Consigned by an important private collector, this 1940s-yellow gold watch is a superb example of one of the most famous and significant watchmaking inventions of the 20th century, Louis Cottier’s world time system.

Reference 605 HU
From 1939 to 1964 Louis Cottier and Patek Philippe produced a total of 95 pieces, for a total production of 68 watches in yellow gold and 27 in pink gold. Reference 605 was available with a plain metal dial or a unique cloisonné enamel dial. The latter could depict individual continents, hemispheres or even the entire planet.

Heure Universelle & Louis Cottier
The world time or “Heure Universelle” mechanism was invented in 1931 by the celebrated Geneva watchmaker Louis Cottier (1894-1966). The technology was incorporated into watches by several of Switzerland's leading watch firms, including Patek Philippe (ref. 605, 1415, 2523), Vacheron & Constantin (ref. 3372), Agassiz and Rolex (ref. 4262). Cottier further improved the system in 1953 with the ability to adjust the city disk via a secondary crown, this allowed Patek Philippe to eventually patent a system in 1958 where the hour hand could be moved without affecting the regular progression of the minute hand.

A reference 605 HU in pink gold is described and illustrated in Patek Philippe Museum - Patek Philippe Watches - Volume II, p. 339, Inv. P-207.