Breaking news: Patek Philippe releases a new chronograph Ref. 5470P

Just in: Patek Philippe released a new highly technical chronograph with many innovative features. This is the new Ref. 5470P, 1/10th of a second monopusher chronograph in platinum.

Press release information with commentary in italics.

New: Patek Philippe Ref. 5470P, 1/10th of a second monopusher chronograph

The Patek Philippe REf. 5470P has a retail price of CHF 380,000.

Commentary

We just attended the global release conference on a surprise release by Patek Philippe. This new watch is a highly technical piece, with a new high beat 5Hz movement and a special module to display the 1/10th second measurements in a very intuitive way. We present here the release informaiton with initial reaction in our commentary. We will return with a detailed technical discussion when we have had the time to digest the special features. We have also scheduled a technical discussion session with Philip Barat, Head of Watch Development at Patek Philippe tomorrow.

In summary, this is the first Patek wristwatch with 1/10th second measurement, and the movement is protected by 7 patents which are exclusive to this caliber. They started by converting one of their existing chronograph movement from the classical 4Hz to 5Hz frequency. The base they have chosen is the CHR 29-535 PS, which is a split seconds chronograph. The movement has its escapement replaced with a new one incorporating all the “Advanced Research” innovations that Patek has done in the field of Silinvar (Oscillomax Ensemble) running at the 36,000 bph. They then removed the split second module, and replaced it with the 1/10th second module. This module drives a separate 1/10th second hand in a red lacquered Silvinar hand (the first time we have encountered the use of silicon in the manufacture of a hand, and chosen as it is light and strong. Other materials considered are traditional gold, steel, brass titanium and aluminium).

Instead of choosing to just do the new 5Hz chronograph movement and attaching the chronograph seconds hand to the fourth wheel, like for example in the Zenith El Primero, Patek has chosen to develop a new module over the chronograph just to display the 1/10th seconds hand. The result is a high resolution capability to resolve the 1/10th second which is easy and intuitive to use. In the process of constructing this module, there were significant challenges to be overcome. Philip Barat and his technical team has taken the task to tackle these issues with very elegant solutions, which by the nature that they are simple to use is very complicated to create. We will cover this in detail in our technical discussion article.

From the high resolution photographs which we received, the watch looks quite beautiful in its platinum case and a varnished blue dial with applied white gold Breguet numerals.

We also hope to be able to handle and photograph the watch when it is presented in Singapore.

Press Release information

Patek Philippe unveils its first ever wrist-chronograph measuring and displaying 1/10th of a second
Patek Philippe is delighting chronograph connoisseurs and enthusi- asts with a new high-performance manually wound movement that measures and displays 1/10th of a second – while maintaining this high degree of accuracy throughout the entire timekeeping process.

To meet this mechanical challenge, the Manufacture used the CH 29- 535 PS caliber, the first Patek Philippe classically built chronograph movement entirely designed and produced in its workshops and accompanied by six patents (2009). The frequency was increased from 4 to 5 Hz (36,000 vibrations per hour, or ten steps per second) and the movement was equipped with an additional chronograph mechanism exclusively dedicated to 1/10th of a second.

In order to guarantee simple and fast reading of measured times, the movement developers devised a patented system of concentric seconds and fractions of a second indications. The monopusher chronograph is equipped with two central hands, each driven by one of the mecha- nisms. One hand (with a one-minute rotation) allows the seconds to be read in the traditional way; while the other hand revolves around the dial in 12 seconds, covering 12 sectors, each subdivided into ten sec- tions corresponding to tenths of a second.

To meet the triple objective of efficiency, reliability and precision, the Manufacture has integrated – for the first time in the current collec- tion – its high-tech Oscillomax® regulating organ developed by the Patek Philippe technical department responsible for the innovations featured in the 2011 “Advanced Research” series (17 patents). Seven additional patented innovations developed for this new 29-535 PS 1/10 caliber also contribute to reducing energy consumption, protect- ing the movement against shocks and avoiding the risk of breakage in case of mishandling.

This new small-series Grand Complication model is housed in a plat- inum case with hollowed and satin-brushed flanks. Its sporty touch is enhanced by details such as the 1/10th of a second hand in red- lacquered Silinvar® and the calfskin leather strap with navy blue embossed fabric pattern and contrasting red stitching.

Patek Philippe Ref. 5470P Technical Specifications

DIAL

• Blue varnished, gold applied Breguet numerals
• White gold leaf-shaped hands with luminescent coating

CASE

• Platinum
• Diameter:41mm
• Height:13.68mm
• Water-resistant to 30 m
• Interchangeable solid and sapphire crystalcase backs

STRAP

• Calfskin, embossed with fabric pattern, hand-stitched, navy blue
• Fold-over clasp

MOVEMENT

• Caliber CH 29-535 PS 1/10
• Manual winding
• 1/10thofasecondmonopusherchronograph
• Central chronograph hand
• Central 1/10th of a second hand
• Instantaneous 30-minute counter
• Small seconds
• Diameter:29.6mm
• Height:6.96mm
• Number of parts: 396
• Frequency:36,000semi-oscillations/hour(5 Hz)
• Balance: Gyromax® in Silinvar®
• Balancespring:Spiromax®
• Escapement: Pulsomax® with leverand escape wheel in Silinvar®
• Power reserve with the chronograph, disengaged: min. 48 hours