Manufacturer: Patek Philippe Year: Circa 2010 Reference No: 5131G-001 Movement No: 5'519'619 Case No: 4'487'022 Model Name: World Time Material: 18K white gold Calibre: Automatic, cal. 240 HU, 33 jewels Bracelet/Strap: Crocodile Clasp/Buckle: 18K white gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp Dimensions: 39.5mm diameter Signed: Case, dial, movement and clasp signed Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped Patek Philippe Salons de Genève and dated 17th March 2010, instruction manual, product literature, service tag, leather folio, fitted presentation box and outer packaging.
Catalogue Essay
The ref. 5131 is part of Patek Philippe’s prestigious lineage of world time models. Initially introduced in 2008, the reference was offered in yellow gold with a map of the Americas, followed by a white gold variant in 2009, featuring a map of Asia, Africa and Europe, and eventually in pink gold and platinum at the turn of 2014. Now discontinued, it was the first modern world-time reference to be graced with the fabled cloisonné dial featuring geographic maps. Rarely seen on the market, the ref. 5131 was produced in limited quantities each year as the process of handcrafting each uniquely beautiful cloisonné enamel dial is painstakingly difficult and requires the most skilled artisans to execute.
As shown in the present example, the vivid cloisonné enamel center disc depicts Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania in a brilliant mixture of blues, greens, browns, and yellows hues, all outlined in fine ribbons of gold. A quintessential World Time wristwatch from 2010, the enamel center is surrounded by a 24-hour city ring that features Dubai and Moscow, rather than La Paz, Caracas and Riyadh on earlier examples. Framed in well-balanced 39.5mm case, this watch is a contemporary horological masterpiece that marries the old and the new perfectly. It will no doubt be the perfect companion for the well-travelled connoisseur.
The present ref. 5131G-001 is offered in excellent overall condition with an exemplary cloisonné enamel dial and beautiful proportions. Fresh-to-the-market, this example is the 37th white gold specimen to be identified and provides a scarce opportunity for connoisseurs to acquire an important discontinued piece.
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.