Patek Philippe World Time Cloisonné

The Jet Age didn’t just change travel — it redefined time itself. Suddenly, the world became something you could cross between breakfast and dinner. An espresso at Bar Della Pace, a quiet cab uptown, and you were at Lutèce by eight. Geography loosened its grip, and the wristwatch became a global instrument.

Long before jets traced their arcs across the Atlantic, watchmakers had been wrestling with the problem. Railroad chronometers in the 1860s introduced secondary hands to reconcile local time with the emerging order of “railway time.” In the 1930s and ’40s, Louis Cottier’s genius world-time system allowed Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe to display the globe’s hours in a single, elegant frame. And by the 1950s, with the Concorde still a glimmer in the sky, the need for a travel watch had shifted from curiosity to necessity.

Enter the Patek Philippe 5131G-001, a modern realization of that legacy. Crafted in 18K white gold, its 39.5mm case frames a cloisonné enamel map depicting the Americas, Asia, and Australia — each cell of color fired, cooled, and coaxed into brilliance. A two-tone 24-hour ring (blue for night, silver for day) rotates in harmony with a city ring controlled by the 10 o’clock pusher, allowing the wearer to see the world at a glance.

Turn it over, and the sapphire caseback reveals the Caliber 240 HU, an automatic movement that is slim, refined, and quietly astonishing. An elegant dark blue alligator leather strap, signed and fitted with a white gold folding buckle, completes the composition. And for good measure, we've included the watch's dealer ephemera, including its inner and outer presentation boxes, its paperwork, and its Certificate of Origin dated to 2011. 

This isn’t just a timepiece. It’s the romance of global movement, made mechanical. There’s a traveler’s watch, and then there’s the traveler’s watch— this is the latter.

Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is one of the oldest watch manufacturers in the world with an uninterrupted watchmaking history. 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 their track record of innovation in design 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 that is 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.