Introduced at Baselworld 2019, the Patek Philippe 5172G takes over the previous ref. 5170 family as the company’s manual-wound chronograph model. And since the hand-wound chronograph sans other complications has become (after a lengthy absence between the late sixties and late nineties) one of Patek Philippe’s signature watches again, the ref. 5172G has some big shoes to fill. Let’s walk through the details.
Introduced at Baselworld 2019, the Patek Philippe 5172G takes over the previous ref. 5170 family as the company’s manual-wound chronograph model. And since the hand-wound chronograph sans other complications has become (after a lengthy absence between the late sixties and late nineties) one of Patek Philippe’s signature watches again, the ref. 5172G has some big shoes to fill. Let’s walk through the details.
Patek Philippe 5172G Chronograph
As is frequent with Patek, the current-production 5172G differs quite significantly from the reference it replaces. The Patek Philippe 5172G chronograph features an 18k white gold case that measures 41mm in diameter, which is notably larger than the 39mm ref. 5170. It’s worth noting that the 5172 takes familiar details from other Patek Philippe models from the brand’s archives and current catalog and repackages into this brand new reference. For instance, the guilloché-embellished pushers of the new Patek Philippe 5172 are reminiscent of those found on the vintage ref. 1463 chronograph. What’s more, the three-tier lugs, center hands, and Arabic numerals of the 5172G chronograph recall those found on the newer ref. 5320G perpetual calendar from 2017.
The blue varnished dial of the 5172G is home to white gold applied numerals coated with luminescence, as well as a pair of luminous syringe hands. There are also the slightly off-center duo of registers — one for the 30-minute counter and one for the small seconds — and a tachymeter scale around the periphery. You may remember that depending on the specific version of the now-discontinued 5170 chronograph, the dial was furnished with either a pulsometer, a minute track, or a tachymeter.
To further emphasize the vintage vibes of the 5172, Patek topped the watch with a box style sapphire-crystal. Finally, to match the blue dial, the new hand-wound chronograph is fitted with a top-stitched blue leather strap, which interestingly, just like the brand new Calatrava 5212 Weekly Calendar, is fashioned from casual calfskin rather than fancy alligator.
Despite all the aesthetic changes to Patek’s new manual-wound chronograph model, what it does have identical to its predecessor is Caliber CH 29‑535 PS. The Caliber CH 29‑535 PS, which can be viewed through the transparent caseback, made its debut inside the 5170 back in 2010. A modern take on the traditional column wheel, horizontal clutch, and manual winding chronograph movement, the CH 29‑535 PS operates at 28,800 beats per hour and offers a 65-hour power reserve.
An intriguing mix of old and new, classic vintage appeal and sporty modern touches, the Patek Philippe 5172G chronograph sets out to satisfy longtime collectors while also enticing newcomers to step into a part of the Patek domain that goes beyond the much loved Nautilus.
