Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Patek Philippe Unveils Seven Milan Watches, Including New Movement
Patek Philippe made seven special watches for Italy.
Together, there are 685 watches, and they were shown in Milan.
The most technically important watch has a new mechanism that combines a stopwatch with a calendar that keeps track of dates and leap years.
Its calendar parts change together very quickly at midnight.
Two other watches show painted enamel pictures of Milan, one in daylight and one at night.
They can chime the local time.
The collection also includes colorful watches and a steel Aquanaut.
Some models are made in very small numbers, and the listed prices vary widely.
Patek Philippe introduced seven limited-edition watch references totaling 685 pieces for the Italian market.
The collection was presented for the Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Milan, with casebacks marked “Patek Philippe Milano 2026.”
Reference 5978P-010 pairs a manually wound chronograph with an instantaneous perpetual calendar in a new 500-part calibre.
Two five-piece World Time Minute Repeaters feature enamel views of Milan by day and night and chime local time.
The editions range from a 250-piece steel Aquanaut to watches limited to five examples; listed US prices span $43,761 to $874,200.
- Who
- Patek Philippe
- What
- Introduced seven limited-edition watch references totaling 685 pieces, including a new chronograph-perpetual-calendar movement.
- When
- For the Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Milan; the casebacks are marked “Patek Philippe Milano 2026.”
- Where
- Milan, Italy; the watches are reserved for the Italian market.
- Why
- The watches commemorate the Milan exhibition and feature Italian-themed details and designs.
The collection’s strengths
The collection’s limitations
Italian inspiration
The collection’s strengths
The enamel Milan cityscapes and other Italian details give several watches distinctive craftsmanship and character.
The collection’s limitations
The collection is uneven, and the article argues that national colors alone are less compelling than Italy-inspired craft.
The Aquanaut
The collection’s strengths
Its blue-to-black dial, red accents, and limited production may make it a major draw for collectors.
The collection’s limitations
The article notes its 30-metre water resistance is modest for a sports watch.
The technical centerpiece
The collection’s strengths
The new 5978P-010 movement is presented as the collection’s most consequential horological development.
The collection’s limitations
The watch’s 14.24mm thickness and crowded calendar apertures may detract from its visual restraint.
- References
- Seven
- Total production
- 685 pieces
- Market
- Italian market
- New movement watch
- Reference 5978P-010; a manually wound chronograph with an instantaneous perpetual calendar
- Movement components
- 500 parts
- World Time Minute Repeaters
- References 5531G-012 and 5531G-013; five examples each
- Listed US prices
- $43,761 for the Aquanaut to $874,200 for either enamel World Timer