Patek-Philippe-1415-World-Time

1415 Patek Philippe World Time

World Time is a complication invented and still dominated today by Patek Philippe. The lineage of all your 5130 and 5230s can very directly be traced back to this ref. 1415, the earliest widely-produced (yet still exceptionally rare) Patek World Time. This was a watch created as the entire world came online for the first time through the telegraph and phone. For the first time in mankind’s history, it became necessary to often know precisely the time of multiple parts of the world. Watchmaker Louis Cottier created a concentric ring rotating bezel system that became the standard for world time watches as a category, even today. That began here (I’m skipping the extremely rare ref. 515, 96, and 542 for the consummate geeks among us).

Patek-Philippe-1415-World-Time

The 1415 was produced in 82 yellow gold examples, 32 pink gold examples, and just one in platinum. Of those, about half have resurfaced in the market, including the sole platinum watch. Cities on the bezel varied by delivery location and date of production. For example, it is easy to approximately date a World Time by the named used for the capital of China at any given time: Peiping, Beijing, Peking, and Nanking have all made appearances as the country progressed.

Patek-Philippe-1415-World-Time

All were produced in a 31mm case with these lovely tear-drop lugs from 1939 to 1954. Less than a quarter of that production featured enamel dials, with the majority being this silver-white. The first few examples bore a 12-ligne pocket watch movement with a wolf winding tooth, later upgraded to this wristwatch movement which goes by calibre 12-120. The 1415 in any guise is a glimpse into a lost era, both culturally and technically. In many ways, the story of the World Time is the story of globalization. Or perhaps I’ll simply let Patek Philippe tell their own story as an ad in period stated, for ‘the man whose interests go beyond the horizon.’

Patek-Philippe-1415-World-Time

This example features a case which has seen a polish, but retains even and still-full lugs. The dial is completely original and clear of any visible damage. An extract has been ordered but is not available quite yet. It comes from a well-regarded US retailer.

Find this 1415 here from Menta Watches listed as POA.