One of the watch complications that has always fascinated me most is the world time. The ability to display, on a single dial, the hours of all 24 time zones is, in my view, something truly extraordinary.
This complication, in the form we know today, was invented in 1931 by Louis Cottier. From that moment on, Patek Philippe made it one of its hallmarks, integrating it into some of its timepieces that have since become highly coveted, especially when paired with exquisite enamel dials.
In this article, I want to take you through three of the most remarkable modern interpretations of this complication.
Patek Philippe World Time Chronographs
Let’s begin with the brand par excellence, the one that has mastered this complication to perfection. At the start of the 2000s, after several decades of absence, Patek Philippe decided to revive the world time and introduced the reference 5110. It was an immediate success, still remarkably contemporary today thanks to its balanced proportions, and it encouraged the Maison to continue producing world time watches, for both men and women, often paired with other complications.
The specific models I want to focus on here are, in my view, among the most fascinating in Patek’s current collection: the World Time Flyback Chronograph. Today, there are two references available, the 5930P and the 5935A. While they share the same caliber, the CH 28-520 HU, they are radically different in character. The 5930P pairs a platinum case with a green dial and strap, making it perfect for chic occasions where distinction matters. The 5935A, on the other hand, is one of the very few steel Pateks still in production. With its striking salmon dial, it feels perfectly suited to everyday wear and, in my view, also appeals to a younger clientele.
Updating and adapting an icon is never easy, but Patek has done it brilliantly.
A. Lange & Söhne Time Zone
One of the most recent releases from A. Lange & Söhne is a new interpretation of the world time complication: the Lange 1 Time Zone.
In my opinion, the Lange 1 is already a nearly perfect watch in itself, thanks to its distinctive dial layout, unlike any competitor’s, and the remarkable balance created by its iconic outsized date. But this new version, unveiled in September, represents a genuine step forward.
The dial feels particularly harmonious, with softer contrasts, and the combination of a platinum case with a deep blue dial is, quite frankly, an effortless triumph.
Beyond the classic pusher for setting the date, this Lange 1 also features an additional button that allows the user to adjust the secondary time display on the smaller sub-dial. At 42mm, the case might sound large on paper, but even as someone not usually inclined toward oversized watches, I find it just right here: it provides ample space for a wealth of information while maintaining perfect balance.
Nomos Club Sport neomatik Worldtime
This is not the first time Nomos has introduced a world time watch into its catalogue, but the interpretation of the Club Sport released this year is simply outstanding. In my view, it was the best watch of this year’s Watches & Wonders when considering value for money.
Here too, the outer ring of the dial carries the city disc, with a red accent marking the reference city and thus the reference time zone. At three o’clock, a subdial displays the time on a 24-hour scale, allowing you to easily distinguish between AM and PM. A pusher at two o’clock advances the city ring, while a small corrector can be used, if needed, to adjust the 24-hour indication.
To put it plainly: at around €4,000 retail, especially in the limited-edition colorways, it’s hard to find a better watch. With this release, the model has truly reached its peak.
Conclusion
The world time complication is truly extraordinary, and in these modern interpretations it continues to prove its appeal, showing how it can be admired and collected even by those with more accessible budgets.
And now, the question is: which one is your favorite?
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