Reviewing The Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph 5930G

World Time Chronograph 5930G

The vintage one-off timepiece that inspired the new ref. 5930G was the Patek Philippe No. 862 442 from 1940, which is now displayed at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Switzerland. The watch features a yellow gold case that houses a dial with both pulsimeter and asthmometer scales. Therefore, it’s presumed that this Patek Philipe watch once belonged to a doctor. 

Although the idea of combining a chronograph with a world timer complication stems from the vintage No. 862 442, the design and mechanics of the contemporary Patek Philippe 5930G are of course, new to suit modern expectations.

The Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph 5930G features an 18k white gold case measuring 39.5mm in diameter and 12.86mm thick. The shape of the winglet-style lugs are borrowed from vintage Patek Philippe World Time watches from the 1940s and 1950s. There’s a rectangular time-zone correction button at 10 o’clock, which is similar in shape to the two chronograph pushers on the opposite side of the case. Both sides of the case are furnished with scratch-resistant sapphire crystals for a view of the movement from the back and of the dial from the front. 

The blue dial of the ref. 5930G is vibrant and legible, despite all the information it displays to accommodate the world time, chronograph, and time functions. The periphery of the dial lists 24 cities to represent the principal 24 time zones across the globe. Next to that is a seconds scale (with quarter-seconds graduations) for chronograph measurements, followed by the continuously rotating 24-hour ring. Note that the 24-hour ring is split into two colors for easy differentiation between day and night hours, thus doubling as an A.M./P.M. indicator. 

The center of the dial features an elaborate hand-guilloched pattern, topped with 18k white gold applied hour markers. There’s also the 30-minute chronograph counter subdial at 6 o’clock, framed by a white gold surround. Matching the blue dial of the World Time Chronograph Reference 5930G is the hand-stitched matte navy blue alligator strap. The strap is fitted with a white gold Calatrava fold-over clasp to match the white gold case. 

A New Patek Philippe Movement

At the heart of the World Timer Chronograph is the new Patek Philippe CH 28-520 HU automatic movement. The movement brings together elements of Patek’s main chronograph caliber, the CH 28-520 PS, as well as the World Time module first developed by Louis Cottier in the 1930s. 

Patek Philippe Movement Reference Letters Explained

• CH (Chronographe): Chronograph
• HU (Heure Universelle): World Time
• PS (Petite Seconde): Small Seconds

There are a few notable things to point out with this particular movement. The chronograph is indeed a flyback variant, which means that the chronograph hand can be reset while it is in motion. The hand will fly back to zero on-demand and automatically start a new time measurement. Furthermore, since the chronograph hand is powered by a vertical clutch, the wearer can keep it running, to double as the seconds hands, without negatively affecting the watch. Additionally, it’s the world’s smallest and thinnest world-timer chronograph ever made.

The mechanics of the watch may be complex to build, yet the Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph 5930G is easy to operate. As is customary, the chronograph hand is activated by two pushers flanking the winding crown—the upper one to start and stop and the bottom one to reset. Moreover, the World Time feature is very user-friendly. The hour and minute hands at the center of the dial should be set to local time and the corresponding city on the rotating disk should be positioned at 12 o’clock. With one glance of the dial, the wearer can now quickly read local time at the center and the 23 other zones via the city disk. What’s more, adjusting local time whilst traveling simply requires pressing the button at 10 o’clock until the city that represents the new time zone is at 12 o’clock. 

In trued Patek Philippe fashion, the CH 28-520 HU movement is intricately decorated and finished, complete with a 21k gold rotor engraved with the brand’s famed Calatrava cross insignia. 

Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph 5930G Quick Specs

• Patek Philippe Ref. 5930G World Time Chronograph
• 39.5mm case in 18k white gold
• Blue dial with hand-engraved guilloché at the center
• World Timer functionality with 24-city disk, 24-hour ring with day/night indicator, and corrector button at 10 o’clock
• Flyback chronograph with 30-minute counter subdial and two chronograph pushers
• Sapphire crystal on dial-side and caseback
• Caliber CH 28-520 HU Self-winding mechanical movement, 55-hour power reserve
• Navy Blue alligator strap with white gold clasp
• Retail price: $75,300

Patek Philippe Continues its Illustrious History of Complicated Watches  

It took eight decades for Patek Philippe to resurface a timepiece that combines chronograph and world time functionality and the World Time Chronograph 5930G is now an important part of the brand’s current Complications collection.

An exquisite example of Patek Philippe’s enduring commitment to creating top-tier timepieces, the beauty and mechanical mastery of the 5930G is one geared towards passionate collectors and devotees of this renowned watchmaker.