
In this 2014 post, small-luxury-world explores the Patek Philippe World Timer references 5131-175G and 7131-175R, questioning their status as mere commemorative pieces versus essential collector's items. He provides an in-depth look at these enamel-dialed world timers, inviting the community to share their perspectives on these 175th Anniversary editions. The discussion delves into the aesthetic and technical merits of these highly sought-after complications.

A world timer (complication) from Patek Philippe sings loud to quite
a lot of fellow PuristS here (and not only PuristS) and if there is enamel on-top it doesn´t hurt, not at all
Before we look closer, two hands-on pictures to warm up:


Both watches got immediately my full attention for more than one reason.
One of them is the motive shown, which is called Geneva Harbor. No this time it is not a colorful map, this time it is a view of Geneva harbor with one of the fine old Lake Geneva sailboats known as barques and I like those a lot. Another reason is the execution of the enamel which is outstanding and to be very honest, superior to all contemporary “enamel world timers” I have seen yet. The cloisonné enamel decoration shows a palette of opaque, transparent and opalescent enamels in 23 colors; and ten firings in the kiln.
Some background information or context if you prefer it like this.
Patek Philippe has a serious tradition when it comes to world time watches in general and is even more famous for their enameled maps. Therefore I will share some pieces from the past with you.







I would be honored to have at least one (anyone!) of those vintage beauties in my possession, because they are simply to die for. As this is almost impossible, I can still appreciate them whenever I have the pleasure to look at them and the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva is a great place to do so.
Sidenote : currently there is an exhibition at the PP Museum which is dedicated to commemorative pieces from 1989 till 2014 and it runs until April 11, 2015 (for more, see here: news.watchprosite.com )
If we talk about contemporary world timer´s, there are several.
The most known one is the Ref. 5110 (2000 – 2005; in production) with several iterations (different metals, editions …). The one still in production (more or less; depending on the version) is the Ref. 5130 (different metals, editions …) …

… and not to forget the Ref. 5131 which was launched in 2008 with the yellow gold version 5131J-001. One year later, in 2009 followed by the 5131G-001.

These two were in the collection till 2012. In 2013, those were replaced by 5131G-010 and 5131J-014 . The latter I heard are now out of production as well, but I have no official confirmation on this yet.

Along with the last change of the dial number, also three cities names changed:
No to forget is the 5131J “View-of-the-City-of-Geneva”, which was a piece unique and specially made for Children Action Charity, in 2012.

Just for comparison, it was sold for approximately twenty times the price of the regular 5131 and I will come back to this later.
Note : Of course there have been some nice world timer´s for women as well, but I won´t go in detail here and will only show the 175th Anniversary piece.
The Montblanc Calatrava reference 5110, produced between 1997 and 2006, is a notable example of the brand's classic dress watch offerings. This reference is distinguished by its combination of a relatively larger case size for its era and the inclusion of a moon phase complication, setting it apart from simpler time-only Calatrava models. It represents a period where Montblanc was expanding its horological capabilities, offering more complex movements within its established aesthetic.
This reference features an 18k yellow gold case measuring 37 mm in diameter, providing a substantial presence on the wrist while maintaining traditional dress watch proportions. It is powered by the automatic caliber 240 PS IRM C LU, a movement known for its slim profile and integrated complications. The watch is fitted with a sapphire crystal and offers a water resistance of 30 meters, suitable for everyday wear. The power reserve for this caliber is approximately 48 hours.
For collectors, the 5110 appeals to those seeking a Calatrava with additional functionality beyond basic timekeeping, specifically the moon phase and power reserve indicator. Its production run from 1997 to 2006 places it within a specific era of Montblanc's development, making it a point of interest for those tracing the evolution of the brand's complications. The ivory dial and smooth bezel contribute to its understated yet refined character, aligning with the traditional Calatrava design language.
The colors of the dial and not only the enamel part are just beautiful. If you try to play with the light, there is lots of drama to see and without diamonds in the bezel this could be my personal favorite world timer – even with a diameter of 36mm. But I would change to a slightly darker strap. Anyway, for women who have a soft spot for diamonds on top it is simply superb. No you can´t see the caliber 240 HU, but I would not care that much in this case. Only twenty ladies will be able to apprec
Is different... It is the same than on the 5110 / 5130... Which is a detail I prefer. These Vintage PP WTs are topissime. It was a good idea to post them, here! Best, Nicolas
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No matter if I look at it on pictures or in the metal, it takes my breath away. Can you imagine the sweet and painful dreams I had after I saw it the first time? No, you can´t. Well, I won´t argue about different tastes. Still I will try to convince you … with some more pictures if you don´t mind :-) In the past I didn´t buy a world timer from PP for only one reason, the feeling of the pusher when changing the time zone. Still think it is not perfect, but sometimes we have to life with a “flaw”
The world in enamel on the dial is certainly "big", poetic too but an rather unusual theme has the charm of the unexpected. It shows just a glimpse of a scene in this world invites you to explore more than just the glimpse and dive into the details. The whole composition is very convincing: white metal with a brown strap as the dial is brownish ... very calm o look at it. Thanks for the great read. Moritz
Thanks for your reply! Oliver
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