Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 5136G

$69,000

A successor of the historic reference 3940, the Patek Philippe 5136G is a transitional reference that marked the arrival of modern automatic perpetual calendars.

Enquire about this watch

This is the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar reference 5136G. Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is a name synonymous with high horology. A company that has always been privately owned, Patek has been manufacturing watches for almost two centuries without interruption. The company is currently owned by the Stern family, whose heritage dates to when they were supplying dials to Patek in the 1920s.

To understand Patek Philippe’s modern perpetual calendars, one must look to the reference 3940 that was introduced in 1985. The 3940 established the classic three-register dial layout and thin case profile that defined the brand's perpetual calendar for decades to come. A defining reference for the brand, the 3940 stands tall as one of the most important perpetual calendar references of its time and established the definitive template for automatic perpetual calendars that followed.

In 2003, Patek introduced the reference 5136 as the integrated-bracelet successor to the 3940, producing the model until for approximately five years. Housed in an 18k white gold case with a matching bracelet, the 5136G measures 37mm in diameter - a millimetre bigger than the 3940. Featuring a stepped bezel, the 5136G was produced exclusively with a white gold bracelet to complete the grandiose aesthetic of the perpetual calendar. Based on the 3940, the dial retains the traditional three-register layout with the month and leap year indicator at the 3, the date and moonphase at the 6 and day and 24-hour indicator at the 9. Despite all the information, the dial remains highly legible. Powered by the Cal. 240Q with a 22k gold micro-rotor carrying the Geneva seal, the 5136G remains highly wearable with a thickness of 10.5mm befitting of a dress watch.

While the 3940 often gets the plaudits (and rightly so), the reference 5136G is a transitional model that ushered in the modern era of perpetual calendars for Patek Philippe. A reference that marks the transition into larger case proportions, it holds its own among the important references of complicated watches in the history of the brand.