The world time mechanism was invented by celebrated Geneva watchmaker Louis Cottier (1894-1966). The technology was incorporated into watches by several of Switzerland's leading watch firms, including Vacheron Constantin, Patek Philippe and Rolex.

Cottier's world time mechanism is a functional complication that was designed to be simple to calibrate. One must first set the local or mean time through the crown (the 24 hour ring will revolve in the opposite direction of the hands). Then, the outer ring is adjusted by depressing the button in the case until one's current global location is indicated at the 12 o'clock position. Once calibrated, the relative time of each world location is set. The two-tone, 24-hour ring indicates world locations that are in night time by the grey section and daytime by the silvered section.

During the 1930, Vacheron Constantin produced world time watches with varying case designs and dial layouts, the majority however featuring an open face case. Hunter cased "World Time" watches, such as the present example, are very rare.

According to the Archives of Vacheron Constantin, the present watch was manufactured in 1959.