First introduced in 18k white gold during Baselworld 2015 and creating as many waves as ever intended amongst the press, watch collectors and the industry, the Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524G-001 was a very controversial watch as many ignored that the watch was based on old Patek DNA from scientific instruments released by the brand in the 1930s and exhibited at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva that we featured here. Today, at Baselworld 2018, things got much better with a new iteration of this watch in 18K rose gold with a gorgeous brown dial. The new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524R is also available for ladies in a matching piece at a smaller size. For this feature, we will focus on the men's version.
About the Watch
The new Patek Philippe ref. 5524R in 18K rose gold, just like its counterpart in 18K white gold with blue dial, features a case measuring 42 mm in diameter and equipped with the same automatic calibre 324 S C FUS as the Aquanaut Travel Time. This outstanding calibre includes a dual time zone mechanism indicating local and home time, local and "home" day/night indication in apertures, local date by hand indicator at 6 o'clock and a center sweep seconds hand. The dial on the watch is a stunning matte brown dial with rose gold applied Arabic Pilot style font numerals filled with very strong luminescent coating —as you will see in our images. The lume this time is blue instead of green as seen on the white gold model.
The strap is the same type of strap that comes on the white gold version but slightly darker in hue. The strap is extremely supple and well made featuring a contrast stitching inspired by the belts of the Pilots from the 1920s and 1930s. The pin buckle is highly polished matching the metal of the case.
The Movement
The new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time is of course fitted with a display case back like its white gold sibling and powered by the calibre 324 S C FUS composed of 294 parts and 29 jewels and which provides a power reserve of 45 hours.
On the Wrist & Pricing
On the wrist, the new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time ref. 5524R wears extremely comfortable and true to its size. If we loved the previous iteration of this watch three years ago, with this new rose gold model we are simply out of words that describe how good and perfect this watch is. Somehow the warmer tones of the rose gold and the brown dial work in favor of the ultra nice design of this watch.
Sticker Price $47,629 USD. For more info on Patek Philippe click here.
