New Patek Philippe Calatrava Travel Time Ref. 5224R-001
Air travel is back in vogue as countries look to put the pandemic behind them forever. A growing number of countries are lifting border restrictions to boost tourism, most notably Japan and Taiwan in recent months. Now is a perfect time for watchmakers to bring back travel time swiss watch men. Patek Philippe apparently got the memo early on and has released at least one a year for the past few years. In 2022, we see a rather leftist reference to the travel time of the almanac. 5326G. This year, despite the new World Timer model, the brand has three new travel-related offerings at Watches & Wonders. The first two were the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronographs with blue or green dials – the first time a chronograph complication was introduced in the Patek Philippe Pilot's Watch collection. The third, and arguably the most innovative new product the Swiss giant has released so far this year, is the Calatrava 24-hour travel time reference watch. 5224R-001.
Patek Philippe Calatrava Travel Time Ref. 5224R-001
What makes Ref. 5224R-001 unique is clear at a glance: it uses two central hands to simultaneously display a 24-hour display of local time and home time—a first for Patek Philippe. However, this is not the first time a manufacturer has used a 24-hour display. That honor goes to pocket watch number P-527, manufactured in 1905 for the Brazilian retailer Gondolo & Labouriau. For reference. 5224R-001, the good folks at Patek Philippe have reinterpreted the 24-hour display in a resolutely modern spirit. Here we give you details and our real thoughts on this most atypical Calatrava reference.
Case, Dial and Hands
Case of new Ref. 5224R-001 comes in rose gold color and measures 42mm x 9.85mm. Its modern dimensions complement its elegant design. Inspired by the Calatrava weekly calendar Ref. 5212A, the fully mirror-polished case is distinguished by its layered lugs. In order to maintain its smooth lines, the case does away with the dual time correction pushers, opting instead for a patented correction system using the crown. While a bit casual for a Calatrava, the wrist watches for men comes on a blue calfskin strap with a nubuck finish and cream stitching that complements the dial.
Omg what a beautiful dial this is. It's easy to go overboard trying to be trendy and end up with a tacky watch face, or play it safe and look absolutely boring. But here, Patek Philippe strikes the perfect balance between sportiness and tradition. The navy blue dial comes in a variety of finishes, from the satin-brushed hour ring to the delicate snailed seconds subdial. Applied to it are Arabic numerals, baton hour markers and cabochon 5-minute markers—all in rose gold with a luminescent coating. Telling the time in hours and minutes are syringe hands, something Patek has really dabbled in in recent years. The local time pointer is coated with luminous material, while the home time pointer is hollowed out to show the difference. The small seconds hand is sword-shaped and painted with white varnish.
REAL SETTING The Ref. 5224R differs from other Patek Philippe watches in that it exclusively displays the time in 24-hour format; a first in the brand's watch history. Interestingly, the 24-hour is at 6 o'clock instead of the more traditional 12 o'clock. Inverting displays has several benefits. On the one hand, it's a little more intuitive to use during the day when the owner is more likely to be awake. On the other hand, the hour hand does not obscure the seconds display during the day, likewise, when the owner is more likely to read the time.
sports
Driving reference. 5224R-001 high quality cheap watches is a 240 part, 44 jewel Caliber 31-260 PS FUS 24H. The base caliber 31-260, a caliber very familiar to the manufacturer, began as the movement for the annual calendar regulator Ref. The 5235 was launched in 2011. Ten years later, the movement was upgraded and fitted to the exemplary In-Line Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5236, with an increase in operating frequency, an increase in mainspring torque, and a change to a heavier platinum rotor. Then, just last year, Caliber 31-260 came into play again, this time powering the polarizing Annual Calendar Travel Time Ref. 5326; applied for no less than eight patents. The latest edition of Caliber 31-260 by Ref. The 5224R can be seen as a simplified version of the one in ref. 5326, benefitting from three of eight patents related to optimizing precision, durability, efficiency and user-friendliness. One of these user-friendly apps is the aforementioned patented correction system for dual time displays. Instead of actuating unsightly pushers, the watch owner can set the second time zone (in one-hour increments, backward or forward) simply by pulling the crown out to the middle position. The device is modeled after that used in ref. 5326.
The Caliber 31-260 PS FUS 24H has a finger bridge construction reminiscent of old pocket watch movements, which contrasts with the Ref.’s rather modern color scheme and dial design. 5224. Bearing the Patek Philippe seal, it goes without saying that the movement is exquisitely crafted. Geneva waves span each bridge in perfectly parallel rows. Every edge is chamfered and polished, and every wheel is brushed. It's also a joy to see so many sharp outward angles, despite the lack of inward angles. Despite blending into the background, the platinum micro-rotor with the engraved Calatrava cross is, ironically, the most striking part of the movement. Typically, Patek Philippe cheap luxury watches winding rotors are crafted in rose gold, so it was refreshing to see platinum in a silvery hue.
competitive landscape
Travel Time and GMT watches are a dime a dozen, but something like the Ref. 5224 is just the opposite. Few watches can centrally display local time and home time on the same 24-hour track. One reason may be that for the vast majority of people, this is not the most intuitive way to read time. But that shouldn't stop mechanical watch makers from doing so, because if gut instinct was the goal, they'd make iPhones instead. That's the Calatrava 24 Hour Display Travel Time Reference. The 5224R-001 stands out. Combine that with superior craftsmanship and a balanced design, and it's really, almost impossible not to like. referee. 5224R-001 is a regular production.
If reference. The 5224R has to be associated with attire, smart casual, making it a versatile watch for everyday wear.
You'll be hard-pressed to find a watch like the Ref. 5224R, but from another perspective, it is essentially a refined dual GMT cheap watches for sale. The first choice that comes to mind is Chopard LUC GMT One rose gold. While GMT watches tend to be sporty, this watch is very elegant. As with any typical GMT watch, only the time in the second time zone is displayed in 24-hour format (unlike the Ref. 5224, both local time and home time are displayed in 24-hour format). The LUC GMT One also features a concealed date display at 6 o'clock, which some consider a must-have feature for a GMT watch due to its functional nature. Defend Ref. for lack of date. 5224: Adding a date display would almost certainly destroy the purity of the dial.
Many still consider the Calatrava line the last bastion of men's dress watches, which should remain utterly classic and pure. The more recent additions to the historic collection are, by Patek Philippe standards, more adventurous. Some saw these newcomers as anomalies to be avoided, others as trailblazers to keep the series from becoming obsolete. Everyone else straddles the fence. To be fair, while Ref. 5224R-001 is certainly not old-school, it is also one of the more restrained of the "trendy" Calatravas. In fact, both camps have plenty of reasons to appreciate this watch. Let's not forget that it is one of, if not the most original Calatrava replica limited edition watches in a long time. For us, that's reason enough to be a reference. 5224R-001 Thumbs up.
