Image: Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe utilized Watches and Wonder Geneva, the first time the watch world gathered in one place since 2019, to unveil the Ref. 5326G-001, a next-generation timepiece that combines the yearly calendar with a second time zone display. Yes, this is the first timepiece to include the distinctive annual calendar and Travel Time functionalities.

In terms of the brand’s visibility in media stories, this year was already shaping up to be a strong one for Patek Philippe. It is one of a few companies that is frequently discussed in whatever media you choose to consume, including this one. Despite the fact that Patek Philippe released the amazing Ref. 5470P shortly after the fair, the Ref. 5326G garnered a lot of attention and wonderful reviews, creating a bit of a struggle for attention between two very notable Patek Philippe references.

Take a closer look at what makes Ref. 5326G so unique. Of course, there are eight patents operating behind the scenes to bridge and connect the yearly calendar and trip time complexities (unless you wear your watch movement-side up). We’ve already said what we believe is the most important aspect of this watch, so we’ll spend a little more time discussing the overall appearance and feel of this 41mm Calatrava in white gold.

Image: Patek Philippe

The display, despite its dramatic technological intricacy, is a study in pragmatism, and the watch is simple to operate. The date mechanism is related to local time, and all of the primary time functions are regulated by the crown, rather than pushers, as is common with Travel Time watches. Separate pushers for independent adjustment are provided, presumably for usage when the watch pauses for an extended length of time.

Practicality was the keyword here, according to Patek Philippe, because the date displayed on the dial should match to local time rather than home time. As you may guess, having the date set to home time can lead to confusion and inaccuracies. If you’re curious about what occurs while you’re at home, the central solid local time hand and the open-worked home time can be synched up so that they move as one. Without concern, local time can be altered forwards or backwards. We’ll say it again: what makes this watch exceptional is that it’s nearly difficult to desynchronize the indicators, whether you move the hands backwards or forwards.

Image: Patek Philippe

The self-winding calibre 31-260 PS QA LU FUS 24H is designed to withstand operator mistake; unfortunately, we are frequently the deadliest adversaries of our own timepieces. The day/night indications are present for both home and local time, which Patek Philippe affirmed was just a question of establishing nice symmetry on the dial. The absence of typical pushers (the ones that are there are recessed) was something that Patek Philippe intended so that the hobnail ornamentation on the case sides would not be disturbed.

There is just too much to say about a piece like Ref. 5326G, far more than one essay can cover. Finally, we’ll go over the details on the dial, which is new for Patek Philippe (granular grey with gradation) and manufactured in-house (by the Patek Philippe-owned Cadrans Flückiger in Saint-Imier). The date is at 6 o’clock; the day/night indicator for local time is at 8 o’clock; the day/night indicator for home time is at 4 o’clock; and the moon phase display is at 6 o’clock.