A first for Patek Philippe is a wrist watch chronograph that measures and displays tenths of a second. The new innovations for the company came after the public trade show Watches and Wonders which has generally been a source for industry innovations. The 1/10th Second Monopusher Chronograph fits the wrist of any collector and represents a major leap for a brand known for million-dollar pocket watches.

Collectors Dashboard evaluates high-end collectibles as an alternative asset class. In this particular reference, luxury watches may be attracting the same capital that could have just as easily been invested into stocks or bonds. Many watches now cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars, and some can cost even more.

Whether the “investment” attribute of collectibles would be a store of value or with a goal of making a profit will depend solely upon each buyer’s views. And even if the goal is simply as a store of value rather than seeking gains does not mean that a buyer will achieve a profit nor accomplish their goals. Image below is by Patek Philippe at Patek.com.

The watch is the Ref. 5470P-001 1/10th Second Monopusher Chronograph, and Patek Philippe has said:

“To handle the three challenges – efficiency, reliability, and rate accuracy – Patek Philippe decided to use, for the first time in its current collection, its Oscillomax® ensemble that had been developed by the “Patek Philippe Advanced Research” department. This high-tech regulator mechanism has three innovative components that rely on all advantages of the Silinvar® technology – it is based on a derivative of silicon with extraordinary physical and mechanical characteristics (lightweight, rugged, antimagnetic, etc.).” 

The press release also noted:

“With its high-frequency movement (5 Hz) incorporating all the “Patek Philippe Advanced Research” innovations in the field of Silinvar® and its patented display ensuring fast and accurate 1/10th of a second reading, the Ref. 5470P-001 demonstrates Patek Philippe competence and innovative spirit in the field of short-time measurement.”

The price of the watch is listed as Price Upon Request, this has been a standard practice of many high-end watch companies for their time pieces and for other accessories.

If a person is interested in being down to a 1/10 of a second in measurement, they will obviously have no excuse for being late.