Guide to the Patek Philippe 5212A Calatrava Weekly Calendar

When Patek Philippe debuted the Ref. 5212A-001 Calatrava Weekly Calendar at Baselworld 2019, it marked a rare combination of firsts. Not only was it the debut of a brand-new calendar function (the weekly calendar), but it was also introduced in stainless steel, a material Patek doesn’t often use for its non-sports models. With its handwritten-style typography, multi-hand center display, and entirely new movement, the 5212A brought something genuinely different to the Calatrava collection. Keep reading for all the details on the Patek 5212A, and why, six years after its debut, it’s still one of the brand’s most interesting references.

Patek 5212A Case and Strap

The 5212A stands out right away for something you rarely see in a Calatrava: a stainless steel case. Patek Philippe typically reserves steel for its sportier models like the Nautilus or Aquanaut, which makes its use here all the more noteworthy. The case measures 40mm in diameter and 11.18mm thick, offering modern proportions without straying too far from the Calatrava’s dress-watch roots. The two-tier lugs add a touch of vintage flair — a nod to the Ref. 2512 from 1955 (a one-of-a-kind piece made that’s now on display at the Patek Philippe Museum), which partly inspired the Patek Philippe 5212A and even lent its numbers to the reference name, albeit scrambled.

The case may look simple, but there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. It’s cold-formed using high-tonnage presses at Patek’s manufacture, then hand-polished by artisans — a process made all the more challenging by the number of sharp edges and angular transitions throughout the design. Topping it off is a box-type sapphire crystal with a slightly cambered profile that plays up the vintage feel, while around back, the sapphire crystal window offers a view of the movement in action.

It’s paired with a bright brown hand-stitched calfskin strap and a matching stainless steel prong buckle, which is a more casual choice than Patek’s usual glossy alligator. The strap reinforces the steel case’s everyday-wear appeal and keeps the overall look in line with the watch’s laid-back approach.

Dial and Functionality

If the case keeps things relatively understated, the dial is where the Patek Philippe 5212A starts to show its personality — and its technical novelty. This is the first and only Patek Philippe watch to feature a weekly calendar complication, displaying not just the day, date, and month, but also the current week number. It’s a rare feature in watchmaking, and while it’s been previously seen in references from Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, and Vacheron Constantin, it’s still far from common. For Patek, a brand deeply entwined in calendar innovations, the weekly calendar marks a fresh and functional addition to the lineup and is especially useful for industries or regions where week-based planning is standard. To be clear, the Patek Philippe 5212A is the brand’s first (and currently only) weekly calendar watch.

The silvery opaline dial of the Patek Philippe 5212A handles all this information surprisingly well. All five hands are mounted centrally, a configuration that keeps the display symmetrical and compact despite the number of indicators. Hours and minutes are shown via blackened white gold dauphine hands, pointing to faceted baton hour markers. A slim, counterbalanced seconds hand tracks the sweep seconds. Two hammer-shaped hands — each tipped with red lacquer — point to the day of the week (on an inner scale) and to the week number and respective month (on two concentric scales along the outer edge). A traditional aperture date sits at 3 o’clock.

Adding even more personality is the custom typography, which Patek developed based on the actual handwriting of one of its designers. The result is playful and human, almost like a hand-filled paper calendar. The custom font brings a surprising carefree touch to what could have easily felt like a rigid technical dial. Despite the data density, the layout remains functional and intuitive. Red highlights make the calendar hands easy to spot at a glance, and the design cleverly balances old-school charm with contemporary practicality.

Caliber 26-330 S C J SE

Powering the Patek 5212A is the caliber 26-330 S C J SE, a movement developed specifically for this model. Based on the 324, this updated automatic caliber introduced a number of performance improvements — and added a partially integrated weekly calendar module made up of 92 components.

As mentioned, the movement displays hours, minutes, sweep seconds, the date (via aperture), and the day, week number, and month (via hands). Advancing the week and day indicators required a new mechanism entirely. Patek’s solution uses a semi-instantaneous switching system driven by a pair of seven-pointed stars and a 53-tooth week wheel — all of which move in precise steps to avoid energy spikes. And thanks to a built-in fail-safe system, all calendar functions can be safely adjusted at any time, even around midnight.

The then-new anti-backlash seconds mechanism uses a LIGA-fabricated third wheel with integrated leaf springs to eliminate hand jitter without increasing friction, while the stop-seconds feature allows for precise time setting. The winding system was also redesigned for better efficiency and durability, driven by a 21k gold unidirectional rotor. Altogether, the movement contains 304 parts, including the weekly calendar mechanism, and beats at 28,800 vph with a power reserve of 35 to 45 hours.

Visible through the sapphire caseback, the movement is finished to Patek Philippe Seal standards, with polished bevels, Geneva striping, and hand-finished details throughout.

Calatrava Weekly Calendar Specs

Model	Calatrava Weekly Calendar
Reference Number	5212A-001
Case	Stainless steel 40mm diameter 11.18mm thickness Sapphire crystal case back
Dial	Silvery opaline Anthracite white gold applied faceted obus-style hour markers and dauphine-style hands Custom typography
Functions	Hour, minutes, sweep seconds Date in aperture Day, month, week displayed via hands
Movement	Caliber 26-330 S C J SE Automatic winding Power reserve: 35–45 hours Frequency: 28,800 vph (4 Hz) Patek Philippe Seal
Water Resistance	30m
2025 Retail Price (MSRP)	$41,038

Patek Philippe 5212a Calatrava Weekly Calendar Price

When the Patek Philippe 5212A first launched in 2019, it was priced at CHF 29,500 (just under $30,000 at the time). Today, the retail price has climbed to $41,038 — a substantial increase that reflects both inflation and Patek Philippe’s broader pricing strategy over the past few years.

Pre-owned Calatrava watches don’t typically sell well above retail prices like their sporty siblings the Nautilus and Aquanaut do. On the secondary market, prices for the Calatrava 5212A tend to hover between $32,000 and just under $40,000, depending on condition and completeness. That makes the Patek 5212A one of the more accessible complicated Pateks in steel — especially considering it offers a unique calendar function.

There is an exception, however; Patek made 20 examples of a limited edition burgundy 5212A for an Australian retailer, making it incredibly rare and, unsurprisingly, much more valuable (probably around $80,000) than the standard model.

For collectors who want something outside the usual Nautilus or Aquanaut orbit, but still want steel and something functionally interesting, the Patek Philippe 5212A is a strong option. Think: casual, but make it Patek. It’s also worth noting that this reference has remained in Patek’s catalog since its release, which suggests steady demand. And given its blend of technical innovation, subtle vintage cues, and everyday wearability, there’s a good chance the 5212A will continue to build appreciation in the years to come — even if it’s not a headline-grabbing hype watch.