Ladies First Perpetual Calendar

Baselworld 2012

Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe Ref. 7140
Ladies First Perpetual Calendar

Because women love the notion of forever

The growing affinity of women with mechanical watches and complicated functions is among the particularly delightful trends in the domain of horology. Accordingly, the response to the Ladies First Chronograph in the autumn of 2009 was highly positive, as was the case two years later when two grand complications – an ultra-thin split-seconds chronograph and an equally graceful minute repeater – were launched in very feminine versions. Now, Patek Philippe is presenting the Ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar, the debut of this complication in the manufacture’s current collection for ladies. With its technical sophistication and fetching aesthetics, it will fascinate every woman with a penchant for the pinnacle of watchmaking artistry.

This predilection couldn't be accommodated in a better way than by a perpetual calendar, a grand complication that qualifies as an incarnation of eternity with its functionality, lasting value, reliability across generations, timelessly elegant design, and enduring array of diamonds. The workshops' design team and the complications ateliers spared no effort to endow this complicated timepiece with an irresistibly feminine personality.

Stunningly beautiful and everlasting

The objective was accomplished with panache, as evidenced by a glance at the new Ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar. All of the elements of this elegant timepiece reflect feminine poise, from the classic round Calatrava case in 18K rose gold and the gracefully curved lugs to the shimmering creamy white dial, the interchangeable mink gray and royal purple alligator straps, the lovely bezel, and the clasp set with ecious diamonds that deserve to be called a girl's best friend. The dimensions of the case are also ideal for the feminine wrist. With a diameter of 35.10 mm and a height of 8.8 mm, it is endearingly discreet and lissome. Despite its compact size, it presents its eight indications – hours, minutes, date, day of the week, month, leap-year cycle, 24-hour subdial, and moon phases – in a very clearly organized and easily legible configuration. This is due not least to the subtle contrast between the white opalescent dial and the hands, the applied Breguet numerals, the minute-marker pearls in 18K rose gold, and the discreetly elegant yet crisply readable calendar indications. The 68 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds totaling approx. 0.68 ct. embrace the perpetual calendar dial, framing it like a precious treasure with sparkling intensity. But these readily visible assets not only underscore the beauty of this exceptional timepiece, they also bring its inner values to the fore. The watch comes with a solid-gold case back and an exchangeable sapphire-crystal display back that allows its owner to admire the magnificently designed and artistically decorated mechanical caliber.

Elegance begins with the movement

The movement of the Ref. 7140 is the sine qua non of an ultra-thin and strikingly elegant perpetual calendar model. It is the legendary caliber 240 Q assembled in the manufacture's ateliers for complicated watches. Composed of 275 individual parts, it is only 3.88 high, despite the fact that it is self-winding. This feat was made possible by recessing the off-center 22K gold minirotor in the plate, combined with an ingenious arrangement of the mechanisms for the perpetual calendar and the moon-phase display. With a mechanical memory of 4 years or 1461 days, the perpetual calendar always indicates the correct date, automatically taking into consideration the months with 31, 30, or 28 days, and the 29th of February in leap years. If the watch is regularly worn or kept in a winder when off the wrist, it will take until 2100 before the calendar has to be manually advanced by one day: according to the Gregorian calendar, the year 2100 is a so-called secular year that omits the 29th of February. It is an uplifting feeling to be able to think about one's great and great-great grandchildren when purchasing a Ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar.

This extraordinary timepiece designed for eternity is worn on a hand-stitched alligator strap with a prong buckle in 18K rose gold that is adorned with a further complement of 27 flawless Top Wesselton diamonds totaling about 0.20 ct.

The Ref. 7140 Ladies First Perpetual Calendar enriches Patek Philippe's collection of ladies' watches with an attractive newcomer that joins what is probably the world's most comprehensive portfolio of regularly produced complicated watches for women. It includes Travel Time models for two time zones, the World Time watch with 24 time zones, the famous Annual Calendar, grand complications such as minute repeaters and split-seconds chronographs as well as classic column-wheel chronographs Ladies First Chronograph, and now, finally, the first perpetual calendar for ladies.