The Enduring Appeal of

Patek Philippe Chronographs

Since the first chronograph pocket watch that came about after Antoine Norbert de Patek’s voyage to America in the 1850s, Patek Philippe continually challenges the technical limits of this practical complication.

The Birth of the First Patek Philippe Chronograph

In the latter half of the 19th Century, one market began to emerge on the other side of the world. The United States was coming out of an economic downturn – something that attracted Patek Philippe’s co-founder, Antoine Norbert de Patek, to voyage to America. The voyage not only helped establish the company’s presence in the lead up to the famous Gilded Age, it also marked the catalyst for the Patek Philippe to develop their first chronograph.


In Antoine Norbert de Patek’s letters back to the manufacture in Geneva, he remarked on several observations, including the American demand for watches that allow the wearer to determine the speed of their horses to the accuracy of a quarter of a second. The manufacture started work on building such a chronograph, unveiling the Ref. 10 051, the first Patek Philippe chronograph pocket watch, in 1856. Its three sub-dials at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock and markings with four divisions for the jumping chronograph second hand laid the design foundation for future Patek Philippe chronographs.


Growing Appetite for Chronographs

The popularity of the chronograph continued to grow in the subsequent years. Following the Ref. 10 051, Patek Philippe filed a patent for the first double chronograph in 1902. As wrist watches gained popularity, it was not long before Patek Philippe sold the company’s first split-seconds chronograph, No. 124 824 in 1923. Demand didn’t stop at merely the chronograph. In a show of technical prowess, the chronograph would be combined with other complications, such as the World Time mechanism perfected by watchmaker Louis Cottier. The Ref. 1415 World Time Chronograph would be followed by the Ref. 1518 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, a watch that would set the standard architecture of chronograph dials – two chronograph subdials situated at three and nine o’clock.


Patek Philippe Chronographs Today

The chronograph complication continues to be a significant part of Patek Philippe’s collection today. This is exemplified in the Ref. 5172G with the opaline rose-gilt dial bestowed with the quintessential chronograph layout - a minute subdial and a small second display at 3 and 9 o’clock respectively. Inside, the CH 29-535 PS manual wound chronograph calibre ensures the watch keeps optimum time. The movement boasts six patented innovations, including optimized toothing profile, precision adjustment of engagement depth, and self-regulating zero-resetting hammers.

Patek Philippe Ref. 5905R

The Ref. 5905R combines two popular complications, the self-winding flyback chronograph with Annual Calendar. Its rhythmic dial has a large 60-minute subdial at 6 o’clock and three day/date/month apertures displayed along an arc, providing excellent legibility of its functions. The Self-winding CH 28-520 QA 24H caliber visible through the sapphire crystal case back remains faithful to the traditional column wheel for the chronograph control functions. It has vertical disk clutch, allowing the central chronograph seconds hand to display the seconds continuously without causing as much wear and tear as traditional horizontal clutch with toothed wheels.


In 2023, Patek Philippe launched the first Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronograph, Ref. 5924. It combines three practical and user-friendly functions: a flyback chronograph, a Travel Time function, and a date indication in a subdial at 12 o’clock. The dials feature applied white gold numerals and sword-shaped hands highlighted by a luminescent coating for excellent legibility, with local time indicated by the solid hour hand and home time by a skeleton hour hand. Offered in two white gold versions, Ref. 5924G-001 with a sunburst blue-gray dial and a matching grained navy blue calfskin strap, and Ref. 5924G-010 with a lacquered khaki green dial and an olive green calfskin strap with “vintage” finish. The 42mm case houses the self-winding CH 28-520 C FUS caliber, visible through the sapphire case back.

Patek Philippe Complications at The Hour Glass

Patek Philippe Ref. 5905R in rose gold with sunburst blue dial

Ref. 5924G-010 with a lacquered khaki green dial and an olive green calfskin strap with “vintage” finish.

We’re here to help


Loading Consult A Specialist Form

Change Country

Select your country:

Share

Share via:

To find out more about our available positions, please visit our Careers page.