Launched in 2008, the Patek Philippe ref. 5131 World Time builds upon the architecture of the ref. 5130 yet distinguishes itself with a breathtaking cloisonné enamel dial depicting the world’s continents. This artistry places the reference among the manufacture’s most coveted creations, uniting high horology with rare handcrafts. Only a handful of master enamellers are capable of executing cloisonné, a process requiring fine gold wires meticulously shaped into outlines and filled with colored enamel pastes, each layer fired repeatedly at 700–800°C. The result is a miniature work of art, unique to every dial.

The World Time itself is deeply ingrained in Patek Philippe’s heritage. Conceived in the 1930s by Louis Cottier, it was first adopted in the legendary ref. 1415, employing a revolving city disc paired with 24 time zones. This ingenious mechanism became a house signature, evolving subtly over the decades. After production paused in the mid‑1960s with the discontinuation of the ref. 2523, Patek revived the complication in 2000 with the ref. 5110, later succeeded by the larger 5130 in 2006.

Among the variations of the ref. 5131, perhaps the rarest is the platinum ref. 5131/1P‑001, introduced in 2017 with an impressive integrated platinum bracelet. Discontinued in 2021, demand for these exceptional world‑time models has only intensified. The present example, kept in “new-old-stock” condition with its full set of accessories including a Rare Handcrafts Certificate of Authenticity, is exceptionally collectible for those seeking an enamel dial world time in the heftiest of precious metals.