While not historically known for their tool watches, Patek Philippe surprised the world in Baselworld 2015 with their Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524G. It was radically different in design to what we have come to expect from the de facto king of Swiss watches and this release signalled a shift in focus to younger consumers.
For years the Calatrava collection had been simple, elegant, and classical – a hallmark of Patek Philippe's own identity as a watchmaking Maison. The Pilot Travel Time took all of these design choices that one might expect from a traditional-looking Patek and delivered them in a rather bold and unconventional way. While you might be wondering what business Patek Philippe might have in producing pilot watches, it's interesting to note that the Maison actually produced pilot watches in the 1930s (the Ref. P0844, look it up, it’s pretty interesting), which now is part of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. Ultimately proving to be a controversial release, the new Travel Time grew in popularity thanks to its status as a tasteful marriage between Patek Philippe's typical refined elegance and the rugged reliability of a pilot's watch.
Featuring a tranquil blue dial with large gothic applied numerals to match its cathedral hands, the Ref. 5524G is remarkably legible thanks to its pilot watch DNA, yet staggeringly stylish, as Patek themselves would ensure. Featuring a pointer-date subdial at 6 o'clock with a white skeleton hour hand that synchronizes with the home-time AM/PM aperture on its right, mirroring the local time's AM/PM aperture on the left, the Ref. 5524G's dial is clean, symmetrical, and entirely useful for the well-traveled amongst us.
With its 18-carat white gold case sporting two mushroom-style screw-down pushers on the left at 8 and 10 o'clock (which allows the user to adjust the second time zone forward or back), the Ref. 5524G's 42mm case construction is quite balanced on the wrist as its standard crown at 3 o'clock intersects the line between the two pushers. Powered by Patek Philippe’s in-house Cal. 324 S C FUS movement, the Ref. 5524G displays the finest of Patek Philippe's craftsmanship beneath its exhibition caseback, in keeping with the Maison's legendary standards of craftsmanship, artistry, and detail.
An excellent example of pushing boundaries and exploring unchartered routes, the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Ref. 5524G is an incredible watch that provides an alternative to the brand’s more traditional and understated pieces.
