Patek Philippe Complications

From Annual Calendars to World Time Watches

Patek Philippe is among the world's most highly respected luxury watch manufacturers. The family-run business is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and is famous for crafting timepieces with intricate complications beyond simple time and date displays. Many of these watches belong to the aptly named Complications collection.

The Complications collection contains a wide selection of timepieces with practical features, such as an annual calendar, moon phase indicator, world time function, and second time zone. The most complex models boast multiple complications. For example, the ref. 5930G is the first Patek Philippe in series production to combine a world time display and chronograph.

The classically elegant timepieces in the Complications collection resemble one of Patek's most popular dress watches, the Calatrava. Most models have an exquisite case crafted from rose, yellow, or white gold. Platinum and stainless steel editions are also available. Two notable stainless steel examples include the refs. 5212A-001 and 4947/1A. The latter debuted in 2021 and is Patek Philippe's first stainless steel annual calendar.

The ref. 5905P is one of the collection's few platinum timepieces. It is 42 mm in diameter and pairs a flyback chronograph with an annual calendar.

Each timepiece gets its power from an in-house caliber of the highest quality. These movements feature elaborately decorated bridges and plates and boast outstanding accuracy.

5 Reasons to Buy a Patek Philippe Complications

• High-quality Patek Philippe in-house calibers
• Complications like an annual calendar, GMT function, perpetual calendar, world time display, and flyback chronograph
• Rare and coveted models in stainless steel
• Precious metals like platinum and rose, white, and yellow gold
• Solid investment

Price Overview: Patek Philippe Complications

How much does a Patek Philippe Complications cost?

Prices for Complications timepieces start at roughly 23,000 USD for a model with a GMT function, rising to around 59,000 USD for a 38-mm watch in white or rose gold with diamonds, and soaring to almost 126,000 USD for the World Time ref. 5231J. If you are interested in buying the platinum chronograph ref. 5070P-001, you'll need to set aside around 281,000 USD. If you have your heart set on the Nautilus Travel Time Chronographref. 5990/1R in rose gold, expect an investment of almost 325,000 USD.

Complications: Prices and Details

Patek Philippe brought the ref. 4947/1A to market in 2021. Defining features of this 38-mm stainless steel timepiece include its annual calendar, midnight blue dial with a double vertical and horizontal satin finish, and polished stainless steel bracelet. The manufacturer equips this watch with the caliber 324 S QA LU, which displays the day, month, and moon phase on separate subdials at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock. You can buy this Patek model on Chrono24 for around 50,000 USD.

The white gold Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524G-001 sits in a similar price range. This 42-mm wristwatch has a classic pilot's watch design and a blue dial. It can also display two time zones simultaneously thanks to the in-house caliber 26-330 S C FUS. This movement also features a pointer date at 6 o'clock and a day/night display for both time zones. Listings on Chrono24 come in around 51,500 USD.

The white gold Calatrava ref. 5226G-001 hit the shelves in 2022. This luxury watch uses the automatic caliber 26-330 S C, which boasts a standard three-hand display as well as a date window at 3 o'clock. Prices hover around 56,000 USD. If you weren't planning to spend quite that much, check out the white gold Calatrava ref. 6000G-010, which offers a small seconds subdial. This model is a great alternative at about 26,500 USD.

World time watches like the ref. 5231J are especially practical for frequent travelers. This yellow gold watch shows the time in the world's 24 main time zones all at once. It also has 24-hour and day/night displays for the various time zones. At 38.5 mm in diameter, this timepiece is a great choice for men and women alike. Perhaps the ref. 5231J's most notable feature is its beautiful dial with a "cloisonné" enamel center depicting the African, American, and European continents. Be prepared to spend about 126,000 USD on this exquisite timepiece.

Complications: Models With an Annual Calendar

Watches with an annual calendar complication have displays for the date, day, and month. What's even more impressive is that they know whether a month has 30 or 31 days. This means you only have to manually correct the date once a year on March 1st.

Patek Philippe offers an entire series of watches with annual calendars. One example bears the reference number 5146. This dress watch is 39 mm in diameter and indicates the day and month on separate subdials using pointers. These subdials sit at 10 and 2 o'clock, respectively. The date occupies a window at 6 o'clock, directly below the moon phase display. Lastly, a power reserve indicator at 12 o'clock lets you know how much energy the automatic caliber 324 S IRM QA LU has left.

The case comes in platinum or rose, yellow, or white gold. You can choose from a white silver-plated or anthracite sunburst dial. A white gold bracelet or an alligator leather strap with a folding clasp holds this timepiece securely on the wrist.

If you decide for a rose, yellow, or white gold model, you can plan to spend roughly 47,500 USD. At 55,000 USD new, the platinum edition is the most expensive option.

Patek Philippe also creates a smaller version of the watch. This timepiece, the ref. 4947, comes in white or rose gold and measures 38 mm in diameter. A diamond-studded bezel frames the silver or light blue sunburst dial. There are 141 gems on the case itself, and a further 14 on the crown. You can buy a mint-condition copy for around 57,500 USD. The manufacturer also produces versions with mother-of-pearl dials under the reference number 4948. These watches sell for around 77,500 USD.

Patek Phillipe Complications With an Annual Calendar and Window Displays

Models from the 5396 and 5205 series feature annual calendars with the date, day, and month each displayed in separate windows. The 5396 series has its day and month windows below the company name at 12 o'clock and a date display at 6. A combined moon phase and 24-hour display sits directly above the date. The 24-hour portion is synchronized with the central time display and serves as a day/night indicator.

The 5205 series has the same combination subdial at 6 o'clock. However, all three of its calendar displays are on the upper half of the dial, with the day at 10, date at 12, and month at 2 o'clock. Patek Philippe offers both series in rose or white gold with a white, dark blue, or black dial. Mint-condition rose gold models sell for close to 65,500 USD, while white gold timepieces demand around 62,500 USD.

Patek Philippe presented a variation of their patented annual calendar under the reference number 5205G-013. Three keystone-shaped apertures display the day of the week, date, and month, while the moon phase is joined by an integrated 24-hour display at 6 o'clock. The complex timepiece is kept in line by the automatic caliber 324 S QA LU 24H/206. The watch has a 40-mm white gold case and an iridescent sunburst dial. Listings on Chrono24 of the 5205G cost around 62,500 USD. In 2022, Patek Philippe introduced the ref. 5205R a new rose gold version with an olive green sunburst dial, which now has a retail value just south of 70,000 USD.

The Swiss manufacturer released a new perpetual calendar in 2021. Interestingly, the ref. 5236P displays the day, date, and month in one line below the company logo, the first time we've seen this configuration in a wristwatch from Patek; the model was inspired by a pocket watch from 1972. The moon phase joins the small seconds in the subdial at 6 o'clock, with the leap year indicator sitting to the right and the day/night indicator to the left. The 41-mm case sports a dark blue dial with a vertical satin finish. Expect an investment of around 130,000 USD for a mint-condition copy.

Complications Flyback Chronographs

The Complications collection is also home to chronographs. The 42-mm watches in the ref. 5905 series are flyback chronographs with a 60-minute counter at 6 o'clock. Furthermore, they feature an annual calendar with a month window at 2, a day at 10, and a date at 12 o'clock. All this functionality comes from the automatic in-house caliber CH 28-520 QA 24H.

These timepieces are available in platinum (ref. 5905P) with a matte blue or ebony dial, or as a rose gold watch (ref. 5905R) with a brown dial. The rose gold version demands around 77,000 USD, while you'll need to set aside roughly 106,000 USD for the platinum reference.

2022 saw the release of the ref. 5905/1A. This model pairs a stainless steel case with an olive green dial. You'll find both the small seconds and the day/night indicator at the 6 o'clock position. Listings for this Patek watch on Chrono24 come in around 81,000 USD.

At 40.5 mm in diameter, the refs. 5960 and 5961 are slightly smaller than the 5905 series. However, thanks to the automatic caliber CH 28-520 IRM QA 24H, these watches boast a few more functions than their larger counterparts. These include a power reserve indicator below the date at 12 o'clock and a dual 24-hour and 60-minute counter at 6.

These models also come in platinum, rose gold, or white gold. What's more, each 5961 has a bezel studded with 36 baguette-cut diamonds. A new ref. 5960 in white or rose gold changes hands for about 68,000 and 72,000 USD, respectively. The platinum edition sells for close to 68,500 USD. If you're interested in a rose gold or platinum ref. 5961, be prepared to spend between roughly 168,000 and 172,000 USD.

Fans of bi-compax chronographs should take a closer look at the refs. 5170 and 7150. Both are powered by the manual caliber CH 29-535 PS. They have a 30-minute counter at 3 and a small seconds at 9 o'clock. The main difference between the two references is their size. While the ref. 5170 measures 42 mm in diameter, the ref. 7150 comes in at 38 mm and is a great choice for narrower wrists. The ref. 7150/250R even boasts 72 diamonds on its bezel and a further 27 on the prong buckle.

The rose gold chronographs and the yellow gold ref. 5170 sell for about 69,000 USD. The rose gold version of the 5170 costs roughly 76,000 USD, and the white gold edition 84,000 USD. The platinum edition has the heftiest price tag at 138,000 USD.

The ref. 5172G-010 also joined Patek's portfolio in 2022. This timepiece sports a rose gold-colored dial and uses the caliber CH 29-535 PS. Along with its sibling, the blue dial ref. 5172G-001, this model offers a chronograph complication. As for the arrangement, you'll find the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and the small seconds at 9. The central hands for the hour and minutes are syringe-shaped. The white gold case measures 41 mm across and brandishes mushroom-like push-pieces. The manufacturer pairs this timepiece with a brown crocodile leather strap. You can buy this luxury watch on Chrono24 for around 89,500 USD.

Complications: GMT Watches for Frequent Travelers

Watches with a GMT function are beloved among frequent travelers, especially pilots and businesspeople who often hop between time zones. The Complications collection contains multiple timepieces with this feature.

One example is the reference 5524. Pilot's watches from the 1920s and 30s served as the inspiration for this timepiece. Large luminous numerals dominate the otherwise tidy dial. The wide hands also glow in the dark. Each watch features separate day/night indicators for the local time and the time back home. A pair of push-pieces at 8 and 10 o'clock operate the GMT display. Finally, a pointer date at 6 o'clock rounds off the 5524's functionality. This 42-mm watch is crafted from rose or white gold and changes hands for around 51,500 USD in mint condition on Chrono24.

Patek offers an identical women's watch under the reference number 7234R. This timepiece is 37.5 mm in diameter and costs roughly 39,500 USD.

Keeping an Eye on the Time Around the Globe

World time watches allow you to keep track of all the world's time zones simultaneously. Patek Philippe outfits the references 5230, 5231, and 7130 with this complication. Each is equipped with the automatic caliber 240 HU. This movement displays the time in 24 time zones via a combination of central hour and minute hands, a 24-hour disc, and a city disc. A push-piece at 10 o'clock makes it easy to switch between individual time zones.

The references 5230 and 5231 are both 38.5 mm in diameter. The former is available in rose gold or white gold, while the 5231 comes exclusively in yellow gold. The other main difference between these two models is their dial layout. While the center of the 5230's dial is guillochéed by hand, that of the ref. 5231 features a world map made of "cloisonné" enamel. You can buy the ref. 5230 on Chrono24 for about 47,000 USD new. The yellow gold ref. 5231, on the other hand, demands around 125,000 USD. Models in the 7130 series are marketed as women's watches. These wristwatches are more compact at 36 mm, and flaunt a diamond-studded bezel. Plan to spend around 52,000 USD.

Patek Philippe introduced the 5990/1R, a rose gold edition of the Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph, which was up to that point only available in steel. The GMT watch was given a skeletonized hour hand for the home time. The hour hand for the local time is – like the minute hand – coated with luminous material. Both time zones have a separate day/night indicator, as also seen on the ref. 5524. The pointer date at 12 o'clock is for the local time. You can read the elapsed minutes at six o'clock, while the stop second hand is centrally positioned. The automatic caliber CH 28-520C FUS also equips the chronograph with a flyback function. However, all this functionality has a price: you'll need to set aside around 324,000 USD for this 40.5-mm timepiece.

How much do regulator watches cost?

The ref. 5235 stands out from the rest of the Complications collection thanks to its regulator-style dial. This means the hours, minutes, and seconds are all displayed separately from one another. This version has a central minute hand, with subdials for the seconds and hours at 6 and 12 o'clock, respectively. What's more, the automatic caliber 31-260 REG QA comes with an annual calendar. Its date window sits within the small seconds at 6, while the day and month are located at 10 and 2 o'clock. Patek Philippe produces a rose gold edition with an anthracite dial and a white gold version with a silver dial. Both cost about 52,000 USD on Chrono24.