In 1991, the soon-to-be graduates at the Geneva School of Engineering were presented with their final project prior to receiving their diploma — simplify the perpetual calendar.
Although the task was easier said than done, their work led to the inception of the annual calendar complication, patented by Patek in collaboration with the bright engineering minds at the GSE. Five years later, Patek debuted the Reference 5035 which marked the world’s first-ever annual calendar movement and finally bridged the gap between a triple date function and the formidable quantième perpétuel.
This piece transports us forward to the present day and is a beautiful modern interpretation of the Patek Philippe Annual Calendar complication. A Reference 4937R designed for their ladies' collection, this elegant timepiece features a 37mm 18k rose gold case with contoured lugs, a factory diamond-set bezel, case, and lugs, and a signed crown with a factory diamond setting on the periphery.
Its stunning mother of pearl dial features applied ‘Roman’ and dot indices, a polished feuille handset, and displays twin subsidiary registers denoting the day and month, as well as moonphase indicator directly above the date window at 6 o’clock.
The reverse of the case features a a sapphire exhibition back providing a window through which you can admire the beautiful automatic-winding Patek movement and its yellow gold winding rotor adorned with the hallmark Patek Philippe seal. It comes fitted to a beautiful alligator strap with a matching 18k rose gold diamond-set pin buckle, and includes its box, books, and Certificate of Origin dated 2012.
This lovely piece proves that Patek Philippe stands apart from the competition when it comes to ladies' pieces, fully understanding that passionate, savvy women demand more from their timepiece than just shiny colors and a little bit of bling. They really delivered with this exquisitely appointed Annual Calendar!