Established by Patek Philippe in 2005, the Advanced Research department represents the brand’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of horological innovation. Dedicated to exploring new materials and micro-engineering techniques, the department has introduced groundbreaking advancements that have redefined precision and performance in watchmaking. In its inaugural year, Patek Philippe unveiled the first timepiece developed under this initiative: the ref. 5250 Annual Calendar, limited to just 100 pieces. This model featured a newly patented Silinvar escape wheel, a revolutionary component with a mass two-thirds lighter than a traditional escape wheel. This innovation required less energy to operate, allowing more power to be directed toward timekeeping accuracy.

Building on the success of ref. 5250 and 5350, Patek Philippe launched the ref. 5450 Annual Calendar in 2008, limited to 300 pieces in platinum and distinguished by its striking "salmon" dial. This model featured the Gyromax balance with a Spiromax hairspring and introduced the newly developed Pulsomax escapement, which incorporated an updated silicon escape wheel and pallet lever. The ref. 5450 marked the culmination of the Advanced Research department’s work on annual calendars, as subsequent models, such as the ref. 5550, would transition to perpetual calendar complications.