News: Patek Philippe unveils Minute Repeater World Time “Chuo”
Patek Philippe’s latest addition to its Minute Repeater World Time range is created for the Tokyo 2023 Watch Art Grand Exhibition, and we think “art” and “grand” are two words that accurately describe this truly sensational piece.
First launched in 2017, the Patek Philippe Minute Repeater World Time was a major milestone in horological innovation, becoming the first minute repeater to chime the local time, as opposed to home time.
The new reference 5531R-014 features Patek’s striking Grand Feu cloisonné enamel dial centre, this time depicting the historical Chuo district in central Tokyo—with the name of the city appearing in red on the silvery opaline city disk. Previous versions have depicted the New York skyline and Lake Geneva.
It also includes place names from around the world printed in black along the circumference. The 24-hour disk in 18k rose gold features a "day" zone with engraved, brown-tinted hour numerals, an engraved sun symbol, a brown-tinted "night" zone with engraved hour numerals and a moon symbol.
The stunning 40.2mm case in 18k rose-gold features a hand-guilloched Clous de Paris motif and pierced lugs. Flip this piece over, and you’ll find two interchangeable casebacks. One in sapphire-crystal bearing the transfer-printed inscription "Patek Philippe Tokyo", the other in solid 18k rose gold, engraved with the same wording. The case is protected against humidity and dust, but it isn’t water-resistant, so any lucky owners would be wise to leave this beauty at home on beach days.
Powering this World Time, then, is the Swiss automatic Patek Philippe ultra-thin, in-house Caliber R 27 HU, with 45 jewels, 21,600 vph and a power reserve of 48 hours. It bears the Patek Philippe Seal hallmark and boasts a 22k gold micro-rotor with guilloche decoration—visible through the open caseback.
Limited to just 15 pieces, this is an exceptional watch from the brand that pretty much defined the world time genre back in the 1930s.
Case | 18k rose gold
Dimensions | 40.2mm
Dial | Grand Feu cloisonné enamel dial
Crystal | Sapphire crystal
Water-resistance | Moisture and dust protected but not water resistant.
Movement | Automatic Patek Philippe Caliber R 27 HU
Power Reserve | 48 hours
Frequency | 21,600 VpH
Strap | Alligator leather
Functions | Hours and minutes. Minute repeater chiming the local time. 24 timezones and local time.
RRP | On request
