Is this the most beautiful movement ever made?
It may be celebrating its 40th anniversary but the ultra-thin replica Patek Philippe Calibre 240 automatic movement is still the power among some of the world’s greatest timepieces and is engineering at its most stunning
While every watch movement could be regarded as a thing of beauty few can claim to be bona fide masterpieces of the watchmaker’s art. This fake Patek Philippe‘s ultra-thin Calibre 240 is one of these few and for the past 40 years has been in a league of its own. In a review of the Calibre 240, Walt Odets – the clinical psychologist and self-taught watchmaker who is one of the notable characters of horology – described the movement as “almost lyrically beautiful in the quality of workmanship and finish”.
Released in 1977, it is a mere 2.53mm thick, even though it is self-winding – an impressive technical achievement in itself. As it so thin the micro-rotor has to be made from 21-22 carat gold to optimize the energy yield of the winding performance. It was created as an ultra-thin base movement for Patek’s perpetual calendars as it allowed for a perpetual automatic caliber that is just 3.75mm thick. Not surprisingly, it is still widely in use today in a variety of the brand’s most important timepieces.
For instance, the Perpetual Calendar model in rose gold launched at Baselworld 2017 is powered by the 240Q caliber, which, within a mere 1.35mm boats a mechanical memory that spans an entire four-year cycle together with tracking the lunar orbit. The perpetual calendar doesn’t need to be corrected until 2100, provided it remains wound without interruption.
Another novelty was the replica Patek Philippe Calatrava model in white gold, a discreetly tweaked update of the iconic fake watches, though still powered by the Calibre 240 PSC with its 22-carat off-center mini-rotor and a power reserve of 48 hours. It’s a suitably dramatic setting for such an amazing movement – a workhorse that is still a real beauty 40 years on.
