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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A Patek Philippe annual calendar shows the day, date, and month, automatically accounting for months with 30 or 31 days. It needs a calendar correction once a year after February—described in the manufacturer’s instructions as March 1. Patek Philippe introduced and patented the mechanism in 1996.
How Patek Philippe’s annual calendar works
A basic date display must be corrected at the end of every month shorter than 31 days. Patek Philippe’s annual calendar distinguishes 30-day months from 31-day months, so it advances correctly through those months without a monthly adjustment. It does not account for February’s varying length, so it needs a correction once each year after February. Patek Philippe’s overview describes this as an end-of-February correction; its instructions specify March 1.
The mechanism displays the day of the week, date, and month. Patek Philippe says its engineers designed it to rely mostly on wheels and pinions, eliminating rockers and levers to the greatest possible extent. That is the manufacturer’s description of its design approach.
For an overview of the complication and its history, see Patek Philippe’s Calendar Watches page.
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How often do you need to adjust it?
Under normal operation, the calendar needs one correction each year after February, rather than a correction at the end of every month shorter than 31 days. Patek Philippe’s instructions identify the correction date as March 1. The watch’s other displays and time may also need setting if the watch has stopped or is otherwise out of sync; follow the manual for the specific reference and caliber.
How to adjust an annual calendar safely
The setting sequence is caliber-specific. In the cited Patek Philippe annual-calendar instructions, the manufacturer warns that adjustments at an unsuitable time can interfere with the mechanism. For that caliber, it says to set the watch to 6 a.m. before making adjustments:
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- Use Finewatchcare's specially designed watch protector to protect your watch surface from scratches and cracks.
- This protector is made of high-quality materials to restore its original luster and achieve higher accuracy.
- Maintain a smooth and stylish appearance of the watch while adding an additional protective layer.
- Use Finewatchcare's durable and reliable watch surface protection to extend the lifespan of the watch.
- Move the hands forward past midnight until the date changes. This establishes that the watch has passed midnight.
- Continue to 6 a.m. before using the calendar-adjustment controls. Alternatively, if starting from noon, advance the hands by another 12 hours to reach 6 a.m.
- Make the needed calendar corrections using the controls and sequence in the manual for your exact watch.
These precautions come from the Patek Philippe annual-calendar instructions cited here. Do not assume the same setting method applies to every annual-calendar reference: locate the instructions for your own caliber before adjusting it.
What distinguishes the annual calendar from a perpetual calendar?
The practical point established by Patek Philippe’s annual-calendar material is that this mechanism recognizes 30- and 31-day months but requires a yearly correction after February. The cited material does not provide enough detail to compare how a perpetual calendar handles leap years, so a more detailed technical comparison would need separate documentation.
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- The pack of protective film covers the following areas:case (back, side, crown guard), lug (front), glass, bezel, endlink clasp (front, side),bracelet（front,side）.
- Use Finewatchcare's specially designed watch protector to protect your watch surface from scratches and cracks.
- This protector is made of high-quality materials to restore its original luster and achieve higher accuracy.
- Maintain a smooth and stylish appearance of the watch while adding an additional protective layer.
- Use Finewatchcare's durable and reliable watch surface protection to extend the lifespan of the watch.
Representative Patek Philippe annual-calendar models
Patek Philippe uses different display layouts and pairs the annual calendar with other complications on some references. These examples illustrate those differences; the manufacturer’s Complications collection includes both current and discontinued watches, so a listing there does not by itself establish current availability.
| Reference | Calendar layout and additional displays | Published specifications |
|---|---|---|
| 5205G-013 | Day, date, and month in three apertures arranged along an arc; moon phases and a 24-hour indication at 6 o’clock. | Self-winding caliber 26-330 S QA LU 24H; 40 mm white-gold case; Patek Philippe lists a 35-to-45-hour power reserve. |
| 5396G-017 | Day and month apertures at 12 o’clock; date at 6 o’clock; moon phases with a 24-hour indication. | Not stated on the cited model information. |
| 5326G-001 | Annual calendar combined with a Travel Time second-time-zone display. Patek Philippe says it introduced this combination in 2022. | Not stated on the cited model information. |
When comparing references, consider the legibility and placement of the calendar displays, case size and material, added complications, movement and power reserve, and—especially before making an adjustment—the instructions for the exact model. The Patek Philippe Complications collection is a starting point for checking model details and status.
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- The pack of protective film covers the following areas:case (back, side, crown guard), lug (front), glass, bezel, endlink clasp， (front, side),bracelet（front,side）.
- Use Finewatchcare's specially designed watch protector to protect your watch surface from scratches and cracks.
- This protector is made of high-quality materials to restore its original luster and achieve higher accuracy.
- Maintain a smooth and stylish appearance of the watch while adding an additional protective layer.
- Use Finewatchcare's durable and reliable watch surface protection to extend the lifespan of the watch.
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