Introducing the New Patek Philippe Aquanaut Collection

Although the brand has an abundance of annual calendar wristwatches – having invented the complication in 1997 – the new ref. 5261R manages to stand out with a subtle twist to its layout. Instead of the typical configuration, which combines the moon phase and date at six o’clock, Patek Philippe has opted for a new (and perhaps quirky) look achieved through an inversion of the annual calendar module.

This change results in the moon phase register moving to 12 o’clock, while the month and day register swap positions, creating a dial that’s unconventionally top-heavy. However, the date remains at six o’clock since it relies on a disc that encircles the dial, so inverting the module does not affect its position. Ultimately, the date’s location depends on the opening’s placement.