As one of the most prestigious watch manufacturers from the world, Patek Philippe has, through time, brought us several horological icons. If you are acquainted with the history of the luxury steel sports watch, most notably ones made by the legendary Gerald Genta; the apparel perpetual calendar chronograph; and needless to say, the world timer, then you’re likely to be familiar with all the illustrious Geneva-based manufacturer too. Out of all these icons that are distinguished, the entire world timer is perhaps the most poetic and romantic. With the help of a gifted watchmaker, Louis Cottier, Patek Philippe was able to create the world’s first world time wristwatch at 1937. Fast forward 80 decades, the entire world time watch is still one of the most integral parts of the contemporary Patek Philippe collection. This year, Patek Philippe complications world time 5131 replica watch has given one of its coveted world time references, the Ref. 5131, an opulent makeover. 5131 is offered in platinum — with a platinum bracelet no less. We bring you the details of this new Patek Philippe Ref. 5131/1P-001 and our thoughts about how it compares to its contemporaries.
The case, dial, and hands
The Ref. While the back of this case is brushed, the situation middle and the rounded bezel are polished to a spectacular sheen. So as not to clutter the dial or interrupt its cohesive layout, the company’s marquee is subtly soldered on the bezel rather –‘PATEK PHILIPPE’ at 12 o’clock,’GENEVE’ at 6 o’clock. On the case flanks, a pusher at 10 o’clock allows the proprietor to conveniently switch time zones as a diamond set to the situation in 6 o’clock inconspicuously testifies the watch is constructed from platinum, the most noble of metals. The Most Recent Ref. 5131 variant has been utilise the distinctive open-tipped hour hand and dauphine minute hand found in previous and current world time references. The case is matched with an equally extravagant rice bead link bracelet in full platinum. We guess that it could be due to its”female” or”obsolete” layout but there is no questioning its craftsmanship and ergonomics. The usage of a bracelet also means that the Ref. 5131/1P-001 is the least dressy version of the Ref. 5131 world time watches out of Patek Philippe complications chronograph 5131 replica watches and is hence the easiest to dress down together — ideal for the leisure traveller.
The movement
Within the Ref. 5131/1P-001 beats the self-winding Calibre 240 HU, which can be based on the Calibre 240. The mythical base Calibre 240 observes in 40th birthday this past year. Since its world debut in 1977 with the ultra-thin Ref. 3738 Golden Ellipse, the Calibre 240 was optimised in several respects but still keeps its initial DNA. The motion still defeats a traditional 21,600 semi-oscillations each hour now using the patented Spiromax equilibrium spring in Silinvar manufactured in-house. A 22k gold unidirectional micro-rotor winds the moves to provide a minimum of 48 hours power reserve. Bearing the Patek Philippe grand complications moonphase perpetual calendar tourbillon 5131 fake Seal, the motion is highly precise (using a speed accuracy that ranges between -3/+2 seconds per day) and of course, immaculately finished. The Geneva waves on the surface of the bridges have been beautifully highlighted by polished chamfers. Gold-filled engravings of the manufacturer’s marquee and the’PP’ emblem decorate the silver expanse of bridges. The iconic gold micro-rotor is also textured with Geneva waves also features an engraving of this Calatrava cross, which the brand uses as its emblem. Even the less-appreciated perlage on the bottom plate and the round graining on the wheels are implemented perfectly. The Calibre 240 HU, that has an extra world time function, continues to carry the torch for the legendary Calibre 240. As we view it, the calibre is further away from retirement than beginning since it remains one of Patek Philippe’s greatest automatic movements ever.
The competitive landscape
The new Patek Philippe grand complications mechanical clone watches World Time Ref. Before leaping into the comparison game, we must ask: what exactly qualifies as a’world time watch’? Quite simply, a world time watch has to display time for not two time zones (such as in an easy dual-time or GMT watch) but each of the 24 primary time zones simultaneously. This means watches such as the A. Lange & Söhne Lange 1 Time Zone (despite its own 24-city chapter ring) are not world time watches as they don’t track the 24 principal time zones at once.
The importance of the world time watch to Patek Philippe complications moonphase 5131 replica can’t be understated, so much so that last year, the newest published not one, but two novelties with the world time feature, one of which was the Ref. 5230. The Ref. 5230 was introduced to substitute the Ref. 5130 and is powered by the same calibre found in the brand new Ref. 5131. The main differences between the Ref. 5230 are located on the dial. The Ref. 5230 features scale-like guilloché patterns on the centre medallion of the dial instead of enamel. The design of the hour is motivated by the Southern Cross constellation while the second hand is lozenge-styled. The cities recorded around the middle medallion and their ranks are also a little different — for example, the Ref. 5230 features’S.GEORGIA’ rather than’SAO PAOLO’, which can be located on the Ref. 5131; and’AUCKLAND’ is 1 time zone forward in Ref. 5230 in comparison to the Ref. 5131. 5131 in USD47,600. All in all, the differences between the two references are strictly aesthetics-/material-related and not specialized.
The heavy usage of platinum (a metal which is dearer and harder to manipulate than gold) in the new Ref. 5131 and its cloisonné enamel dial account for a portion of the USD82,813 premium over the Ref. 5230, but definitely not all of it. The exorbitant pricing of the new Ref. 5131 is also influenced by the high demand for Patek Philippe enamel dial world time watches. As we’ve emphasized previously, these watches are highly coveted; they are difficult to obtain and fetch a cent when sold. There is absolutely no doubt that the price of the new Ref. 5131 was adjusted to reflect its cult status and in accordance with the sublime auction functioning of the reference. The Ref. 5230 is regrettably considered’standard issue’ by comparison and doesn’t enjoy the same cult status as the Ref. 5131. On the bright side, the Ref. 5230 is significantly more accessible concerning cost and availability and will still provide lots of pleasure to the horologically-inclined.
