The exhibition opens tomorrow, Friday October 2nd at the CityOval in Milan. This is Patek Philippe’s seventh Grand Exhibition and the biggest to date with around 500 watches across 15 themed areas. As well as this the brand has launched seven limited edition rare watches created specifically for the Italian market.
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Ref. 5167A-014
The Aquanaut was launched in 1997 with a rounded octagonal case inspired by the Nautilus. It boasts a “tropical” strap, made of a composite material ultra-resistant to wear, salt water and UV radiation. For Milan Patek Philippe has created a limited edition run of 250 Aquanaut Ref. 5167A-014 for the Italian market. A 40.8mm steel case is combined with blue sunburst dial that fades to black at the rim, and a red minute track and red seconds hand. It’s powered by the 26-330 S C calibre and is finished with a midnight blue composite strap. On the sapphire crystal caseback is inscribed “Patek Philippe Milano 2026”.
Ref. 5978P-010
Probably the most important technical launch of the show is the new instantaneous perpetual calendar in platinum with chronograph. Limited to 120 pieces, this 42mm watch runs from a manually wound CH 29-535 PS QI movement with a 55-60 hour power reserve and holding a plethora of complications. Its 500 components power a perpetual calendar, day date, month and leap year displays that can all instantaneously change in just 30 milliseconds. This elegant watch has a navy blue dial that fades to black with red chronograph hands and calendar details in Italian.
Ref. 7047G-010
Just five pieces of this reference have been made. The stunning dress watch in 38mm white gold includes a minute repeater with a vivid red lacquer dial and matching red alligator strap. Housed inside the case is a self-winding automatic R 27 PS calibre. Italian tricolour stitching on the strap echoes discreet referencing to Italy.
Calatravas
The last four launches are two Calatravas and two World Time Minute Repeaters. There’s Ref: 7147G-010, a white gold perpetual calendar with a green lacquered dial, and calendar details in Italian. Additionally Ref. 7007G-010, a simpler date and time Calatrava has a white lacquered dial which completes the tricolour set of the Italian flag – green, white and red. Finally, there are two World Time Minute Repeaters Refs. 5531G-012 and 5531G-013. Both feature Grand Feu cloisonné enamel dials illustrating Milan, one by day, the other by night. They chime the local time in whichever of the 24 timezones is selected.
All seven pieces have been created specifically for Patek Philippe’s Grand Exhibition that runs in Milan from October 2nd to October 18th. The exhibition is free to the public and features new pieces from the current collection, grand complications as well as historically important and rare pieces.
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