image

Annual Calendars

chintu

Hi,

The Annual Calendar is a delightful complication. But there are very few watchmakers that provide this ; and some that did, have discontinued.

Patek has perhaps the most visible and successful line of Annual calendars.

Audemars Piguet had the Royal Oak - Quantieme Annuel No:25920 ( month and date)  being the last version and which was discontinued in 2003 ( not sure).

Ulysse Nardin with the annual chronograph ( uses ETA modified by Dubois Depraz) is the other one that comes to my mind. I am not sure if it was or is popular given the fact that it did not use an inhouse movement .

FPJourne Octa Calendrier is an annual calendar with day,date and month and the key difference being that it recognizes Feb 28 also. Could perhaps be called a Semi-perpetual annual calendar?

Breitling does seem to have a semi perpetual ( based on their KELEK one).

I wonder why Lange, Jaeger, Glashutte, IWC,Vacheron or AP (after 2003) have not come up with any annual calendars. I donot see any coming up in SIHH 2008/ BASEL . Is it because that an annual calendar takes nearly the same effort to produce a perpetual . If so,  the watchmakers could be justified in producing a perpetual , thereby getting a much better price than an annual calendar (which cannot carry the same pricing in any case.)

CHINTU

added to Editor's Pick

This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2008-01-26 09:29:27

Comments:
Avatar
Horolographer January 24th, 2008-19:46
I know this does not answer your query but it may help... to know that there are very affordable Annual Cals like the Maurice Lacroix and MIH that are very reliable and quite nice pieces. I am wearing the MIH right now and I find it fantastic. I need only adjust the date once a year. Perpets need never to be adj... 
Avatar
aaronm January 25th, 2008-08:40
If i remember There was some discussion about the differences between the patek annual (5035 was the one in question) and the similar perpetual(3490). The question was: Why is the perp about twice as much, if the annual actually has as many, or more(i forget) parts. Th... 
Avatar
G99 January 25th, 2008-12:58
sorry to sound stupid, but is an annual calender different from a triple date? i suppose it must be as a triple date needs adjusting for 30 day months. i assume an annual doesnt. i think i've probably answered my own question, but would like confirmation. yours forever dumb Graham
Avatar
aaronm January 25th, 2008-13:35
You're right In general an annual calendar can handle the difference between 30 and 31 day months automatically but needs intervention to handle February, whether 28 or 29 days. A basic triple date needs adjustment for any month that isn't 31 days. -a
chintu January 26th, 2008-02:37
Annual calendar - update 
Avatar
aaronm January 27th, 2008-11:43
Historical Example ... 
0-10-6

Load More Comments




 Next Article
image
Ares501 - Mr Green
Avatar

The ONLY ONE watch

Ares501 - Mr Green
Avatar
Dear PuristS! I know that my demand is absurd and sadistic but please indulge me IF you ever come (hypothetically) in situation when you are absolutely forced to chose ONLY ONE of timepieces to carry with you (let's say to another planet after dooms day because laguage is limited to only 1 watch per person LOL) and leave all others behind which one would it be (with it's full name and surname) Think that this will give as good oportunity to see whach brand and model is mostly appreciate by each of us I can bet also that pretty much we all have some idea about that watch for some of our members .... moderators nevertheless and let it be sick alternative to our friday wrist scan :0) So to start .... for me this would be Girard- Perregaux VINTAGE 1945 ....


Go to top.

About US | Contact

© 2017 - WatchProZine