Baselworld 2012: the new Patek Philippe split-seconds perpetual calendar chronograph 5204P!

May 27, 2012,09:01 AM
 

The launch of a brand new split seconds chronograph wristwatch by Patek Philippe is a rare opportunity to discover not just a gorgeous watch but also the functioning of a mythical device among watch technique geeks!

 

When Patek Philippe presented the new reference 5204P at Baselworld in 2012 it was not a full surprise. The launch of the new base calibre CH 29-535 late 2009 (  patek.watchprosite.com ) and the following launch of the first man's watch using this "engine", the reference 5170J, at Baselworld in 2010 ( patek.watchprosite.com ) were a clear indication that a new chapter of the hand-wound chronograph history at Patek Philippe was beginning.

 

In 2011 came the perpetual calendar chronograph version reference 5270G ( patek.watchprosite.com ) and the announcement that the 5004 production was coming to an end with the edition of the final steel version 5004A.

 

Of course we had seen in 2010 another perpetual calendar split seconds chronograph at Baselworld, the ultra thin reference 5951P ( patek.watchprosite.com )! This watch is intended to be more exclusive than the 5004 as its ultra thin calibre is really asking a more complicated production and assembling and consequently has a low production and a high cost. I see these references 5959, 5950 and 5951 as ultimate pieces made for ultimate collectors looking for brand new pieces to add to their extraordinary vintage piece collections. But Patek Philippe needs (and maybe we do too) more accessible pieces (if accessible can be regarded as an acceptable word when speaking about Patek Philippe chronographs).

 

So Patek Philippe had a more easily produced recent hand-wound chronograph base of great value, the calibre CH 29-535. A perpetual calendar plate had already been developed with the 5270. It was pertinent to keep the pace of growing desire with a split seconds version of the 5270's calibre. Here it is!

 



 

The new reference 5204P is certainly aimed at being the reference of perpetual split seconds chronographs. But are there any real competitors? The main competition in the heart of lovers will probably be the revered 5004 that it replaces.

 

To begin clearly and state my mind about this aspect, I have to write that I won't regret the 5004. The 5004 was a dream watch of course. I'm pretty confident that the 5204 can be a better dream watch.

 



 

The 5204P is a 40mm watch, while the 5004 had a 36.7mm case. The 5204 has a thickness of 14.25mm, nearly the same as the 5004 (slightly less than the 5004 I think). The result is a more modern size, still in no way excessive, and a much better proportion in terms of thickness over width. The 5204 is a present watch on the wrist but no longer with this effect of over thick watch often perceived with the 5004.

 

In fact I have only one regret with this new watch: the very bad conditions to take pictures at Baselworld. You will consequently see official pictures mixed with my own ones (you will recognize them).

 

What you can notice on pictures is the modernized styling of the dial. The dial is made of "opaline" silvered 18 carat gold. The black oxidized gold hands and indices allow a very modern and readable face. The new hands style is the main aspect that gives a modern touch to the dial. You may notice that the hour, minute hands and the indices are luminescent, a rare feature on a upscale Patek Philippe watch. The organization of the dial is obviously the same as the one seen on the 5270 as it shares the same base calibre and perpetual calendar plate. This organization also participates to the readability with a clearer separation between the chronograph indications and the perpetual calendar indications.

 

The subdials at 3 and 9 are now reserved only for the permanent small seconds (at 9) and the 30 minutes chrono counter (at 3). The AM/PM indicator (at 6h30) and the leap year indicator (at 4h30) no longer interfere with the indications of the subdials. The day, date and month are as readable as they can on a "window" calendar. There is no unnecessary scale, be it tachymeter, pulsometer or whatever, and the dial size is totally and somewhat perfectly used. The time scales are perfectly respected. The only dial aspect that I would not approve is the moon phase indicator. It's very nice on a stylistic side, but the inversed reading may not be very practical (at least in the northern hemisphere).

 



 

If the dial face and the case are very strong points in favour of the 5204, the best asset is still on the back. No surprise!

 

The base calibre CH 29-535 is a very appealing base. I will not rewrite what I had written after its launch (but you can still read it:  patek.watchprosite.com ) as I still find it extremely appealing. What surprises me more about this calibre is some kind of cold welcome from some collectors. I see Patek Philippe as a champion of technical prowess and progress (in the respect of tradition). Before the launch of this base the recurrent reproach to the former Lemania based calibre was to be antiquated in front of the other revered hand-wound chronograph calibre offered on the market (you know, the one from Lange…). The CH 29-535 gave Patek Philippe ad minimum an equivalent in technical value to the German competitor and possibly a superior calibre (in my opinion a superior calibre). And then the same (or nearly) collectors gave to the Lemania based calibre a superiority to the new one, this time for pretended finish aspects, as if the technical aspects were not longer that important. 

 

I understand that the bridge design (and consequently finish) of the CH 29-535 is more in the Geneva style than the Vallee de Joux style of the Lemania base. I understand that the Vallee de Joux style leads to a finish often seen as superior, with interior angles that are too often seen as the pinnacle of watchmaking, even if they are quite nice to look at. I would have preferred to have such interior angles on the CH 29-535 calibre, but I would not value form overtly above content, especially when form difference is limited to such detailing.

 

Perhaps the reference 5170 needs a white metal case to overcome the yellow gold self-limitating appeal and allow this calibre to be fully appreciated?

 

But let's get back to the 5204's calibre.

 



 

Let's talk figures first. The 5004's calibre reference CHR 27-70Q was a 30mm of width, 8.86mm of thickness marvel of 407 parts. The new CHR 29-535 PS Q is a 32mm of width, 8.70 mm of thickness, ensemble of 496 parts. It still has a Breguet balance spring, a Gyromax balance (of the newer style though), 34 jewels instead if 28, and a higher frequency, 28800 vph instead of 18000. Power reserve is nearly the same, 65 hours instead of 60, in spite of the much higher beat.

 

These figures may let us think of a superior new calibre, but they can't say it all of course. The best is to come.

 



 

Obviously the CHR 29-535 incorporates all the improvements of the CH 29-535 over the CH 27-70. It also adds new improvements in the split seconds device. But do you know how a split-seconds device works?

 



 

A split seconds chronograph is a « normal » chronograph with an additional device and function called "split seconds". In terms of function this device allows to duplicate the measuring of an elapsed time. In concrete terms a split seconds chronograph has two superposed chronograph seconds hand (the central chronograph hands). You can use it as if there was only one, pushing only the start/stop pusher at 2 at the reset pusher at 4 and you will not see the second central seconds hand located right below the first. You can also start the chronograph, let it run and after some time push the split seconds pusher located at 3 coaxially with the crown. At this time one central seconds hand stops and the other one keeps running, together with the 30 minutes counter (seconds are split, hence the English name of the device). If you push again the split seconds pusher the stopped hand will instantly rejoin the other hand that has kept running and will disappear again below it (the stopped hand has caught up the still running one, hence the French name "rattrapante" of the device).

 

How did that happen?

 



 

If a chronograph seconds hand is a hand fixed to a wheel (and the consecutive other wheels and counters for the minutes and hours counts) that can be connected and disconnected at demand to the permanent time wheel linked to the permanent seconds hand, the split seconds hand is a hand fixed to a wheel that can be connected or disconnected to the chronograph seconds wheel.

 

But if a normal chronograph hand can start, stop and reset (or start again without resetting in flyback chronographs), a split seconds chronograph hand can start (with the normal chronograph hand), stop alone (split times) or with the normal chronograph hands, catch up with the normal chronograph hand that was still running or reset with the normal chronograph hand that was stopped.

 

So the split seconds hand needs a device to stop even if the chronograph is running, but also to catch up, i. e. to re-align itself with a hand in motion (and not reset to 0 like a normal chronograph).

 

The device used to stop the split seconds hand is a clamp actionned by the second (or split seconds) column wheel seen at 4 below. That clamp (visible below) has the ability to stop the split seconds wheel while the chrono is still running. This is somewhat standard for a split seconds chronograph device.

 



 

But this said should lead you to a logical question about the way the split seconds wheel is linked to the chronograph seconds wheel. This is an aspect that is not visible when looking at an assembled calibre, so it's obviously less known and more difficult to understand.

 

It is a two side device, one being called the isolator and the other one the split seconds heart. They have different functions but both are necessary.

 



 

You can see below the split seconds lever. The one on the left is the one of the new calibre CHR 29-535. You can see that this lever acts like a hammer in a normal chronograph function, by pushing on a heart.

 

In a normal chronograph the hammer pushes on the heart fixed on a chronograph wheel (seconds or minutes of hours, it doesn't matter it's always the same) when the chronograph is reset. The objective is to re-align the hand in 0 position. The heart (the heart form rotating piece) is fixed to the chronograph wheel and turns with it.

 

When the normal chronograph is reset the chronograph wheel is already stopped and freed from the time wheels (except in fly back chronographs in which the chronograph counters can be reset instantly while the chrono keeps running) and the hammer pushes on the heart to make it turn until the hammer is located at the point of the heart closer to its centre. The hammer has a spring that makes it push on the heart. The hammer is fixed to the base plate and consequently always brings back the normal chronograph wheel(s) and hand(s) to a reference position indicating 0 on the chronograph counters.

 

In the split seconds chronograph it is all conceived in the contrary side. There is also a hammer to align the chronograph central hand and the split seconds hand but the hammer of the split seconds heart is called split seconds lever. It is not fixed on the base plate in this case but it is fixed on the split seconds chronograph wheel while the heart is fixed on the "normal" chronograph centre wheel. Consequently if the split seconds hand is not stopped and as long as the split seconds lever is pushing on the split seconds heart the split seconds hand is aligned with the "normal" central chronograph seconds hand.

 

You should have understood now that the split seconds wheel and hand are powered by the "normal" chronograph wheel through the split seconds lever (the split seconds "hammer"). When the chronograph is running and the split seconds hand is running too there is no friction between the split seconds lever and the heart as they are hold tight by a spring and consequently both hands are kept aligned.

 

Patek Philippe has improved the liaison between this split seconds lever and the heart by giving it a new form as seen below on the left. It cumulates the positive aspects of the two other available options on the right. The round contact point as in the middle allows minimal friction when the lever pushes on the heart to re-align the hand (it is the way it was done in the 5004). The flat side parts as on the right hand side allow a better and more stable alignment, avoiding what is too often seen on split seconds chronographs, two central hands not perfectly aligned and necessitating a larger hand on top to dissimulate the one below. This is the pending patent CH 15991.

 



 

Patek Philippe has improved a second aspect for the split seconds device of this new calibre CHR 29-535. The other aspect concerns the isolator. This is the opportunity to explore another side of the not so well known split seconds chronograph calibres.

 

I've written just above that the split seconds wheel and hand are powered through the split seconds lever applying thanks to a spring on the split seconds heart fixed to the chronograph seconds hand when the split seconds hand is not stopped.

 

On the contrary when the split seconds hand is stopped (by the clamp) and the chronograph keeps running, the split seconds lever is no longer aligned with the centre of the heart. The heart keeps turning as it is located on the "normal" chronograph wheel while the lever fixed on the split seconds wheel is stopped. That means friction, what is always bad in watchmaking as it decreases the accuracy of the time measure. That means also that if the spring applying the lever on the heart is made not too strong to limit this friction, there is a risk of misconnection between the two central hands when they should be running together.

 

So how do watchmakers do? They cheat! They "isolate" the lever from the heart when the split seconds hand is stopped while the chrono keeps running.

 



 

You can see below the isolator located between the two arms of the clamp. It has three teeth and is linked to the action of the clamp.

 



 

And you can see below the split seconds lever applying on the split seconds heart. The two chronograph seconds hands are aligned perfectly.

 



 

Below you can now see the brown isolator wheel, fixed to the split seconds wheel but having the mobility to turn of a few degrees from the split seconds wheel.

 



 

On the next drawing below the split seconds pusher has been actionned. The clamp has stopped the split seconds wheel (and hand). The isolator has moved and engaged on the isolator wheel, making it turn a few degrees more.

 



 

You can notice below (same situation) than the split seconds lever is no longer applying to the heart. A little pin fixed on the isolator wheel has pushed the split seconds lever on the outside.

 



 

You can see below the isolator device in its entirety. The isolator wheel and its pin, the isolator teeth pushed by the isolator spring in the form of a swan neck column wheel hat.

 

In the 5004 the isolator was well known for its octopus form. The new system is thinner as the isolator spring is no longer located on top of the isolator wheel (what was necessitating a thicker pile of wheels). Furthermore in the new construction when the clamp is opened and the isolator goes back to free the isolator wheel, it doesn't do it in opposition with the split seconds lever spring anymore. So there is less tension and a better pusher feeling than with the 5004 (and a better reliability). With the 5004 the octopus can't go back and forth but always turns in the same direction so each movement goes against the split seconds lever spring.

 



 

Here is below another opportunity to view the functioning of the split seconds device. The blue clamp is open. The yellow isolator (on top) is not engaged with the yellow isolator wheel. The red split seconds wheel is synchronized with the chronograph seconds wheel as the red split seconds lever applies to the red heart.

 



 

Below the blue clamp is tightened. The red split seconds wheel is stopped. The yellow isolator wheel is pushed by the isolator and the red split seconds lever is "isolated" from the red heart.

 



 

Just for the sake of it the same two positions with a wider view. First clamp open and hands aligned.

 



 

Then clamp « closed » and hands disconnected.

 



 

And here is below a picture of the same calibre. Hard to imagine all this taking place, no?

 



 

I can also offer you another picture, this time « official » to have a better resolution. I could easily imagine from this picture a ruthenium version of the decoration, for a more sporting watch. Anybody tempted?

 



 

So what could we say more about this impressive piece of technical devices ? 

 

I can say that I love both sides of it. The picture below shows a watch I'd love to wear every single day.

 



 

I'd love to see my days, weeks, months, seasons rythmed by this perpetual calendar.

 



 

That's not the main subject of this article but here is below the perpetual calendar plate of the 5204P. that would deserve another article in itself.

 



 

In fact the watch is impressive by its apparent simplicity of appearance, by its overall equilibrium. You know that it's complicated but that's not so obvious. While many make simple watches and try to make them look complicated (often by turning them into un-readable timepieces), this one does the contrary. It is traditional but modern.

 



 

You can see below that it is thick but not overtly.

 



 

The case design is somewhat simple, in the 5004 style, but it is also very voluptuous. The forms are treated with a lot of roundedness.

 



 

You find of course the well known diamond at 6, it is a platinum case.

 



 

Below you can appreciate the thinness of the two central seconds hands. Some may take it for a vintage triple date chronograph, it is a high performance very modern complicated machine.

 



 

Imagine it on your wrist!

 



 

It is somewhat so much and well freed from excessive styling that it looks like a (refined) tool !

 



 

And you can always turn it back to be totally impressed.

 



 

You can easily drown yourself in its complexity. When the machine wins over our brain!

 



 

But it is just a watch and you can also choose it for what it is. You can adopt it for its grandeur!

 



 

I wish you to be able to see and try this watch someday. I wish you to afford it and get it. I wish us to see you share it with us someday soon.

 

Best

 

Dje

 

 

This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-05-27 09:05:47 This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-05-27 09:06:36 This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-05-27 09:14:24 This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-05-30 09:20:41 This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-05-31 09:09:58


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Comments: view entire thread

 

Congratulations Jerome

 
 By: patrickh : May 27th, 2012-09:46
A wonderfull post with very clear explanation regarding the mecanism of this upgraded calibre. Patek at his BEST, always evolving. Everyone would have the pleasure to see and put this 5204P on his wrist (for a moment or better for the life). Playing with ... 

This one is not a double split

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : May 27th, 2012-13:42
Frankly I did not read all of Jerome's very interesting post, just read across and will do later more, but this is "only" a split second chrono. Lange's double split chrono is something very different: it is TWO 30 minute chronos where, and here come a bi... 

the Jerome title is very explicite Moritz

 
 By: patrickh : May 27th, 2012-13:51
My special comment was purely horological. How works the DS in the german watch compare to the new swiss watch? These 2 KINGS are absolutely marvelous and plays in 2 different categories. Your love for the german brand is well known here. Thanks for your ... 

Thanks Count!

 
 By: Dje : May 28th, 2012-01:44
Hi, Thank you for your answer and comments. But one precision if I understood well the double Split: it is not literally two thirty minutes chronographs in the same watch, as it could be understood in your answer, it is a split seconds chronograph that sp... 

DS has emphasis on double chrono ... not split!

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : May 28th, 2012-05:54
Otherwise the nomenclature does not make sense: it is not a double rattrapante, or is it? No it is a double chrono that can be used saperately, too ! I will read the article about the DS again, but as far as I understood, and the author was speaking clear... 

I beg to differ ...

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : May 28th, 2012-12:10
The two measures are not really linked: a) you can always stop the rattrapante and push the chrono via flyback back for a new start and b) the ratrappante hand catches forward and backwards the time: by pushing twice the pusher at ten (catch up forward or... 

Hi, Moritz,....

 
 By: SuitbertW : May 30th, 2012-03:05
...I believe you're mistaken. The Lange Double Split is, although exceptional in the regard that it is a double rattrapante, still a normal split chronograph. I.e. by pushing the split second button, the running chronograph time is "freezed", can be read ... 

Hi Suitbert

 
 By: Dje : May 30th, 2012-03:22
Hi Suitbert, Welcome home! Thank you for your comments about the Double Split. It could hardly be explained more clearly IMO. Furthermore I hardly dare to criticize other brands than Patek Philippe, I'm already so much supposed to be sold to them! So agai... 

Hi Suitbert! Maybe I will contact Lange for the first time ...

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : May 30th, 2012-05:48
... in this matter and make an inquiry. The article was also claiming that the hands would catch up backwards. I did not have the time yet to investigate and think about all the mechanics in the depth that I would like to do as I am off into my holidays s... 

Special thanks to our Experts Suitbert, Moritz and Jerome

 
 By: patrickh : May 30th, 2012-10:18
for their clearer explanations. Many here hopefully appreciate these type of informative posts. We always learn a lot ;-))) on the best horological web-site Best regards, Patrickh

I agreee with your comments on PP seal...

 
 By: jimjenkins : June 4th, 2012-18:55
When I first saw the new PP seal, I immediately thought of UPS ! Cheers, Jim...  

Thank you very much for your support Patrick

 
 By: Dje : May 28th, 2012-01:40
Hi Patrick, Thank you very much for your support. I'm glad you appreciated it, and especially it ended up clear enough so that something was understandable. This watch is really extraordinary IMO. How does it compare to the Lange Double Split? I dont thin... 

5204P would be my choice too

 
 By: patrickh : May 28th, 2012-02:31
I hope having the pleasure to see it in real, maybe in Patek Philippe Geneva Salon. On other places, I suppose ONLY future owners could have this lucky chance. Jrme, thanks again for sharing this wonderfull detailed and comprehensive report on this incr... 

I will certainly be a rare bird to catch! nt

 
 By: Dje : May 28th, 2012-03:29
nt This message has been edited by Dje on 2012-05-28 06:06:59

The answer is: on page 145 ...

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : July 7th, 2012-10:33
... in Lange's 165th anniversary edition catalogue. There you can read that the isolator mechanism that Lange uses looks like Patek's. Certainly with a single lever (called Swan neck lever by Patek) and not with two isolator levers like in the DS (for the... 

Phenomenal post-- thanks for sharing! [nt]

 
 By: SteelerFan1965 : May 27th, 2012-14:06
No message body

dje , i know you enquired recently whether

 
 By: darma : May 27th, 2012-19:27
there would be sufficient interest in doing an article on this watch recently and I'm glad you did. Even if the majority of us cannot contemplate ever owning a watch of this value we are allowed to dream still. A fantastic article you've done here and wor... 

Thank you Darma!

 
 By: Dje : May 28th, 2012-01:47
Hi Darma, Thank your for your comments. I'm glad this post is now done, it's getting too hot out there to make my brain smoke so much. I'd better be on the beach. Nothing precise for the 5711 yet. I'm still working on it but it's far from done. Best Dje

Jerome, thanks for that very detialed and informative report

 
 By: watch-guy.com : May 27th, 2012-21:32
Hi The watch looks amazing and the split second mechanism is a work of art ( as well as science, engineering and horology) many thanks for taking the time to report on a watch that sets new boundaries ( unfortuneatly only 1% of collectors will eventually ... 

Jerome, thank you for your in-depth report......

 
 By: Topcat30093 : May 27th, 2012-23:16
I found your article fascinating and probably the best one that I have read, which explains in detail and with easy to view drawings on how the grand complication called a split second works The photos depicting the various working parts in a different co... 

Thank you Julian

 
 By: Dje : May 28th, 2012-01:49
Hi Julian, Unfortunately I'm not as positive as you! Not 1% of collectors will own one, maybe one out of 10 000! But I'd love to be that one! Best Dje

Thanks a lot Jérôme for the in-depth presentation of this watch.

 
 By: foversta : May 28th, 2012-01:39
I hope to be able to come back to it within one month. Fx

Thanks for your report

 
 By: hewitgar : May 28th, 2012-14:13
Lots of intersting images and detail on the mechanism, and a fabulous feat of micro engineering and technology. I much prefer the reverse side to the dial side, however. I do not appreciate the indexes, and the upside down MoonPhase is just silly. But the... 

5204

 
 By: rb8888888 : May 28th, 2012-22:35
Jerome, Thank you for spending a lot of time giving us a very informative report! Great to read about the technical aspects of this piece and understand it a little better. I just wish you would have had a wrist shot to go along with your article ;0) All ... 

Thank you Rick

 
 By: Dje : May 29th, 2012-01:19
Hi, I would have loved to have more time to spend with it but I could keep it for one or two minutes only! No time to put the strap in the deployant buckle and take a wrist shot! Best Dje

Fantastic post!

 
 By: murcielago_boy : May 29th, 2012-10:34
Thank you so much for an entertaining and thorough article! Please keep them coming! I always enjoy reading them!

If i ever get this my friend

 
 By: BluNotte : May 30th, 2012-09:26
Of course i will be more than honoured to share it with you! Tschuss! Stephen

You'll have to! nt

 
 By: Dje : May 30th, 2012-09:54
nt

fitting post to a fantastic piece..

 
 By: ocwatching : May 30th, 2012-15:36
thank you jerome... wonderful eye candy...wow....

Fantastic post..

 
 By: Fricks : May 31st, 2012-11:56
... for one the most underated complications. As it doesn't jump to the eye ( Tourbillon ) or the ears ( Minute repeater ), ppl forget just how interesting and complex a split chrono is. You have done a great job here, bravo. Beside the complication its a... 

Dje, well done post ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : June 1st, 2012-01:05
of an impressive watch. Tried it ... but there was no "love" for the dial side. Will try it again in a few days ... Dje, thanks a lot! Oliver...  

5204P

 
 By: cturbos : February 8th, 2013-16:10
thank you for a great idea about the availability,price?