Patek Philippe - The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII Geneva Saturday, May 13, 2023 | Phillips
  • Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
    Year: 2012
    Reference No: 5131G-001
    Movement No: 5'618'554
    Case No: 4'555'214
    Model Name: World Time
    Material: 18K white gold
    Calibre: Automatic, cal. 240HU, 33 jewels
    Bracelet/Strap: Leather
    Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
    Dimensions: 40mm Diameter
    Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed
    Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated March 24, 2012, product literature, leather wallet, presentation box and outer packaging.

  • Catalogue Essay

    Patek Philippe reference 5131 is part of the long lineage of world-time wristwatches made by Patek Philippe. Introduced in 2008 in yellow gold, it was later followed by a white gold model in 2009 and finally by pink gold and platinum versions. At the time of launch, it was the first modern worldtime reference to be graced with the fabled cloisonné dial featuring geographic maps.

    Worldtime watches were invented, as is the case with most innovations, out of necessity. With the advent of the industrial age came the means necessary to facilitate global trade and travel and, as a direct result, there was a need for timekeeping devices capable of tracking time in multiple locations. Between 1930 and 1931, Louis Cottier designed an ingenious, ultra-thin mechanism that simultaneously displayed the correct hours across the world's time zones through a rotating 24-hour ring, in addition to the local time.

    The city of choice (local time zone) would be set at the 12 o'clock position with the hours/minutes hand set at local time. The highly user friendly design, used until the present day, would then display the correct time in both hours and minutes, night and day, for every time zone in the world simultaneously, while clearly indicating local time - all via a single dial.

    The white gold case of present example in a perfect frame for the vibrant cloisonné enamel center dial depicting Europe, Africa and Asia in a wonderful array of blues, greens and yellows all outlined in fine gold.

    A well-balanced 40mm in diameter, this modern horological masterpiece marries the old and the new perfectly, and is sure to be the perfect companion for the well-traveled connoisseur.

  • Artist Biography

    Patek Philippe

    Swiss • 1839

    Since its founding in 1839, this famous Geneva-based firm has been surprising its clientele with superbly crafted timepieces fitted with watchmaking's most prestigious complications. Traditional and conservative designs are found across Patek Philippe's watches made throughout their history — the utmost in understated elegance.

    Well-known for the Graves Supercomplication — a highly complicated pocket watch that was the world’s most complicated watch for 50 years — this family-owned brand has earned a reputation of excellence around the world. Patek's complicated vintage watches hold the highest number of world records for results achieved at auction compared with any other brand. For collectors, key models include the reference 1518, the world's first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph, and its successor, the reference 2499. Other famous models include perpetual calendars such as the ref. 1526, ref. 3448 and 3450, chronographs such as the reference 130, 530 and 1463, as well as reference 1436 and 1563 split seconds chronographs. Patek is also well-known for their classically styled, time-only "Calatrava" dress watches, and the "Nautilus," an iconic luxury sports watch first introduced in 1976 as the reference 3700 that is still in production today.

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Ref. 5131G-001
A fine and attractive white gold world time wristwatch with cloisonné enamel dial, certificate of origin and presentation box

2012
40mm Diameter
Case, dial, movement and clasp signed

Estimate
CHF70,000 - 140,000 
€72,900-146,000
$80,000-160,000

Sold for CHF107,950

Contact Specialist

Alexandre Ghotbi
Head of Watches, Continental Europe and the Middle East

+41 79 637 17 24
AGhotbi@phillips.com

Tiffany To
Head of Sale, Geneva

+41 79 460 55 88
TiffanyTo@phillips.com

The Geneva Watch Auction: XVII

Geneva Auction 13 - 14 May 2023