BIjoux L’OfficieL59Even though the new automatic Calibre 26-330 is based on the brand’s
workhouse calibre 324, the Geneva manufacture’s newest in-house
calibre is the result of years of development work. The calibre features
a semi-integrated mechanism with 92 additional parts. An essential
addition is a seven-point star on the hour wheel in the centre of the
movement controlling the day-of-week display. Via a lever, a second
seven-point star with an extended Sunday tip drives the 53-tooth week
wheel of the Calatrava Weekly Calendar.
The calendar displays advance semi-instantaneously in discrete
steps to avoid energy consumption peaks. Corrections of the day-
of-week and week-number displays are performed with two push
pieces recessed in the case flank at 8 and 10 o’clock. The date can
be corrected with the crown pulled halfway out thanks to a fail-safe
concept. The user can perform such corrections at any time of the
day or night without risking damage to the movement. Despite all
this, the calendar complication is not the main attraction. There’s a
whole host of horological innovation under that gorgeous opaline dial
that we don’t have the space to get into this issue.
In addition to the iconic Calatrava case, the design language of
the Calatrava Weekly Calendar is evocative of a bygone era. The
indications on the dial are reminiscent of hand-painted numerals,
a hallmark of vintage watchmaking before the advent of printed
dials. The new Calatrava Weekly Calendar uses typography created
specifically for this 2019 novelty based on the handwriting of one of
the manufacture’s designers. Hence the letters and numbers of the
new Patek Philippe Calatrava Weekly Calendar are absolutely unique.
That said, these are not hand-painted like the watches of old but
carefully printed in black.
This “retro feel” is further enhanced thanks to the case inspiration – Ref.
2512, a one-of-a-kind Calatrava made in 1955. With such provenance,
the 40mm Patek Philippe BaselWorld novelty enjoys the classical
finesse of a bezel that meets the two-tiered tapered lugs. Meticulously
hand-polished, the visual dramatism of the latest Calatrava is further
enhanced by the box sapphire with a slightly cambered profile.