Patek Philippe’s New World Timer Is the Perfect Watch for Firing Up the PJ

Patek Philippe is considered by many to be the world’s greatest watchmaker—and at Watches & Wonders 2024, the brand’s stunning new releases lived up to that reputation handily.

Back in the early 1930s, Patek adopted Louis Cottier’s world time movement into wristwatch form, developing the references 515 HU, 96 HU, and 1415. However, it was with the debut of the ref. 2523 within the maison’s catalog in the 1950s that Cottier’s system really came into its own: In addition to the 24-hour city ring in each of the aforementioned models, the 2523’s second crown meant that one could change time zones with ease, making tracking a second zone a cinch.

The new ref. 5330G-001 follows in the 2523’s footsteps, but adds some modern conveniences: Namely, automatic winding and the addition of a date display linked to local time. Said date is indicated via a fourth pointer hand made of glass with a red lacquer hammer tip, which results in less disturbance to the information-packed dial. The opaline center dial, meanwhile, is shaded in blue-gray with a “carbon” motif—a unique texture that helps give the watch a feeling of depth. A central 24-hour ring divided into day and night halves is itself surrounded with the watch’s 23-city ring, which features a red dot demarcation at the International Date Line.

Housed in a polished white gold case measuring 40 millimeters wide, the ref. 5330G-001 is a distinctly dressy proposition—but actuate the pusher at 10 o’clock, and the local time/time zone jumps in one-hour increments, instantly updating the watch to your current location and simultaneously allowing you to track the time in the rest of the world. Utilitarian and beautiful, it’s the type of timepiece that, if looked after, will provide generations of faithful service.