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Patek Philippe Complications Travel Time 42mm Rose Gold
Ref. 5224R-001
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Stepping up in Patek Philippe's range
The 5224R-001 is a relatively recent rethinking of Patek's long-standing Travel Time complication, and it departs from its predecessors in a specific way: the pushers traditionally mounted in the case band, used to advance the local hour hand, have been removed entirely. The crown now handles all time-zone adjustment through a three-position system, which keeps the case flanks clean and the proportions of those curved two-tier lugs — drawn from the 1950s reference 2512 — undisturbed. At 9.85mm the case sits surprisingly low for a 42mm rose gold watch, and the fully mirror-polished surfaces mean it reads more formally than the size might suggest. The dial layout deserves attention: midnight falls at 6 o'clock rather than at the top, so the 24-hour display reads naturally against daylight hours without mental arithmetic. The deep blue holds well across changing light. Powering it is the calibre 31-260 PS FUS 24H, built with an off-centre platinum micro-rotor and finished to the standard the Patek Philippe Seal demands — traditional finger bridges, meticulous decoration throughout. The navy calfskin strap with its nubuck finish and cream hand-stitching is well-matched to the dial, and the solid rose gold buckle closes the loop on the case material without compromise.
- Reference
- 5224R-001
- Brand
- Patek Philippe
- Case size
- 42mm
- Case thickness
- 9.85mm
- Lug width
- 21mm
- Case material
- Rose gold
- Case shape
- Round
- Dial
- Blue
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 31-260 PS FUS 24H
- Functions
- GMT, Small seconds
- Water resistance
- 30m
- Bracelet / strap
- Leather strap
- Strap colour
- Blue
- Clasp
- Buckle
- Lume
- Luminous
- Condition
- Pre-owned
- Retailer
- Goldsmiths
Additional specifications
- Power reserve
- 48 hours
Learn more about Patek Philippe
Antoine Norbert de Patek, a Polish cavalry officer exiled after the November Uprising, founded a watch business in Geneva in 1839 with his countryman François Czapek. The partnership dissolved after six years, and in 1845 Patek took on the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding crown. The firm became Patek Philippe in 1851.
That single invention mattered more than any other in the company's early history: it removed the winding key, and every modern watch descends from it. Queen Victoria bought a Patek pendant watch at the Great Exhibition the same year, establishing the royal patronage the house has traded on ever since.
The Stern family, dial manufacturers and long-standing suppliers, bought the company in 1932 during the Depression. Four generations later it remains in their hands — the last independent family-owned manufacture in Geneva, currently led by Thierry Stern.
Patek's reputation rests on complications: the Calibre 89 of 1989 carried thirty-three of them, and the Grandmaster Chime remains among the most complicated wristwatches made. The Nautilus, drawn by Gérald Genta in 1976 as a steel luxury sports watch, became an unlikely commercial phenomenon four decades after launch.
Production stays deliberately modest, in the tens of thousands annually, and every watch carries the Patek Philippe Seal, an in-house standard the company adopted in 2009 after abandoning the Geneva Seal as insufficiently strict.
- 1839
- Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek found the firm in Geneva.
- 1845
- Adrien Philippe joins, bringing the keyless winding crown.
- 1851
- The company is renamed Patek Philippe; Queen Victoria buys a watch.
- 1932
- The Stern family acquires the company.
- 1976
- The Nautilus debuts, designed by Gérald Genta.
- 2009
- The Patek Philippe Seal replaces the Geneva Seal.
Also in 6 collections
This watch appears in Automatic Watches (1,459), Leather Strap Watches (935), Blue Dial Watches (773), Pre-Owned, Ex-Display & Vintage Watches (271), GMT Watches (208) and Solid Gold Watches (108).
2-year Goldsmiths warranty
What the specifications mean
A slim watch on leather, made for wearing with a shirt.
Strengths
- Sapphire crystal, which resists scratching
- Luminous hands and markers for low light
- Second time zone for travelling
- Sits in the lower half of Patek Philippe's range as we list it
Worth knowing
- 30m means keeping it away from water
Compare alternatives
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| Specification | 5224R-001 | 406001066490 | 18-1260-4005 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £36,750 | £36,995 | £34,950 |
| Case size | 42mm | 41mm | 45mm |
| Water resistance | 30m | 50m | 30m |
| Movement | Automatic | Automatic | Automatic |
| Strap | Leather strap | Stainless steel bracelet | Leather strap |
| Power reserve | 48 hours | 40 hours | 50 hours |
| This watch |
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Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
No. At 30m it will survive rain and handwashing, but not submersion of any kind.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 48 hours fully wound — enough to survive a night off the wrist, but not a full weekend.
What size strap does it take?
21mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's.
Cheapest place to buy
Goldsmiths at £36,750, pre-owned. No UK retailer we track lists this reference new.
Is this available new?
Not from the UK retailers we track. This reference is listed as pre-owned only, at £36,750 from Goldsmiths. Goldsmiths test every pre-owned watch for authenticity, timekeeping and water resistance, and warrant it for 2 years — the same term they give on a new watch.
Who are Goldsmiths?
Goldsmiths has been selling watches in Britain since 1778 and is part of the Watches of Switzerland Group, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. They are an authorised dealer, so a watch comes with the manufacturer’s own warranty.
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