A new wristwatch with moon, date and power reserve indicator from Patek Philippe

n April 1999, Patek Philippe, added reference number 5054 to their growing range of practical complicated wristwatches. The watch first appeared at the 1999 Basel Show. This self winding watch with small seconds features the unusual combination of moon phase, analog date and power reserve indicators, in a new Patek Philippe case design.

ef. 5054 has a handsome case of polished gold or platinum with a hinged dust cover over a sapphire crystal back. The similarity to Patek Philippe's Officer-style case is further underlined by the straight lugs with rolled ends and the screw pins attaching the case and buckle to the strap. The milled, turban crown (a special Patek Philippe pattern) replaces the more usual crown decorated with the Calatrava cross.

The indications (for the power reserve at 10/11 o'clock, the date and moon phases at 7 o'clock and the small seconds at 4/5 o'clock), are slightly sunk to give depth to the porcelain white dial. Roman numerals fan in a semicircle from IX to III on a railway track scale.

The dial remains the same for the versions in platinum or the different shades of gold. Only the moon, in yellow, silver-gray or tinged with rose changes to match the metal of the case. Cases are water resistant to 25 meters.

The three additional complications - moon, date and power reserve indicator - add only 1.45 mm to the movement to achieve an overall height of 3.98 mm. Patek Philippe's extra slim Caliber 240 self winding movement has a decentralized minirotor sunk into the baseplate. It is hallmarked with the Geneva Seal, watch making's highest distinction of quality.

Both the date and moon phase can be set independently by push pieces on the side of the case. If you attempt a correction while the automatic date change is engaged (around midnight), an ingenious safety device prevents damage to the mechanism.

The power reserve indicator shows how many hours the movement will run if the watch is not worn. Fully wound, the power reserve is 48 hours.
 

Specifications of the movement Caliber 240 - Ref. 5054 Diameter: 31 mm Height: 3.98 mm Number of parts: 265 Number of jewels: 29 Max. power reserve: 48 hours Winding rotor: 22K gold minirotor, unidirectional winding Balance: Free-sprung Gyromax Balance spring: Flat Nivaflex, mobile stud Frequency: 21,600 vibrations/hour Hallmark: The Geneva Seal   Indications Coaxial moon phase and analog date. Power reserve. Hours, minutes and small seconds.

Setting functions

• pushed in for manual winding
• pulled out for setting the time

Two push pieces in the caseband:

• at 8 o'clock to set the date
• at 4 o'clock to set the moon

(Click for larger image and technical description)
Go to Patek Philippe website.

Read my (BMcC) adventure purchasing this watch (2000-01)

See enlarged picture of ref. 5054 dial. See  other similar Patek models (ref. 5015, 5055, 5057, 5085/1A, 3712/1A).   Learn about The Geneva Seal. See  another classic Patek Philippe design: Ref. 1526 perpetual calendar (thumbnail, below right).
Return/Go to Patek Philippe Aquanaut (ref. 5066/1A) info. Return/Go to Jaeger-LeCoultre Sun Moon Reverso info.   Return/Go  to horology page (What time does your computer think it is?). Return/Go  to BMcC essay on mechanical watches (The Crown and the Cross).

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http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/5015/index.html Material on this page Copyright © Patek Philippe SA, Geneva, Switzerland and is reproduced with permission for nonprofit educational purposes only. Copyright © 2000-2003 Brad McCormick, Ed.D. bradmcc@cloud9.net 08 April 2006CE (2006-04-08 ISO 8601) v03.04 5054 moonphase detail		PP ref. 1526 (ca. 1948)