. Once started, the mini W16 engine will move directionally in a perfect sequence through a fully operating crankshaft, turbocharger and 16 pistons.

Jacob & Co.’s manual winding JCAM37 manufacturing movement is suspended inside the four pivot points of a 54 x 44 mm case-the blue titanium and rose gold model in the picture-and is equipped with a flying tourbillon. The positioning of the movement replicates the effect of the car’s suspension and culminates with two “exhaust devices” at 6 o’clock. At the same time, the 30º inclination of the tourbillon is based on the horseshoe grille of a Bugatti supercar.

The entire timepiece is operated by three crowns at the bottom of the case. The left crown sets the time; the middle winding 60-hour power reserve and animation, the right crown starts the animation. Finally, the power reserve indicator is the air pump symbol at 9 o’clock.

Personally, this watch is as crazy as you think. As you can see in the video, the operation of the miniature W16 engine is impressive. The Jacob & Co. Bugatti Chiron tourbillon has a deterrent effect on the wrist—just like the respect the Bugatti Chiron supercar has earned on the road.