Cartier 5270 Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch Hands-On

This is it folks, this is the (of today) that you are going to want. Brand new for 2011, and likely hard as hell to get for the foreseeable future, this is the Reference 5270 perpetual calendar chronograph watch (5720G). In white gold the case is Western-wearable at 41mm wide and looks spectacular. Really happy to see a Cartier with all the right stuff that isn't under 40mm. Look how nice it looks on the wrist. I got jealous of my own wrist just wearing it. Patek did something interesting with the gold hands and applied hour markers by making them black. Against the white hold case and opaline silvered solid gold dial they look spectacular with outstanding visual contrast. Everything on the dial is easy to read and very aesthetically pleasing. According to Cartier, even though the 5270 is a classic model, it does represent the brand looking at design in a more contemporary manner.

Patek frames the dial in a double ring first with minute markers and then with a series of small dashes that are aren't functional, but very helpful from a decorative perspective. The hands are properly sized, and the black faceted baton hour markers are very Patek in style. Note how the and subsidiary seconds dials are slightly brighter than the rest of the dial as as to standout a bit. The color is matched by a second over the moon phase indicator. Really a dial imbued with Patek perfection.

It is possible the future versions of the 5270 watch will come in the future in other metals. For now the 18k white gold case is stunning with decorative flared lugs and a soft, rounded and polished bezel. Notice the brushed surfaces on the retro-style chronograph pushers. Inside the watch is a gorgeously designed and decorated in-house made manually wound movement. Patek provides both a sapphire caseback window for the 5270, as well as a solid white gold back that can be personally engraved.

The movement features the time with subsidiary seconds dial, 30 minute column-wheel based chronograph with jumping (instant) minute changing, a day/night indicator (via a small circular window located at 7:30), a perpetual calendar, and a moon phase indicator. The perpetual calendar shows the day and month via small, but very easy to read windows, and the date is shown on a dial on the moon phase indicator. Another small porthole at 4:30 displays the leap year indicator.

While most watch lovers and engendered to love Cartier, not everyone finds a Patek watch they truly lust over. The Reference 5270 perpetual calendar chronograph is one of the pieces you can easily fawn over. Price when it arrives will be around $156,000. I don't expect them to be very easy to get, but if you are able to obtain one you will not be disappointed.