A new 5470P Monopusher Chronograph with 1/10th of a second indication has just arrived from Plan Les Outes. Patek Philippe has created this new timepiece in platinum, encompassing the technology of different manufacturing fronts, from internal patents to those of the “Advanced Research” department.
The aesthetics of the new 5470P Monopusher Chronograph
At first glance it is a really simple watch: two counters at 3 and 9 o’clock, a blue dial, a white metal case and a few touches of red … but in reality the technical part is the real highlight of this release. Patek gave a great importance to this piece by unveiling it after the end of Watches & Wonders 2022.
The use of high-frequency mechanisms is certainly not a novelty in the watch industry but in this case it is the first time that Patek has created a watch that uses 36,000 vibrations per hour for its own chronograph.
The idea of the 5470 is certainly to make a very complicated watch appealing to a younger audience. We can see it from the dial with the red details of the indexes on the external scale, on the chrono hand at 1/10 and on the stitching of the strap. The latter also has a fabric-style checkered finish, but made of calfskin.
The case remains 41 millimeters like the “less complicated” chronograph with reference 5172, which gives us the opportunity to have a very accurate comparison. Having had the latter on my wrist, I can see that it is not a suitable size for any type of wrist in my opinion.
The caliber CH 29-535 1 / 10th of a second
Speaking of the real highlight of this novelty, here is the CH 29-535 1/10 caliber. The high frequency has been studied for many years by watchmakers, it was in fact discovered that as the frequency of the alternations of the mechanism increases, the precision consequently follows.
The mechanism presented this time is a derivative of the CH 29-535 PS (protected by 6 patents) to which a second separate chronograph mechanism has been added. That’s it, you got it right: a single caliber equipped with two separate chronograph mechanisms, one dedicated to measuring at 1 / 10th of a second and the other to normal chronograph measurement.
Having two separate chronographs does not mean, however, that it will be necessary to activate them separately, in fact they are perfectly synchronized. The button at 2 o’clock allows you to activate, stop and reset the normal chronograph and the 1/10 second chronograph, all from the same button.
What we will read when the measurement is stopped will be the elapsed time with the gray / white chronograph hand and the tenth of a second of this elapsed time with the red hand.
Taking into consideration the photo below, in this case we will have measured 1 minute (visible in the 30-minutes counter to 3 o’clock), 20 seconds (visible from the gray / white hand) and X tenths of a second (visible from the red hand).
Another technology introduced in this caliber, for the first time in the current collection, is the Oscillomax® regulator, developed in 2011 by the “Advanced Research” section of Patek Philippe and which boasts 17 patents.
Obviously being a more complex mechanism than a regular chronograph, the thickness will be greater, at 13.68mm, which is 2mm thicker than the 5172G manual chronograph.
Conclusions
At first glance this watch will have fooled many people with its minimalist and slightly sporty design, and to be honest, it fooled me too. Aesthetically speaking, I consider it very successful in terms of the dial, although the writing “1/10 second” does not fully convince me. The strap is very sporty but perhaps I would have opted for something different (again, personal taste).
The Patek Philippe Chronograph Monopulsante 5470P in platinum will have a retail price of CHF 380,000 and availability will be extended to both Boutiques and PP’s Retailers.
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