A Brief Review of the Patek Philippe Silicon Escapement

　　5146 is a highly practical annual calendar watch, deeply loved by watch enthusiasts. Perhaps for this reason,Patek Philippeit was chosen as a pilot for its chronometric revolution. Although the annual calendar function is highly practical, it has long been considered a relatively simple complication; however, once Patek Philippe infused it with the power of technology, this watch became truly extraordinary. This is the third new watch in the 'Patek Philippe Advanced Research' series, featuring a platinum case and a movement equipped with a Pulsomax escapement and a Spiromax balance spring. It is limited to a global release of 300 pieces. Let us now appreciate this extraordinary masterpiece from Patek Philippe.

　　Introduction to the Patek Philippe Silicon Escapement Watch

　　1.5146 Watch Introduction

　　Pulsomax is the first escapement developed entirely independently by Patek Philippe, and its reliability and robustness are in no way inferior to the classic traditional Swiss lever escapement. Furthermore, its unique geometry significantly improves performance. To perfect the functionality of this new escapement, Patek Philippe drew upon the free-form capabilities and high precision of the Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) process used in silicon wafer manufacturing. Benefiting from the latest developments based on this process, Patek Philippe has been able to significantly improve the performance of mechanical movements, breaking new ground in the watchmaking industry.

　　2.5250 Watch Introduction

　　In 2001, Patek Philippe began exploring the potential applications of silicon wafers in watchmaking. To maximise the multiple advantages of this material, Patek Philippe developed new patented geometries for silicon components to further optimise the function of each escapement part and significantly enhance the long-term performance of mechanical movements. To date, the results of research into Silinvar material include the escape wheel and the Spiromax balance spring with the Patek Philippe terminal curve. These Silinvar components debuted in two limited-edition Annual Calendar watches: the Ref. 5250 launched in 2005, which used a Silinvar escape wheel with a traditional Swiss lever escapement to improve reliability without the need for lubrication. The Ref. 5350 launched in 2006 used a Silinvar Spiromax balance spring with the Patek Philippe curve, which optimised timekeeping accuracy while significantly improving isochronism.

　　3.5350 Watch Introduction

　　The patented Silinvar material is derived from pure silicon obtained through a patented vacuum oxidation process, which alters the molecules in the edge regions of the silicon components. This imparts new properties to the silicon watch components, ensuring the timekeeping accuracy of the mechanical movement. Silinvar components offer better shock resistance than pure silicon components and also possess temperature-compensating properties compared to silicon. Furthermore, Silinvar surfaces are uncoated and do not shed debris. All silicon components in the Patek Philippe Advanced Research watches released to date are made from this unique, patented Silinvar material. The primary advantages of the Pulsomax escapement's escape wheel and lever lie in the stability of the material, while temperature compensation is a key characteristic of the Spiromax balance spring.

　　Due to further developments in Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE) technology, silicon components can now be processed with additional features on a second plane. This allows the newly designed lever to no longer require mounting on a guard pin. Instead, the ends of the lever are positioned close to the banking pins, creating a function similar to a guard pin, which prevents irregular displacement of the lever when the balance wheel passes through the supplementary arc. The integrated design of the lever is also significantly different in its geometry. Because the precision of the DRIE manufacturing process is extremely high (with tolerances twice as strict as those for standard steel parts), the shape and dimensions can be controlled to this precision, enabling new functionality through new geometric contact methods.

　　4.5450 Watch Introduction

　　By combining the Pulsomax lever, an escape wheel made of Silinvar, and a Spiromax balance spring made of Silinvar, Patek Philippe has now launched the third generation of the 'Patek Philippe Advanced Research' concept series: the limited-edition platinum Annual Calendar Ref. 5450. This watch uses an innovative, patent-pending design that significantly improves the precision of the beat rate and the long-term reliability of the mechanical movement. The original Silinvar escape wheel introduced in 2005 was still designed for a traditional stainless steel lever fitted with ruby pallets. In contrast, the geometry of the lever and escape wheel in the new Pulsomax escapement has been further optimised: the new Silinvar lever no longer requires ruby pallets. However, in every respect, the Pulsomax remains a traditional Swiss lever escapement.

　　In recent 180 years, almost all small mechanical movements have been fitted with this type of escapement. Its reliability, robustness, and high efficiency have made it widely popular. To further increase efficiency, Patek Philippe has significantly increased the surface area of the Silinvar lever's impulse faces. This allows the lever to transmit more energy to the balance wheel. Unlike traditional levers, the two pallets of the Silinvar lever have different shapes, which can improve the rate of each oscillation cycle. The new lever also changes the original geometry of the escape wheel, with the 20 teeth being replaced by 16 teeth.

　　One major advantage of the new Pulsomax escapement is the elimination of the banking pins or solid positioning components that restrict the angle of deflection of the lever, known as étoqueaux. Aside from a slightly recessed locking face, the Pulsomax lever features a second functional plane on its pallet arms. This banking face and the locking face form a locking corner, which engages with the heel of the escape-wheel tooth. This arrests the movement of the lever and precisely sets not only the position of the lever but also the position of the escape-wheel tooth heel on the locking face. Also known as draw depth, the position of the heel is extremely critical because if it is too shallow or too deep, it will have a direct impact on the function and efficiency of the escapement. At the same time, it can be seen that the novel geometry and ultra-high precision of the Pulsomax components make it possible to halve the ascending deviation angle of the balance wheel. This coefficient has a positive effect on the balance amplitude. In other words, the position of the locking corner within the locking face can improve the regulating accuracy and timekeeping precision of the watch. The Pulsomax escapement gives Patek Philippe another opportunity to showcase its leading position in watchmaking technology. Undoubtedly, in terms of efficiency, this is the most advanced traditional Swiss lever escapement.

　　Meanwhile, the 5275 jumping hours striking watch launched at this year's Patek Philippe 175 anniversary celebration takes silicon components to a whole new level 5275, pairing a classic tonneau-case with three jumping displays that chime automatically at the start of every full hour. Combining four patented technologies, the mechanical movement delivers a stunning sensory experience.

　　Powered by the brand new 32-650 HGS PS manual-winding movement, this watch accomplishes this extraordinary feat in an ingenious fashion. The most striking component of this movement is the seconds-hand fork lever made of Silinvar®, a silicon derivative material. The seconds-hand fork lever is connected to a spring that stores the energy generated by 8 semi-oscillations of the balance wheel, with these 8 semi-oscillations constituting 1 seconds. The beak-shaped tip of the fork lever engages with the wolf-teeth of a Silinvar wheel, which in turn meshes with the fourth wheel. After every eight and a half oscillations, the fork lever lifts. The wolf-tooth wheel therefore advances by one step, pushing the fourth wheel forward by approximately 6 degrees, which in turn causes the seconds hand to jump forward by one second. Both the fork lever and the wolf-tooth wheel are crafted from Silinvar because this high-tech material is lightweight, and the engagement between the beak-shaped tip and the wolf teeth is virtually friction-free, offering extremely high energy efficiency. For a task as monumental as a synchronized jumping display for hours, minutes and seconds, this provides immeasurable advantages. One wonders what surprises Patek Philippe will bring us with silicon next after this timepiece!

　　Having read this, I would like to recommend a popular, best-selling Patek Philippe watch. For further enquiries, please add me on WeChat.

　　Patek Philippe 5711 Series Automatic Mechanical Watch Model: 5711G

　　Review:

　　◆ Distinctive and showcasing vitality and substance.

　　◆ Silver sweep seconds hand, with a square date window at the three o'clock position.

　　◆ Octagonal case, sapphire crystal, visually appealing and durable.

　　◆ Replica ETA2824 movement and Swiss ETA2824 movement available to choose from, ensuring accurate timekeeping.

　　Summary: Patek Philippe watches combine unparalleled precision with unique design, creating exemplary pieces that represent the pinnacle of high watchmaking art. The Patek Philippe watches recommended here are finely crafted with guaranteed quality. For those interested in purchasing, please add me on WeChat for consultation.

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