amanico
[JLC Moderator]
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A view on the Patek Philippe Chronograph World Time 5935A and 5930P/G.
Patek loves to add a complication to the Chronograph: Annual or Perpetual Calendar, without or with a Minute Repeater, sometimes with a Tourbillon, we all know that.
It is less known that before 2016, Patek offered a world time with a chronograph! It was in 1940, and it was a piece unique.
Here it is:
In 2016, Patek unveiled the 5930, the ( flyback ) chronograph world time, which has a white gold 39, 5 mm case, 12, 86 mm high, with a typically finished blue dial.
In 2019, another version came, for Singapore, in a limited edition of 300 pieces, in white gold, too, with a very attractive smoked red dial.
Then, in 2021, we had ( and still have ) the platinum version with a green dial.
And to end,at least for the moment, the 5935 issued in 2022, which has a steel case, a tad bigger ( 41 mm ) and curiously, slightly thinner ( 12, 75 mm versus 12, 86 mm for the 5930s ).This 5935 has a copper / salmon dial and a different decoration, cross pattern, should I call it " chessboard "?
These are the facts. Now, if you allow me, some thoughts.
As a big fan of the Chronograph and World Time complications, I was and am very happy each time I see a brand playing this kind of card. Jaeger Lecoultre did it, Girard Perregaux, too, and now, Patek.
The different versions of this watch have a lot of qualities:
- The dials are awesome: The 5930 dials make me think of the 5110, especially the 5110P with its blue grey dial. The 5935 is very chic and a tad sporty at the same time, a bit like the 5960A. Well done!
- The case is very much to my taste. 39, 5 mm is a very good size, 41 m is not bad, either, and the thickness is not too important.
- The automatic movement is not bad, with a good autonomy of 55 hours, not badly decorated, even if it is not spectacular, and I would have preferred a manual winding movement, but it is not a deal breaker.
Now, the downsides, at least for me:
- The biggest: The too small chronograph counter. Look at what they did with the 5960A, for example. It is perfectly sized, it is harmoniously integrated to the main dial.
In the 5930/35, it really looks small, almost weird, out of proportion, in relation to the main dial... To put it differently, the size of the chrono sub dial reflects the importance of the chronograph for this watch... Like if it was only a pretexte more than a raison d'être. And you just have a 30 minutes counter, here, at the difference of the 5960...
The vintage piece unique doesn't have this problem, it doesn't have any sub dial at all, in fact, the chrono is just here to measure the respiration and the pulse, not the time. Hence, I don't see the inspiration very well and the link between the vintage and the modern.
- The smallest con is the choice of the metal. I would have preferred the blue dial with the platinum case, and the green dial in a white gold case. The smoked red is a beauty, too! The Steel 5935 is very tempting, I must say... If only I only had this dilemma!
I want to love the 5930/35, but I am not really sure I can live with this small subdial dedicated to the minutes of the chronograph...
Food for thought.
What do you think?
Best,
Nicolas
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A view on the Patek Philippe Chronograph World Time 5935A and 5930P/G.
Patek loves to add a complication to the Chronograph: Annual or Perpetual Calendar, without or with a Minute Repeater, sometimes with a Tourbillon, we all know that. It is less known that before 2016, Patek offered a world time with a chronograph! It was ...
It can’t fairly be compared with the 5960…
because of all the additional WT information taking up space. Otherwise, the subdial size appears consistent going back to the 5930.
Thank you for these very interesting thoughts.
The small subdial doesn't bother me personally: I'm quite happy with the focus remaining on the beautiful guilloché center pattern and the 24h and city rings. The blue is my favorite and, like you, I think it would've been great with a pt case. But I'm ju...
I understand, but as AmisT pointed,
the dial is already filled with information, so a smaller chrono subdial makes sense (at least to me).
Also, I wonder how often the chrono function is used such that the readability makes a big difference.
I’d argue that the WT function is used more.
Nice sum-up
A friend has got the P with the green dial and it is hefty and mesmerizing as long as you like green. The blue dial never appealed to me but I was intrigued by the steel Salmon version. However, I found it too big on my wrist in total dimensions. Now, thi...
Same thought process here.
I love the combo, but that tiny counter is virtually useless. The most readable I think is the steel due to better contrast, but here I’m not a fan of the salmon dial, too restrictive. Hard crowd to please )) Great write up mon ami!
The tiny chrono dial looks a bit too small to me...
...and if you are going to provide a clear back, why in hell would you print/engrave anything on it?
Not sure if it's only me but I find the dial of the steel version overall proportion a bit off.
I think the 39.5m versions look more balanced. The small subdial doesn't bother me as much since I've come to accept that it will not be used most of the time. But having it doesn't hurt either, although it is good from a functional standpoint.
Thank you for the comprehensive and insightful Nico Review!
I was v close to getting the 5935A…..
Hi Nicolas, good post on the WT chrono, especially on your thought process !
To me, adding a chrono function to WT is a good creation for a regular production, especially given that the previous one was a piece unique. The fact that it has only 30 minutes on the counter is a separate issue on functionality. In terms of the sub-dia...
Dear Nico, many thanks for your thoughtful post!
I’ve always found the Patek World Time Chronographs both aesthetically appealing and technically fascinating. Yet that too-small sub-dial has always been a stumbling block for me. The only explanation I can imagine is that the dial layout was already so f...
Thank‘s for the good post, no need to be so critical on the subdail, the harmony and symetry is perfect!
I am wearing the blue 5930 now since quite a while and was never bothered by the size of the subdial, but always amazed by the fine guioche, the integration of the world time function, colorwise just perfect. The less pronounciation of the chronograph fun...
Thanks for your review
The blue is most attractive to my eyes.. I like the blue city ring, then followed by the white chrono ring.. and I do think the 5935 looks abit off.. Like you, I am unsure if the tiny chrono min register will prevent me from enjoying the watch
Thank you for your post on the WTC…
I never understood the idea of a chronograph in a world time. Adding to a small chronograph subdial without the usual tachy or pulso reading and it’s definitely a pass. Now the WT Date is something I find useful especially for someone that prefers a date ...
Thank you! - What a fantastic write up, I enjoyed reading about the origins of these relatively modern WT Chrono's
I think the steel (5935a) has the best refinement and legibility for this linerage of WT's The day night ring has the appropriate contrast between the dial colour. If you look at the blue and LE variations, the black portion to indicate night gets lost in...