Caliber CHR 27-525 PS: the world’s thinnest rattrapante movement
One of the salient features of the new Patek Philippe split-seconds chronograph is the case, which is thinner than that of many ordinary three-hand watches. This is due to the exquisite CHR 27-525 PS movement with which the manufacture set a new global record in 2005 for the thinnest column-wheel chronograph caliber ever made. As usual at Patek Philippe, the caliber designation tells a story: CHronograph Rattrapante, 27 mm diameter, 5.25 mm height, seconds subdial (PS stands for petite seconde).
Every single CHR 27-525 PS movement is manually crafted in the manufacture’s haute horlogerie ateliers. Each one is composed of components that are individually filed, chamfered, polished, adjusted, and finished. When all the parts are ready, they are assembled in a so-called repassage en blanc procedure, after which all functions are tested. Subsequently, the entire movement is disassembled again. Once all parts have been meticulously cleaned, they are reassembled, lubricated, and fine-tuned. Thus, using ancestral production methods, Patek Philippe’s watchmakers create horological masterpieces that exceed the expectations of even the most discerning connoisseurs.