The Patek Philippe Annual Calendar

Launched in 1996, the patented annual calendar complication has become an icon, remaining an adored and highly desirable Patek Philippe timepiece. In this blog, we discover the origins of the annual calendar and how it has now expanded across the full collection.

What is an Annual Calendar...

The annual calendar was designed to appeal to the new generation of horology aficionados, it offers the wearer a more accessible, innovative, and user-friendly complication. The mechanism indicates the day of the week, month, and date. What makes the annual calendar so special is that it will automatically adjust the date in sync with the 30 and 31-day months, meaning it requires only one manual adjustment each year at the end of February. The patented movement is classified as a “useful complication”. Creating this new innovation sits directly between the simple calendar which requires a date change on every month with less than 31 days and the perpetual calendar, which does not require any manual adjustment of the date.

What is an Annual Calendar...

The annual calendar was designed to appeal to the new generation of horology aficionados, it offers the wearer a more accessible, innovative, and user-friendly complication. The mechanism indicates the day of the week, month, and date. What makes the annual calendar so special is that it will automatically adjust the date in sync with the 30 and 31-day months, meaning it requires only one manual adjustment each year at the end of February. The patented movement is classified as a “useful complication”. Creating this new innovation sits directly between the simple calendar which requires a date change on every month with less than 31 days and the perpetual calendar, which does not require any manual adjustment of the date.

A Horological Innovation
A Horological Innovation

A Horological Innovation

On its launch, Patek Philippe surprised the watch world with its new Caliber 315 S QA – it subsequently went on to gain the award of Swiss “Watch of the Year” due to it’s ease of use and impressive aesthetics. The original model to carry the new caliber was Ref 5035J, an understated yellow gold timepiece with a white dial and applied Roman numeral appliques. Since then the annual calendar mechanism has evolved into additional pieces across the collection, some have also been combined with chronographs, moon phases, and travel time functions.

Becoming An Icon

A sign of the annual calendar’s popularity, it has remained an integral part of the collection for more than 20 years. Confirming the manufactures horological prowess and commitment to research and development, continuously pushing the boundaries of creation. Encompassing Patek Philippe’s 10 values perfectly, an extremely important and significant reason why Patek Philippe is held in such high regard.

INDEPENDENCE, TRADITION, INNOVATION, QUALITY AND FINE WORKMANSHIP, RARITY, VALUE, AESTHETICS, SERVICE, EMOTION, HERITAGE.

Becoming An Icon

A sign of the annual calendar’s popularity, it has remained an integral part of the collection for more than 20 years. Confirming the manufactures horological prowess and commitment to research and development, continuously pushing the boundaries of creation. Encompassing Patek Philippe’s 10 values perfectly, an extremely important and significant reason why Patek Philippe is held in such high regard.

INDEPENDENCE, TRADITION, INNOVATION, QUALITY AND FINE WORKMANSHIP, RARITY, VALUE, AESTHETICS, SERVICE, EMOTION, HERITAGE.

Discover The Collection

View the full collection of Annual Calendar timepieces here.

Full Collection

Full Collection

5205R

5205R

5396G

5396G

5326G

5326G

Full Collection

Full Collection

5205R

5205R

5396G

5396G

5326G

5326G