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Lot Essay
Accompanied by a Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin dated January 9th, 2009 confirming production of the present watch with 18k gold bracelet, Patek Philippe veneered presentation box, leather folder, product literature, and outer packaging.
Patek Philippe World Time Watches
The mechanism of world time watches goes back to the 1930's when Geneva watchmaker Louis Cottier devised a world time movement and offered his invention to Patek Philippe. Cottier's ingenuity resulted in the company's now classic references 1415 HU and 2523, and in 1959, Patek Philippe obtained a patent for Cottier's device (Swiss Patent No. 340 191).
The reference 1415 HU was introduced in 1939, and remained in production until 1954. It was cased in either yellow or pink gold, with only one example in platinum known to date. Until 1948, the reference was available with the classic metal (silvered or more exclusively rose), and during the last few years of production, was available in very few pieces with a cloisonné enamel dial.
Reference 2523 was launched in 1953, a larger version of the "World Time" wristwatch, and only a small number of this model left the factory. The most notable differences between the reference 2523 and the 1415 HU are that the bezel on the 1415 was engraved with the cities, and would have to be turned manually, while the reference 2523 had the names of the cities on a chapter ring on the dial and a second crown in the band to rotate the dial. The first generation of reference 2523 models featured either single color enamel dials or cloisonné enamel dials depicting various continents, while the later generation of reference 2523-1 models were never available with enamel dials, only smooth or engine-turned dials.
Reference 5131
In production for a very short period of time, 2008 to 2012, the reference 5131 featured the ultra-thin automatic caliber 240 HU, HU standing for Heure Universelle, French for World Time. Produced in 18k yellow and white gold, the enamel dial in yellow gold versions displayed the Americas, Europe, and Africa, and white gold versions featured Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Reference 5131 is the successor to the reference 5130, and has three notable differences - the use of a cloisonné enamel dial, the names of 24 world cities displayed in Italic type, and the signatures "Patek Philippe" and "Genève" engraved on the bezel.
Presumably made as a special order for a very important client, the present watch is a fine and rare example, being in excellent condition, and is the only example of yellow gold 5131 born with a bracelet known to the market.
Patek Philippe World Time Watches
The mechanism of world time watches goes back to the 1930's when Geneva watchmaker Louis Cottier devised a world time movement and offered his invention to Patek Philippe. Cottier's ingenuity resulted in the company's now classic references 1415 HU and 2523, and in 1959, Patek Philippe obtained a patent for Cottier's device (Swiss Patent No. 340 191).
The reference 1415 HU was introduced in 1939, and remained in production until 1954. It was cased in either yellow or pink gold, with only one example in platinum known to date. Until 1948, the reference was available with the classic metal (silvered or more exclusively rose), and during the last few years of production, was available in very few pieces with a cloisonné enamel dial.
Reference 2523 was launched in 1953, a larger version of the "World Time" wristwatch, and only a small number of this model left the factory. The most notable differences between the reference 2523 and the 1415 HU are that the bezel on the 1415 was engraved with the cities, and would have to be turned manually, while the reference 2523 had the names of the cities on a chapter ring on the dial and a second crown in the band to rotate the dial. The first generation of reference 2523 models featured either single color enamel dials or cloisonné enamel dials depicting various continents, while the later generation of reference 2523-1 models were never available with enamel dials, only smooth or engine-turned dials.
Reference 5131
In production for a very short period of time, 2008 to 2012, the reference 5131 featured the ultra-thin automatic caliber 240 HU, HU standing for Heure Universelle, French for World Time. Produced in 18k yellow and white gold, the enamel dial in yellow gold versions displayed the Americas, Europe, and Africa, and white gold versions featured Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
Reference 5131 is the successor to the reference 5130, and has three notable differences - the use of a cloisonné enamel dial, the names of 24 world cities displayed in Italic type, and the signatures "Patek Philippe" and "Genève" engraved on the bezel.
Presumably made as a special order for a very important client, the present watch is a fine and rare example, being in excellent condition, and is the only example of yellow gold 5131 born with a bracelet known to the market.