The Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot’s Travel Time was designed to be the ideal companion for travelers. Will this new watch – inspired by the lesser-known Patek Philippe Pilot’s replica Watches – meet that requirement? We explore the watch in this in-depth test from the WatchTime archives. Original photo by Patrick Mokesch.
Patek Philippe has reinvented an aspect of itself with the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time. When the Geneva-based company launched its first white gold watch in 2015, it received great attention. A unique specimen, unlike the much-loved sporty models in its Nautilus and Aquanaut collections, Patek Philippe is primarily known for its classic designs.
Unlike the white gold version with its matte blue dial and light-colored case, 2018 rose gold model emphasizes elegance – supported by the warm tones of the case, the sunburst motif on the dial and the gradient of color tones from brown to black, as well as other details such as the rose gold numerals with luminescent coating and the rose gold pronged clasp. These features combine to present a unique and elegant pilot’s copy watch.
This so-called “GMT” function, which is very common in watches, usually has a dedicated 24-hour hand that is adjusted in hourly steps via the crown. If you can adjust the 12-hour hand independently, it proves to be more practical for travel.
Patek Philippe has found a solution to these problems. Essentially, this involves two pushers for travel time, which adjust the local time in both directions, as well as two day/night indicators on the dial, allowing both times to be read visually in 12-hour format. In addition, the date also advances in both directions when setting the local time, so no correction is needed here either.
This is not the first time this movement has been used for such a function – it has powered the classic Calatrava model and was used in the Aquanaut and Nautilus in combination with a chronograph. Now, for the first time, Patek Philippe has equipped the Calatrava Pilot with a system designed to prevent accidental adjustment of the time zone. The correction button can be locked in position by turning it a quarter of a turn clockwise. If turning a quarter turn is too complicated, it is also perfectly possible to leave the pushers in an unlocked position.