In the early years of the twentieth century, telecommunications - pioneered in the 1800s with the telegraph and later the telephone - became truly widespread, permeating the fabric of society on every level. Long distance communications became available (the first coast-to-coast phone call having been made in 1915) and with them the necessity of knowing with accuracy the time in every part of the world. Answering to this need, watchmaker Louis Cottier created the concentric rings system that would become the standard for world time watches. After experimenting on a few prototypes (such as a world time chronograph and a rectangular world time wristwatch), Patek Philippe decided to launch a serially produced model, the reference 1415.

Reference 1415 was introduced in 1939 and remained in production until the mid-1950s. Though the first few examples bore a 12”’ ligne pocket watch movement with wolf tooth winding, gold wheel train, and camwheel regulation, they were later upgraded to the wristwatch movement caliber 12’’’-120. It is believed that a little over 100 examples of the 1415 were produced, mostly cased in yellow gold.

The reference 1415 is a glimpse into a bygone era - culturally and geopolitically to begin with. The names and spellings of the cities on the bezel are particular to the post WWII-era, and are rendered in French (some other bezels had English translations). Indeed, Patek Philippe advertising from the period marketed world time watches to “the man whose interests go beyond the horizon”. Preserved in excellent, original condition, it has remained cherished in the “Ride the Wave” collection since acquired at auction in 1991.