Patek Philippe has introduced a new Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronograph ref. 5924G, the brand’s first-ever chronograph in the Pilot watch line with a flyback chronograph. In a white gold case measuring 42mm wide and 13.05mm thick with 30m water resistance, the watch comes in two dial variations: a sunburst blue-gray, and a particularly military-inspired lacquered khaki green, each with a matching calfskin strap. Both feature gold applied numerals with luminescent coating. Inside the case, Patek has placed the Caliber CH 28‑520 C FUS, a flyback chronograph with a 60-minute counter, two time zones in the brand’s standard skeletonized sword hand “home time” format, and a day/night indicator running of the local time zone. Each Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronograph watch will run a cool 64,000 CHF.
Aesthetically this comes as a huge relief. My eyes found the original chronograph-style pushers a bit oversized and overbearing. But, then again, they did match the aesthetic of the 1930’s-style pilot watches Patek was trying to evoke, even if that style seemed pretty far out of line for the rest of the brand’s catalog. Something about a more traditional case layout and the inclusion of the chronograph feels like what the watch should have been all along. My main question is the ease of use for the new travel-time. While the Nautilus and Aquanaut Travel Time functions work through more subtle pushers, the new Pilot Travel Time Chronograph looks to have the buttons recessed into the case as you would find on a calendar watch from the brand, albeit maybe slightly larger.

I’d hate to have to pull out a pen to set the travel time, especially because it’s such an otherwise elegant and smooth solution for a second timezone. We’ll have to see how it works in an upcoming hands-on Patek Philippe Calatrava Pilot Travel Time Chronograph .