Among Patek Philippe's most emblematic complications is undoubtedly the Worldtimer: the tradition of the brand's Universal Hour watches dates back to the 1930s, when it made several models with two rotating discs that simultaneously and permanently indicated the time in the 24 time zones, taking up the idea from watchmaker Louis Cottier. In 2016, for the first time, the House had proposed it in combination with a chronograph, revisiting the entire typology.
The combination of the two complications had entailed a considerable construction challenge because it was not easy to fit the indications on a single dial without risking compromising legibility and placing too much weight on the dimensions.
Offered until now in white gold or platinum, the first steel version arrives in combination with a rose-coloured opaline dial with a central guilloché motif that the company defines as "carbon", because it is reminiscent of the classic pattern of carbon fibre also found in sports watches. Patek had already employed it on the Ref. 6007 celebrating the new Plan-les-Ouates manufacture in 2020.
The new automatic flyback chronograph Ora Universale 5935A-001 thus mixes the vintage touch of the colours chosen with the sportiness of the steel and the dial motif, where the 24-hour disc and the outer 24 time zone disc are the protagonists. In fact, what stands out at first glance is precisely the worldtimer; only later does one realise that it is also a chronograph.
The movement is the automatic CH 28-520 HU calibre, an update of the in-house automatic chronograph calibre with column-wheel timing, vertical engagement and flyback function (when the pusher at 4 o'clock is pressed, the running seconds hand instantly returns to zero and a new timekeeping starts) in which the world time function has been integrated. It is fitted with two calfskin straps: taupe grainé and beige with nubuck finish.
Price64,390 euro.
