Patek Philippe World Time

The arrival of commercial jet travel transformed not only how people moved around the world, but how they kept track of it. Suddenly, crossing multiple time zones in a matter of hours was commonplace, and the world-time wristwatch became one of the great complications of the modern travel era. Patek Philippe had been exploring the idea decades earlier, producing some of the most celebrated world timers of the 1930s, ’40s, and ’50s.

The Reference 5130J-001 carries that tradition into the 21st century. Introduced in 2006 as the successor to the smaller Ref. 5110, the 5130 increased the case diameter to 39.5mm, giving its wonderfully information-rich dial considerably more room to breathe.

Rendered here in 18K yellow gold, the watch centers on a silver guilloché dial with applied gold hour markers. Surrounding it is a rotating 24-hour ring divided into light and dark sectors for day and night, followed by an outer ring displaying 24 cities representing the world’s major time zones. Once set, the system allows the wearer to read the time in all 24 zones simultaneously.

Better still, operating it is remarkably straightforward. The pusher at 10 o’clock advances the local city and corresponding hour indication in one-hour increments, allowing the traveler to update local time without disturbing the minutes. It is a complicated watch designed to make traveling less complicated.

Inside is Patek Philippe’s automatic Calibre 240 HU, based upon the manufacture’s celebrated ultra-thin micro-rotor architecture. Visible through the sapphire caseback, its off-center 22K gold rotor allows the movement to remain impressively slender despite the world-time mechanism layered above it.

This example is fitted to a signed brown alligator leather strap with an 18K yellow-gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp. It comes as a particularly desirable complete set, including its inner and outer boxes, papers and pamphlets, and Certificate of Origin.

The Ref. 5130 manages something particularly difficult: displaying the time across the globe while remaining unmistakably elegant. There are travel watches, and then there are watches that make you want to travel. This is very much the latter.

Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is one of the oldest watch manufacturers in the world with an uninterrupted history of watchmaking. Few international luxury brands carry the gravitas of their name, and for good reason. The firm's commitment to excellence in horological manufacture is unflinching, and its track record of design innovation is without peer. They continue to lead the industry, and even their fiercest competitors have nothing but the utmost respect for the company.

From the simple elegance of their Calatrava line to the stunning study in miniaturization that is reference 1518 perpetual calendar to the modern reference 5750P chiming watch, Patek’s catalog is chock full of some of the most elegant and complicated timepieces ever made. Family-owned and completely independent, the firm has the freedom to do what it wants — such as discontinue one of the world’s most beloved steel luxury sport watches, the reference 5711 — when it wants.

Owning a Patek Philippe is for many the ultimate goal of timepiece collecting, and for a certain type, the only timepieces they collect. Whichever way you look at it, there is no questioning the elegance of design, superlative manufacture of their cases and movements, or the sheer elegance and emotion that comes from owning one.

Of course, for a brand steeped in heritage, we are told, “You never actually own a Patek Philippe…”

Well, you know the rest.

Our Pledge

Analog:Shift stands behind the authenticity of our products in perpetuity.

Condition

Since our pieces are vintage or pre-owned, please expect wear & patina from usage and age. Please read each item description and examine all product images.

Warranty

We back each Analog:Shift vintage timepiece with a two-year mechanical warranty from the date of purchase.

International Buyers

Please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.

All of our watches include complementary insured shipping within the 50 states.

Most of our products are on hand and will ship directly from our headquarters in New York City. In some cases, watches will be shipped directly from one of our authorized partners.

We generally ship our products via FedEx, fully insured, within 5 business days of purchase. An adult signature is required for receipt of all packages for insurance purposes. Expedited shipping is available at an additional cost. We are also happy to hand deliver your purchase in Manhattan or you may pick it up at our showroom.

Returns must be sent overnight or by priority international delivery, fully insured and paid for by the customer. A restocking fee may apply. Watches must be returned in the same condition as initially shipped.

We welcome international buyers, please contact us prior to purchase for additional details on shipping and payment options.