Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph

The Jet Age shrunk the world.

The advent of transcontinental and transatlantic jet travel made it possible for a person to sip an espresso in the Bar Della Pace in the morning and still make an 8 o’clock reservation at Lutèce that same evening. Nearly a hundred years earlier, to meet the demands prompted by the establishment of railway time in the 1860s, watchmakers such as Hamilton and Elgin developed railroad pocket chronometers that included a third hand to indicate an additional timezone. This set the framework of what was to come.

In the 1930s and 1940s, manufacturers such as Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe produced “world time” pocket watches using a special dial layout designed by Louis Cottier that showed the time across the globe’s different time zones simultaneously. In the 1950s, the advent (and immediacy) of jet travel — and the frequency at which transatlantic and transcontinental flights occurred — made it necessary for travelers to have a wristwatch that could display multiple time zones at once.

The Patek Philippe Reference 5930G-010 is a modern reimagining of just such a watch. Rendered here in 18K white gold, it features a classical complication executed in stunning fidelity given its 39.5mm case size. The dial features a hand-machined guilloché blue inner sector and is surrounded by a bi-color ring with silver denoting daytime and a matching blue tone signifying night.

Beyond this adjustable ring is a world time city display — a feature familiar to devotees of classic world time complications. Using this 24-city outer ring and the inner rotating 24-hour ring — all of which is controlled by the 10 o’clock pusher — the wearer can track the time around the world from their present location.

But that’s not all this piece can do.

Equipped with a chronograph function, this worldly wristwatch features an added capability to time a particular event. Whether that's timing your downhill ski run in St. Moritz or lap times in Monaco, this watch will not look out of place.

Through the Reference 5930G-010's sapphire exhibition back, it’s possible to view the incredible workmanship of the in-house Patek Philippe Calibre 28 - 520 self-winding movement. Fitted to a signed, alligator leather strap with an 18K white gold deployant clasp, this exceptional piece remains in near-mint condition throughout and includes all of its factory accoutrements.

Multi-functional and absolutely easy on the eyes, the Reference 5930G-010 is for the world traveler who enjoys living life in the fast lane.