Joining three other World Time watches available from Patek Philippe comes the new ref. 5231J in yellow gold. in 2016, Patek Philippe presented a new World Time ref. 5230 replacing all previous models. The changes at the time included subtly reworking the case, the dial, and the hand designs. Two years ago, Patek Philippe released the World Time ref. 5131P in platinum with rice bead platinum bracelet and the watch was an absolute success. Now, this year at Baselworld 2019, the 5231J in 5N yellow gold joins its siblings the 5230G and 5230R in 5N white and rose gold respectively. The Patek Philippe World Time is also referred to as ‘Heure Universelle’ by collectors and has ranked among the manufacture's most popular complicated wristwatches for nearly eighty years. The change in 2016 also obeyed the fact that some time zone designations have recently changed or were replaced with new ones.
Things to Know About the Watch
Its Calatrava case in 5N yellow gold has a diameter of 38.5 mm —one millimeter smaller than that on the ref. 5131P. Back in 2016, some of the changes applied to the case included the winglet-style lugs and the narrow, smoothly polished bezel that attractively sets the watch apart from its predecessors.
When traveling into a different time zone, the pusher on the caseband at 10 o'clock is pressed as often as needed to align the respective city name with the red arrow at 12 o'clock. Each time the pusher is pressed, the hour hand will advance by one hour while the city disk and the 24-hour ring will move by one increment in the counterclockwise direction.
Fitted with a gorgeous dial with white 24-hour city ring, a grey and dark blue day/night indication for the 24 time zones, four yellow gold spangles and a gorgeous 'Cloisonné' enamel center with a planisphere of the American, European and African continents, the new Patek Philippe World Time ref. 5231J is as good as it gets.
Patek Philippe World Time watches show all 24 world time zones at a glance. The local time is the most prominently displayed for the time zone whose assigned city name is just above the small red arrow at 12 o'clock —in the classic manner with the hour and minute hands. In the other 23 zones, the times are directly readable on the 24-hour ring that rotates counterclockwise within the city disk. The minutes indicated by the minute hand are the same for all time zones. Patek owes this ingenious functionality to an invention in the 1930s by Genevan watchmaker Louis Cottier. The mechanism was later refined and patented by Patek Philippe.
The Movement
Powering the World Time ref. 5231J is the Patek Philippe automatic in-house calibre 240 HU composed of 239 parts and 33 jewels. The calibre provides a power reserve of 48 hours when fully wound and is visible via the display case back.
On the Wrist & Price
On the wrist, this new Patek Philippe World Time ref. 5231J in yellow gold wears true to its size and with immaculate wrist presence. Delivered on a glossy chocolate brown alligator strap with square scales and Calatrava logo folding clasp, the new ref. 5231J is a real stunner in person. The 'cloisonné' center of its dial is one of the most beautiful elements of this watch and worth every penny of its price tag.
Sticker Price $73,710 USD. For more info on Patek Philippe click here.
