Unveiled at Baselworld 2019 the new Patek Philippe Ref. 5520P-001 Alarm Travel Timeelf-winding grand complication that adds a 24-hour alarm to its exclusive Travel Time display with two time zones; the alarm signal is struck by a hammer on a classic gong. Four patents have been filed for the Caliber AL 30-660 S C FUS movement for the alarm mechanism.
When the alarm is triggered, a hammer, which can be seen through the crystal case back, strikes a gong that circles the movement. The gong strikes up to 90 times in 40 seconds if it isn’t stopped.
An integrated movement requires less height than a calibre with an additional module making it possible to limit the total height of the 42.2 mm platinum case (crystal to display back) to 11.6 mm. This highly complex self-winding movement has a central rotor; it is 31 mm in diameter and 6.6 mm high. Its Gyromax balance features a Spiromax balance spring made of Silinvar, a derivative of silicon. The unique properties of this avant-garde material and the patented geometry of the hairspring assure superb reliability and extreme rate accuracy pursuant to the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal that prescribes a maximum tolerance of -3/+2 seconds per day.
The movement also features a stop-seconds mechanism that allows the time to be set with one-second accuracy. Beating at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, the movement has a power reserve of minimum 42 hours and maximum 52 hours.
The Travel Time function is very easy to use. Introduced in 1997, the exclusive Travel Time function stands out with its ingenious two-time-zone system. The watch has two hour hands from the center. The other, skeletonized, displays home time and remains hidden beneath the local-time hour hand when local and home time are identical. These hour hands are paired with two day/night indicators (blue-white) in small round apertures – at 3:30 for home time.
The dial is completed by an unusual analog date display at 6 o’clock where the date is represented in a 3-day increments scale. It is synchronized with local time. To adjust the local time clockwise in one-hour increments (pusher at 8 o’clock) or counterclockwise (pusher at 10 o’clock). The intelligent concept of the time-zone mechanism prevents the rate accuracy of the watch from being affected when traveling across time zones. To simplify adjustments, the pushers are embossed with the symbols + and –. Before a pusher can be actuated, it must be unlocked with a quarter turn, easily accomplished thanks to the fluting; a quarter turn in the opposite direction locks the pusher again. The watch remains water-resistant even when the pushers are unlocked.
To create a useful travel watch, Patek Philippe combined the two time zones with an alarm that like the date is coupled with local time. The crown at two o’clock sets the digital alarm time, which is displayed in two apertures below 12 o’clock. And whether the alarm time for the day or night (white and blue respectively) is indicated by the circular window just below. Lastly, the bell-shaped window just below “12” indicates whether the alarm is on or off.
The dial is black with a radial sunburst brushing, with applied Arabic numerals in white gold. It is made in a 42.2mm x 11.57mm platinum case with a sunburst ebony black dial using large applied white gold Arabic numerals and the broad baton hands.
The Alarm Travel Time ref. 5520P is priced at 200,000 Swiss francs, (US$200,000). Discover Opulent Club on Apple News.