Throwback Sundays: Six (more) recommendations for the Annual Calendar

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The Annual Calendar was an attempt by Patek Philippe to create a calendar which is less expensive to manufacture than their famous Perpetual Calendars In 1997, they introduced the Ref 5035 with the world premiere of the Annual Calendar.

Today, we look at six of the best

We did a recommendation article back in 2015 on the Annual Calendars, so we thought it is time we updated it with fresh thoughts from another author.

The Annual Calendar

Ironically, though Patek Philippe’s initial intent was to create a less complicated Perpetual Calendar, the Caliber 315 S-QA Annual Calendar movement was more difficult than a regular perpetual calendar For starters, it even has more parts: 316 to the perpetual’s 275.

The increase is in part due to a re-designed calendar plate that employs a series of cams and common pinions as opposed to the more lever-dependant perpetual construction A study of how the C.315 S-QA is constructed is found in Walt Odet’s article on Timezone.

The parts of which make up the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar

What it lacks from the perpetual is the leap year indicator and the ability to account for the short month of February.

Hence the name Annual Calendar, as it needs to be reset once every year This reset has to occur at the end of every February, while the Perpetual Calendar continues to show correct dates even for leap years; most requiring a one day reset once every century (This is due to the peculiarity of the Julian calendar system.

I leave you to work it out why this is so)

The Patek Philippe Ref 5396 facelifted with Breguet numerals in 2016

Though perhaps no less expensive to manufacture, the Ref.

5035 carries a price tag of approximately 65% of the Ref 3940, then Patek’s perpetual calendar I remember vividly when the Ref.

5035 retail price was circa S$16,000, way back in 1997/8.

With that in mind, here goes the list of the six Annual Calendars we recommend In no particular order.

Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Regulator Ref 5235R

This is the latest iteration from Patek Philippe, with a slight twist – the Regulator style dial.

The result is a clean look, though perhaps less intuitive to read than the regular one The movement is the Calibre 31-260 REG QA, with automatic winding via a beautiful micro rotor.

At CHF 45,700 in rose gold, it is perhaps rather pricey, but this a Patek we are talking about Design is excellent.

Legibility is very good It is elegant with beautiful aesthetics, and it sits on the wrist very comfortably The finishing is top drawer, in line with other Patek calibers.

And in addition to the immaculate design and execution, the brand’s history and secondary market performance is hors catégorie

A Lange & Söhne 1815 Annual Calendar

Hot on the heels of the Patek is the German rival Lange.

The 1815 Annual Calendar is a strong contender At €37,500 in either pink or white gold, the Lange comes in at a bit less expensive []

The post Throwback Sundays: Six (more) recommendations for the Annual Calendar appeared first on DEPLOYANT.

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