Review: Le Monde en Cloisons – The Patek Philippe World Time Ref. 5231J

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Patek Philippe World Time Ref 5231J

The world time watch (a.k.a world timer) is synonymous with Patek Philippe.

The illustrious Geneva-based manufacturer began working with Louis Cottier back in the 1930s, using his patented method to display the time zones across the globe, and have continued to keep at least one world time reference in their catalogue for most years since In 2016, Patek Philippe introduced the World Time Ref 5230, bringing in a host of subtle changes to the core design of the brand’s world time watch, and effectively replacing preceding models.

This year, a new world time reference – based on the Ref 5230 – joins the fray, and boy will this one stir a frenzy Here, we bring you the details and our thoughts on the new World Time Ref.

5231J.

The Case, Dial, and Hands

The Ref 5231J features the exact same case design as the Ref 5230.

Itself a refreshed design back in 2016, the case comes with evocative winglet-style lugs and a flat polished bezel But while the Ref 5230 is available in white and rose gold, the new Ref.

5231 is currently only available in 5N yellow gold (hence the J designation in the reference number) On the flanks of the case are the crown at 3 o’clock – for time-setting and winding – and a pusher at 10 o’clock to advance the hour hand, city disc, and 24-hour disc

The Ref.

5231J cuts an elegant figure with its entirely polished case and nuanced winglet lugs.

The highlight of the Ref 5231J is in the dial, mainly its enamel centre Patek Philippe enamel world time watches are some of the most coveted timepieces around, and this is what makes the Ref.

5231J special The type of enamelling technique used here is called cloisonné Cloisonné enamelling involves soldering metal wires – gold, in this case – bent to the outline of a design and filling the resulting cloisons (French: compartments) with vitreous enamel paste.

The aforementioned design on the Ref 5231J is a stylised map of the Americas, Europe, and Africa When the cloisons have been filled with enamel paste, they are fired in an oven until perfection.

We find the use of coloured enamel by Patek Philippe’s enamellers to be particularly masterful There are various shades of blue for the oceans, as well as green and brown for the land masses Four gold dots on each of the quarter hour marks complete the look.

The colours in the enamel center are remarkably rich.

Apart from the dial center being different to that of the 2016 World Time Ref 5230, one other notable change is in the hour hand Here, it is rendered in the style of an exaggerated open-tipped hand, with a short body and a relatively large ring that is followed by a tip.

The hour hand in the Ref 5230 was more geometric, resembling an openworked pentagon with a tip.

Moving on to the periphery of the dial, there are the names of the 24 cities []

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