Patek Philippe Annual Calendar

In 1991, the soon-to-be graduates at the Geneva School of Engineering were presented with their final project prior to receiving their diploma — simplify the perpetual calendar. Although the task was easier said than done, their work led to the inception of the annual calendar complication, patented by Patek in collaboration with the bright engineering minds at the GSE. Five years later, Patek debuted the Reference 5035 which marked the world’s first-ever annual calendar movement and finally bridged the gap between a triple date function and the formidable quantième perpétuel. This piece transports us forward to the present day and is a handsome modern interpretation of the Patek Philippe Complications Annual Calendar. Designated as a Reference 5202G-013, this handsome piece features a 40mm white gold case with sculpted contours, a polished concave bezel, and fancy skeletonized lugs. The dial features a sunburst blue gradient dial that fades to black at the dial’s edges and contrasts the applied white gold indices. The dial presents with a set of day-date-month apertures at 12 o’clock and a subsidiary pointer-date dial at 6 o'clock complete with a moonphase indicator. The reverse side of the case features an exhibition back providing a window to admire the self-winding Calibre 324 S QA LU, with its 21k gold winding rotor adorned with the hallmark Patek Philippe seal.  It comes fitted to a signed black alligator strap with a matching 18k white gold, signed pin buckle and includes Certificate of Origin papers dated 10/2022. There’s no doubt the Nautilus and Aquanaut have gotten their time in the sun, and even vintage Patek Philippe in general continues to demand the attention of any savvy collector. But let us not forget the high-complication heavy-hitters hiding in plain sight in Patek’s current catalog!