Hands-on review of the new Patek Philippe Cubitus Collection and the three inaugural models ref. 5821/1A, 5821/1AR, and 5822P with exclusive pictures
Last week, Patek Philippe introduced the new Cubitus Collection, creating great buzz and mixed reactions among watch enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Following our introductory overview of the collection (you can read it here), this hands-on review, which includes our exclusive live photos, takes a closer look at the three inaugural models: Ref. 5821/1A in steel; Ref. 5821/1AR in steel and rose gold; and Ref. 5822P in platinum.
Representing Patek Philippe's vision of an “elegant sporty” wristwatch, the new Cubitus stands out with its squared shape.
The square bezel features rounded corners, creating a design that blends elements of the square, circle, and octagon.
The two-part case, assembled from the front, is characterised by two attachments on either side, reminiscent of the iconic Nautilus model.
All three new references measure 45 mm in diameter (from 10 to 4 o’clock) but differ for their height: 8.3 mm for the steel and steel/rose gold models, and 9.6 mm for the platinum reference. The latter is also slightly wider (from 3 to 9 o’clock with crown), measuring 44.9 mm vs 44.5 mm of the other two.
The screw-down crown is embossed with the Genevan manufacture’s emblem, the Calatrava cross. Water resistance is guaranteed up to a pressure of 3 bar (approximately corresponding to a depth of 30 metres / 100 feet).
The lines are highlighted by alternating satin-brushed and polished surfaces: vertical satin-brushed on the flat of the bezel and the front of the case, and polished on the bezel’s chamfer and the case flanks. Needless to say, the finishes are flawless, as you would expect from timepieces in this high-end luxury segment.
Like all Patek Philippe’s platinum models, Reference 5822P has a diamond (here, a baguette cut for the first time) set into the bezel at 6 o’clock.
Protected by anti-reflective sapphire crystals, the dials of the new Cubitus models feature horizontal relief embossing, another element inspired by the Nautilus, which is also found on the rotors and mini-rotors of the movements powering the Cubitus models.
The Cubitus Reference 5821/1A features an elegant shade of olive green, illuminated by a fine sunburst motif. Applied white gold baton-style hour markers and rounded hour and minute hands, both enhanced with a white luminescent coating glowing green in low light. A white gold inlaid frame surrounds the date aperture at 3 o’clock.
The blue sunburst dial of the Cubitus Reference 5821/1AR is particularly attractive. The baton-style hour markers and rounded hour and minute hands, along with the frame surrounding the date aperture, are made in rose-gold, creating a striking contrast against the blue background.
The Cubitus Instantaneous Grand Date, Day and Moon Phases Reference 5822P-001 also presents a blue dial, in this case paired with applied baton-style hour markers and rounded baton-style hour and minute hands, all in white gold.
The grand date is displayed in a double aperture at the 12 o’clock position by means of two co-planar disks.
The coaxial day and moon-phase indications are positioned at 7 o’clock, complemented by a small asymmetric subsidiary seconds counter at 4:30.
The casebacks of the new Cubitus showcase the movements through round sapphire crystal portholes.
Both Ref. 5821/1A in steel and Ref. 5821/1AR in steel and rose gold are powered by Calibre 26-330 S C, a self-winding movement derived from the base Calibre 26-330 introduced in 2019 (read more about it here). The "26-330" designation corresponds to its diameter of 26.6 mm and height of 3.3 mm.
This movement features a stop-seconds mechanism, enabling the watch to be synchronized with a time signal. It operates at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and offers a power reserve of 35 to 45 hours.
The 21K gold central rotor is adorned with the same horizontal motif as the dial, adding a cohesive design element.
For Reference 5822P, Patek Philippe developed the new self-winding Calibre 240 PS CI J LU, filing six patent applications for its innovations.
These include ensuring the perfect alignment of the grand-date numerals in both apertures, preventing any double jump of the tens during the date change from 31 to 01 (or if the watch experiences a shock), distributing energy efficiently for simultaneous jumps in 18 milliseconds, and allowing correction of all displays (including time and day) at any hour without damaging the movement or disrupting the display.
The movement features three push-pieces on the case flanks for adjusting the date, day, and moon phases. As a "simple" calendar, it requires manual correction on the first day of March, May, July, October, and December.
The moon-phase display is accurate to within one day every 122 years, while the movement’s rate accuracy adheres to Patek Philippe’s stringent 2024 standards, with a precision tolerance of -1 to +2 seconds per 24 hours, as per the Patek Philippe Seal.
The 22K gold off-center mini-rotor is adorned with the same pattern of horizontal lines as the dial.
The integrated metal bracelet equipping two of the three Cubitus models features the same pattern of alternating finishes used for the cases – vertical satin-brushed on the main links and polished on the central links.
A lockable size-adjustment system and a patented Patek Philippe fold-over clasp secured by four independent catches ensure comfort and safety.
The platinum model is equipped with a navy-blue strap with cream contrasting stitching in an ultra-resistant composite material embossed with a fabric motif. The platinum fold-over clasp is engraved with the name of the Cubitus collection.
As mentioned at the beginning of our article, the design of the new Cubitus has generated mixed reactions. It's worth noting that squared watches generally receive less favour than their round counterparts, which can influence their appeal to a wider audience. However, we found that the watch appears more balanced when worn on the wrist. We believe that this is the type of wristwatch that grows on you with time.
Despite its 45 mm diameter, the absence of lugs makes it feel comfortable and well-proportioned for an average wrist. For reference, the wrist shown in our photos measures 17.8 cm (7 in).
The prices of the new models of the Patek Philippe Cubitus Collection are as follows:
- Cubitus Reference 5821/1A-001 in steel: €41,580 / US$41,240
- Cubitus Reference 5821/1AR-001 in steel and rose gold: €61,780 / US$61,280
- Cubitus Instantaneous Grand Date, Day, and Moon Phases Reference 5822P-001 in platinum: €89,100 / US$88,380
In summary, the Patek Philippe Cubitus Collection introduces a bold design that challenges traditional tastes. While its squared shape may divide opinion (and we do not debate about tastes), its craftsmanship, technical excellence, and wearability are likely to win over those seeking a distinctive addition to their collection. patek.com
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