Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold automatic world time wristwatch with cloisonné enamel dial, original certificate, sales tag and box
On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT wil… Read more The Property of a Descendant of the Original Owner
Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold automatic world time wristwatch with cloisonné enamel dial, original certificate, sales tag and box

Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, World Time model, ref. 5131, movement no. 5’766’438, case no. 4’659’613, circa 2014

Details
Patek Philippe. A very fine and rare 18K gold automatic world time wristwatch with cloisonné enamel dial, original certificate, sales tag and box
Signed Patek Philippe, Genève, World Time model, ref. 5131, movement no. 5’766’438, case no. 4’659’613, circa 2014
MOVEMENT: automatic, cal. 240 HU, PP seal, 33 jewels
DIAL: polychrome cloisonné enamel, depicting the Americas, Europe and Africa, 24 hours revolving chapter ring divided into diurnal and nocturnal hours, outer silvered revolving ring with names of 24 cities
CASE: 18K gold, bezel engraved Patek Philippe Genève, glazed display screw back, rectangular time zone correction button in the band, 39.5 mm. wide
SIGNED: case, movement
STRAP/BUCKLE: Patek Philippe crocodile leather strap 18K gold Patek Philippe deployant clasp
ACCOMPANIED BY: Patek Philippe Certificate of Origin stamped by the firm’s retailer Wempe in Vienna and dated 22 March 2014, original sales tag, Patek Philippe envelope, Wempe Warranty card, product literature, leather folder, Patek Philippe cardboard box, original fitted wooden presentation box and outer packagings.
Special Notice
On lots marked with an + in the catalogue, VAT will be charged at 8% on both the premium as well as the hammer price. Many of the watches offered for sale in this catalogue are pictured with straps made of endangered or protected animal materials such as alligator or crocodile. These endangered species straps are shown for display purposes only and are not for sale. Christie’s will remove and retain the strap prior to shipment from the sale site. At some sale sites, Christie’s may, at its discretion, make the displayed endangered species strap available to the buyer of the lot free of charge if collected in person from the sale site within 1 year of the date of the sale. Please check with the department for details on a particular lot.

Lot Essay

Purchased by the father of the present owner in 2014 and offered complete with all of its accessories, the appeal of the this “World Time” reference 5131 is further enhanced by its excellent, close to new overall condition.

Reference 5131
The yellow gold version of reference 5131 was launched in 2008, followed by white gold in 2009 and pink gold in 2014. The dial of the present yellow gold example represents the Americas, Europe and Africa, the white gold version shows Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania, the dial of the pink gold version Asia, Oceania and the Americas.

Reference 5131 is the successor of reference 5130 and shows three notable differences: use of a distinguishable cloisonné enamel dial, the names of the 24 cities are displayed in Italic type and the signature Patek Philippe and company location Genève are engraved on the bezel. Only two or three enameller artists are able to produce these rare dials and together they are able to deliver 30-40 dials of each color every year. In 2012 a special and unique reference 5131 was produced with a view of Lake Geneva, to celebrate the firm's 175th Anniversary. In 2014, limited editions with different dial motifs were launched.

Reference 5131 is equipped with the ultra-thin automatic calibre 240 HU (HU for Heure Universelle, French for World Time). It features an eccentric 22K gold micro-rotor recessed in the back plate.

A modern world time wristwatch, the mechanism dates back to the 1930s when talented Geneva watchmaker Louis Cottier devised it and offered his invention to Patek Philippe. Cottier's ingenuity resulted in the company's now classic references 1415 HU and 2523 (see lots 113 and 117 in this auction). In 1959, Patek Philippe obtained a patent for Cottier's device (Swiss Patent No. 340 191). The company further developed the movement, introducing calibre 240 HU in 1999.

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