Patek Philippe: A timeless icon that combines the legibility of a sideometer with the convenience of a travel time display

The general image of the pilot's watch genre is one that is always associated with standardized functionality. However, the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time, released in 2015, embodies the freedom of being unconstrained by such preconceived notions. Its extraordinary ability to incorporate the symbolism and legibility of a pilot's watch into a practical travel watch makes it a fitting new icon for Patek Philippe.

Patek Philippe "Calatrava Pilot Travel Time"

　The 1930s, a time when commercial airlines saw great growth, was also a time when pilot watches underwent rapid evolution. The Siderometer, a special watch designed solely for astronomical purposes, was produced for a short period in the mid-30s.

　This device, known as an hour angle clock or star finder, is designed to measure the position of the fixed stars in degrees. The hour hand rotates in 24 hours (360 degrees), with each mark representing 60 degrees. The minute hand rotates in 4 hours (60 degrees), with each mark representing 1 degree, and the second hand rotates in 4 minutes, with each mark representing 1 minute (1/60th of a degree). Because the hand cycle is different from that of a regular clock, it cannot display the time, but its design shares many similarities with aviation deck watches from the same era.

　Patek Philippe produced a small number of Sidelometer watches in 1936, two of which are housed in the Geneva Museum. The watches are equipped with a 19-ligne manual-winding movement. With a case diameter of over 50 mm, they stand out among the Patek Philippe archives.

　The museum added these two watches to its collection in 1991 and 2009. Taking inspiration from them, the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 5524, which debuted in 2015, also surprised enthusiasts and watch enthusiasts alike when it first came out as a unique Patek Philippe.

　The case diameter of 42mm is quite large compared to the traditional image of the Calatrava. The highly functional dial design evokes the image of a typical pilot's watch, but little was known about why Patek Philippe created a pilot's watch. When the 7234 with a 37.5mm case diameter was added in 18, the freedom of styling was greatly increased, and the Calatrava grew into an iconic model accepted by a wider range of people.

　What was extraordinary about Patek Philippe was that while clearly acknowledging its historical roots in the Sidelometer from the 1930s, it completely transformed the design, prioritizing functionality as a watch. And above all, by incorporating a travel time function, it was transformed into a practical complication. While restoring the functionality of the dual timer to a modern pilot's watch, by extracting DNA from the Sidelometer of yesteryear, the dial is also extremely easy to read.

　For example, the serif Arabic numerals are a typical detail of 1930s pilot watches, but rather than using paint for purely practical purposes, the company has used a three-dimensional applied finish to enhance the texture, which is typical of the company. The second time zone display hand (the hour hand coated with Super-LumiNova) can be fast-forwarded or reversed by operating the pushers at 8 and 10 o'clock, and the pointer date display at 6 o'clock also works in conjunction with this. The day & night display, which displays both home time and local time independently, is also extremely convenient when used in practice.

　With the development of air traffic control, the sidelometer ceased to function as a standardized navigational aid, and pilot's watches subsequently evolved into standardized navigational aids. The Calatrava Pilot Travel Time's high degree of freedom is perhaps due to its roots dating back to a time before this standardization. It is a rare timepiece that combines the convenience of a modern travel tool with the legibility inherited from pilots.