WORLDTEMPUS - 24 June 2011
Elizabeth Doerr
In April, Patek Philippe made an astounding announcement: going forward every single Patek Philippe caliber would be equipped with silicon. As if the industry wasn't buzzing enough from this, a new watch presented at the brand's Geneva boutique on Wednesday evening is certainly lifting the buzz factor a notch.
The brand follows up with three more firsts all bundled into one watch. On Wednesday evening, Thierry Stern and his wife Sandrine – head of the creation department – proudly presented the brand's very first regulator dial wristwatch at its Geneva boutique. As Stern related in an exclusive interview, Reference 5235 – which also contains an annual calendar – was inspired by a clock found in the office of his father, Philippe Stern. 
Secondly, this timepiece represents the first Patek Philippe wristwatch to incorporate hacking seconds. “It was just not needed up to now,” Thierry Stern explained. “The time is ripe for it today.” Thirdly, this caliber runs at the as-yet unheard-of frequency of 3.2 Hertz, or 23,040 vph. “It was simply the best frequency for the accuracy and power reserve we wanted to achieve,” Stern continued. And, lastly – though, by far not least – Caliber 31-260 REG QA has the distinct honor of being Patek Philippe's first movement designed with the use of three silicon components in mind: escape wheel, lever, and balance spring. 
“We make such improvements not for our own sake,” Stern underscored. “The new features are made with our clients in mind.”
