Patek Philippe Reveals a More Complicated Cubitus

The horizontal ribs on the dial of the Cubitus have become a familiar texture. With the new Perpetual Calendar Skeleton, Patek Philippe has chosen to cut them away, revealing the mechanics underneath. The move changes the character of the watch entirely, shifting it from a study in surface pattern to one of mechanical depth.

This is the first Grand Complication to join the Cubitus collection, and it arrives with a certain presence. The case is platinum, measuring 45mm in diameter with a thickness of 10mm. It retains the line’s signature form, with a single baguette-cut diamond set into the bezel at six o'clock, a quiet marker for the case material.

A Symmetrical Display

By removing sections of the dial, the watchmakers have created a frame for the perpetual calendar. The layout is now symmetrical, with three subdials organizing the information. At nine o’clock, a display shows the day of the week and a 24-hour indicator. Across from it at three, another subdial tracks the month and the leap year cycle.

The six o’clock position holds both the date and a moonphase display. This moonphase is larger than usual for a series production model, a design choice drawn from the limited editions made for the brand’s 175th anniversary. Instead of showing two moons, a single, larger moon completes one rotation per lunar cycle. The depiction is photorealistic, achieved with black metalization and laser engraving to create the textured surface of the moon.

The Shaped Caliber

Turning the watch over, or looking through the dial-side apertures, reveals the caliber 28-28 Q SQU. This is the first shaped movement to be used in the Cubitus line, a detail many collectors have been waiting for. It is not an entirely new engine, but an evolution of the well-known caliber 240 Q, which has powered perpetual calendars in references like the 5740 Nautilus.

Several adaptations were required. The bridges were reshaped to fit the case silhouette, and the recessed correctors were adjusted for the new positions on the square case. The movement has a 48-hour power reserve and is wound by a microrotor, which features hand-engraving and blue varnish. To maintain a consistent look, the aesthetic is largely monochrome and rhodium-plated, with clear sapphires used for the pivots in place of traditional rubies.

The Cubitus collection was already a departure for Patek Philippe. This new reference, priced at CHF 150,000, pushes the design further into modern territory. It combines one of watchmaking’s most traditional complications with an aesthetic that is open, architectural, and complex. It suggests the brand is willing to have a different kind of conversation about its own identity.