Reference 5520 Pilot Alarm Travel Time, presented in 2019, drew inspiration from a historical aviator watch conserved in the Patek Philippe Museum. That travel watch par excellence is distinguished by its case equipped with 4 crown-button pushers and its self-winding movement combining alarm, dual- time- zone and date-indication functions. The new Reference 5322G replaces the model with alarm function and revisits it in a splendid modern style. According pride of place to the alarm function, its new movement resides in a Calatrava case in white gold with a Clous de Paris decoration.
A dial combining modern style with legibility
The dial of the two new References 5322G-001 and 5322G-010 undoubtedly evokes the modernity and style of the dials introduced by Patek Philippe in 2022 with References 5226 and 5326. Lacquered in either blue or green, the dial stands out by its black-gradient rim and granular texture. The finely ornate applied Arabic numerals and the “syringe” type hour and minute hands are all in white gold with a luminescent coating. The seconds hand is in white-painted steel. It travels around the dial on an elegant railway-track minute scale transfer printed in white. A dagger-type hand, also in white-painted steel, indicates the date on the snailed counter at six o’clock. The numerals for the date indication are finely transfer printed in white, except for the 1, subtly emphasized in red.
The indications for the alarm and its use occupy the upper portion of the dial. The bell-shaped aperture positioned at noon enables the user to check the status of the alarm. Its color changes from white, when the alarm is active, to black when it is deactivated. The programmed alarm time appears in a double aperture at the noon position, with the hours on the left and the minutes on the right, indicated in quarter- hour increments. Immediately below is a circular opening revealing a day/night indicator allowing the alarm to be set 24 hours in advance.
Calatrava case with a caseband in Clous de Paris guilloché work
Measuring 41 mm in diameter, the white-gold case of Calatrava Reference 5322G can be recognized by its single push-piece at the two o’clock position. Its lugs are open-worked and its flanks are adorned with the Clous de Paris or “hobnail” guilloché motif emblematic of the manufacture. To preserve the continuity of this decoration throughout the circumference of the caseband, Patek Philippe drew inspiration from an unusual construction whereby the lugs are attached to the case back. Water-resistance is ensured to a depth of 30 meters, making Reference 5322 the only Patek Philippe water-resistant chiming watch in the collection.
The crown, unusually positioned at four o’clock, is used to wind the watch and set the time. When the crown is pushed home against the case, it allows the barrel of the alarm mechanism to wind clockwise, while the movement barrel winds anticlockwise. Pulled out halfway (one notch), the crown serves to set the alarm time in either direction. Finally, when pulled out all the way (2 notches) the crown serves to set the time. The pusher at two o’clock, featuring a Clous de Paris decoration, allows the user to activate, deactivate or interrupt the alarm. The corrector discreetly incorporated into the caseband between six and seven o’clock is used to correct the date.
A transparent case back in sapphire crystal affords a private view of the architecture and the painstaking finishing touches lavished on this new caliber with a central rotor.
New caliber with 24-hour alarm chiming on a classic gong
The new self-winding caliber AL 30-660 S C is a variety of the caliber AL 30-660 S C FUS. Presented in this new pared-down configuration with 24-hour alarm and date indication, without the Travel Time function, it gives center stage to the alarm function. Despite the complexity of its architecture and its 524 parts, it remains remarkably slim, with a height of 6.6 mm. Its central rotor in 21K gold contributes to its sleek profile while offering the convenience of the self-winding mechanism. Oscillating at a frequency of 4 Hz, or 28,800 semi-oscillations per hour, its Gyromax® balance is coupled to a Spiromax® balance spring in Silinvar®. The exceptional qualities of this avant-garde material, and the patented design of the balance spring contribute to delivering the high reliability and extreme rate accuracy stipulated by the Patek Philippe Seal, with a variation not exceeding –1/+2 seconds per 24 hours.
The alarm mechanism is simple and logical and protected against accidental manipulation. For example, the alarm can only be actuated in the “ON” mode if the strike barrel is fully wound. To program an alarm it is therefore necessary to wind the striking work beforehand. Ten clockwise turns of the crown suffice. During re-winding, the unclicking characteristic of the dynamometric crown signals to the user that the barrel is fully wound. The “OFF” mode is actuated automatically when the strike barrel has discharged. Of course, this “OFF” mode can also be selected at any moment, to interrupt the strike or simply when the alarm is not required.
While in most watches with an alarm function a hammer strikes direct on the inside of the case back, producing a metallic humming sound, the caliber AL 30-660 S C chimes elegantly. Its hammer, like that of a minute repeater, strikes on a classic acoustic gong coiled around the movement.
Furthermore here, as in the manufacture’s repeater mechanisms, an inertial governor also ensures a regular rhythm throughout the duration of the chime, i.e. 2.5 strokes per second for a total of 90 strokes.
Two interchangeable straps
Reference 5322G is delivered with two interchangeable straps. The first, in navy-blue composite material with a fabric pattern, for the blue version; or in green patinated alligator leather for the green version, matching the color of the dial. The second strap, for both references, is in beige calfskin with a nubuck finish and cream stitching. A patented triple-blade fold-over clasp improves safety and comfort while enhancing the straps’ interchangeability by making the change quick and easy, without a tool. This system was introduced in 2025 with Reference 5328 Calatrava 8 Days.
