Patek Philippe

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8851

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Dear Nico, many thanks for your thoughtful post!

I’ve always found the Patek World Time Chronographs both aesthetically appealing and technically fascinating.

Yet that too-small sub-dial has always been a stumbling block for me. The only explanation I can imagine is that the dial layout was already so firmly set, and Patek didn’t want to disturb the overall balance by enlarging the sub-dial too much. Still, I can’t help but feel they could have given it just a little more presence without compromising the design.

On the 5935 the sub-dial becomes particularly prominent, as the surrounding ring is highlighted even more strongly in the design, whereas on the 5930 it remains far more discreet (which feels better to me). And that single detail has always been enough to keep me from ever truly embracing the 5935. Although I like the dial colour very much.

Finally, something about the chronograph function itself: For me, a watch must not only be „flawless“ (very subjective, I know!) in design but also functional in use – and I simply have no use for a 30-minute counter on a chronograph. To me, the essence of a chronograph lies in its ability to measure time in a truly practical way, and anything less than a at least 12-hour counter feels more like a stylistic flourish than a useful complication.