A chiming alarm in a mechanical watch today is a purely romantic complication that recalls an earlier era, but presented in the modern housing and design of the 5322G, this is very much a watch of today’s Calatrava catalog style. It showcases the top-level skills of Patek’s in-house watchmakers, offering a contemporary style with elevated functionality and a bold price to match. It’s a further iteration on the textured dials introduced by Patek Philippe in 2022 with ref. 5226G and the annual calendar and travel time ref. 5326G, which Patek president Thierry Stern has said was meant to evoke the texture and feel of vintage camera cases.
From a design standpoint, the 5322G feels like a natural evolution of the language established by the 5326 and 5226 series with textured, slightly grained dials, softened vintage cues, and a case architecture that continues the modern evolution of the classical Calatrava playbook. The gradient, almost ombré-style periphery, adds depth without tipping into excess, and crucially, the watch doesn’t advertise its complexity. The placement of the single pusher and the crown, at 2 o’clock and 4 o’clock, respectively, creates pleasing visual symmetry. However, some would certainly note that the knurled crown visually contrasts and jars with the smooth pusher.
Andy Hoffman
2026-04-28 15:00:00