PATEK PHILIPPE 5136/1 J PERPETUAL CALENDAR 18K BRACELET

If you read a Patek Philippe catalog from the reference 3940 era, you can't help but notice how glowingly even the normally modest Patek sounds about the Caliber 240Q perpetual calendar movement. I have remarked many times that the perpetual calendar reference 3940 is the quintissential Patek perpetual calendar in my opinion. It's just very cleanly designed and handsome. The reference 5136 is a reference 3940 on steroids. The case is bulkier and the massive, gorgeous 18k bracelet is integral to the case.

Let's start with the 18k yellow gold case. Dimensions are 36mm diameter by 10.5mm thick (2mm thicker than the 3940). The bezel and crown are significantly more massive on this reference 5136 than the reference 3940. The 18k bracelet is surprisingly thick, yet still retains the elegance that would be expected on a Patek bracelet.

Dial is silverish white with applied hour markers and dauphine hands. The 3 o'clock subdial indicates month and leap year; 6 o'clock subdial displays moonphase and date; 9 o'clock subdial shows day and 24 hour time. The subdials are sunken, giving the dial a nice depth.

Movement is the Patek Caliber 240 Q with 22kt winding rotor, 27 jewels, 275 individual parts, with power reserve of approximately 46 hours. The caliber is engraved with the Geneva Seal, attesting to its technical and aesthetic superiorit