Patek Philippe: Nautilus Annual Calendar 5726/1A

In 2010, Patek Philippe presents a Nautilus watch for men endowed with an Annual Calendar, a moon-phase display and a 24-hour indicator. This Ref. 5726A in steel on a leather strap has since been joined by others with a steel bracelet.

Now the manufacture is reinterpreting that steel-bracelet version by fitting it with an elegant blue dial. The horizontal embossing and the subtle shading from blue to black at the dial’s periphery. The hours and minutes are indicated with applied white-gold hour markers and hands highlighted with a luminescent coating, accompanied by a slender sweep seconds hand.

This elegantly sporty case, water-resistant to 120 m, conceals a caliber 324 S QA LU 24H/303 self-winding movement. The Annual Calendar, patented by Patek Philippe in 1996, displays the day and the month in two in-line apertures at 12 o’clock and the date in an aperture at 6 o’clock. Thanks to this ingenious mechanism, which takes account of months of 30 and 31 days, the date requires correction only once a year, on March 1st. The 24-hour indicator in the lower half of the dial simplify calendar adjustments. This subsidiary dial also houses the extremely precise moon-phase display, which requires correction by one day every 122 years.

Like the case and bezel, the steel bracelet with fold-over clasp boasts a pronounced contrast between polished and satin finishes.

The new Ref. 5726/1A-014 complements the version with leather strap and black gradient dial. The previous models with a steel brace- let and a white or a black gradient dial are being discontinued. (Price €.41.320)