The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce, introduced in 2004, has evolved from a casual and youthful interpretation of the brand’s classic sports watch to a sophisticated timepiece for women. The collection now offers compact case profiles, a variety of colors, and gem-set references that fuse wristwatches with jewelry. As female buyers appreciate complications, Patek Philippe has been expanding the Aquanaut Luce lineup with more advanced models. The latest addition, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar reference 5261R-001, brings the brand’s advanced calendar complication to the collection without any diamonds or gemstones.
Patek Philippe has one of the strongest ladies’ watch collections in the watchmaking industry. The brand offers a wide variety of timepieces, including perpetual calendars and minute repeaters, catering to the growing ranks of female watch enthusiasts. The Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar Ref. 5261R is the first time the annual calendar complication has been introduced into the Aquanaut collection, making it an attractive and elegant option for both men and women.
Design and Features of the Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar Ref. 5261R-001
The case of the Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar reference 5261R-001 is crafted from 18k rose gold and measures 39.9mm in diameter. It features flat sapphire crystals on both the dial side and the screw-down display caseback, along with a signed winding crown and integrated crown guards.
The blue-gray dial showcases the Aquanaut’s signature “grenade” pattern, with applied 18k rose gold Arabic numeral hour markers and a rectangular date window at the 6 o’clock position. A pair of registers for the day and month sit on the lower half of the dial, while a moon phase indicator resides at the top.
The New Self-Winding 26-330 S QA LU Caliber
The 39.9 mm-diameter case houses the new self-winding 26-330 S QA LU caliber, featuring a central rotor in 21K gold and the additional Annual Calendar module with moon phases. The architecture of the movement is based on the caliber 26-330, which boasts several technical innovations and optimizations for performance and dependability.
Final Thoughts
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar reference 5261R-001 is a testament to the brand’s commitment to catering to female watch enthusiasts. By incorporating advanced complications into a sophisticated design without diamonds or gemstones, this timepiece offers an elegant and versatile option for both men and women who appreciate the art of fine watchmaking.
The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar ref. 5261R-001 is priced at $61,506 USD, making it an expensive watch, but it’s worth noting that it’s roughly one-third the price of the chronograph version with a rainbow-colored gem-set bezel. For more information, visit Patek Philippe’s website.
Model: Aquanaut Luce Annual Calendar 5261R
Diameter: 39.9mm
Thickness: 11.76mm
Case Material: 18k rose gold
Dial: Blue-gray embossed with Aquanaut pattern – Applied Arabic numerals in 18K rose gold with white luminescent coating – Baton hour and minute hands in 18K rose gold with white luminescent coating – Baton day and month hands in 18K white gold with white luminescent coating – Seconds hand in Pfinodal with white luminescent coating
Crystal: Sapphire
Water Resistance: 30m
The Movement
Caliber: 26-330 S QA LU
Winding: Automatic
Power Reserve: 45h
Jewels: 34
Number of Parts: 319
Frequency: 28,800vph /4Hz
Strap: Blue-gray composite material resistant to water, ultraviolet light
and wear with embossed Aquanaut pattern matching the dial.
Patented Patek Philippe fold-over clasp in 18K rose gold
secured by four independent catches.
Price: 57,630€
