A fake Patek Philippe Aviator Travel Time 5390 is a replica of a gold pilot-style dual-time watch, and the tells are consistent: two oblong pushers on the left case flank that jump the local-time hand, a 42 mm round case, and a 24-hour day/night indicator. The genuine watch runs Patek Philippe's in-house 324 S C FUS automatic caliber, so any copy with a decorated third-party movement is a replica no matter how sharp the dial looks.
What Is the Patek Philippe Aviator Travel Time 5390?
The Aviator Travel Time is Patek Philippe's pilot-style dual-time model, launched in the mid-2010s as the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time and best known today under reference 5524. It pairs a luminous legible dial with a second time zone and a local-time quickset driven by two pushers at 8 and 10 o'clock.
Factory versions come in white gold (5524G) and rose gold (5524R), both at 42 mm. The 5390 number that circulates online is mostly how replica sellers list the model rather than how Patek Philippe labels it.
How Can You Tell a Fake Aviator Travel Time From the Real One?
Start with the pushers and the movement, then work outward to the dial and the case finishing. Almost every replica fails at least one of these checks.
- Pusher function: on the genuine watch the 8 o'clock pusher steps the local-time hand back one hour and the 10 o'clock pusher steps it forward. Replicas often use decorative pushers or ones that advance the date instead.
- Movement: the real caliber 324 S C FUS beats at 21,600 vph with a signed rotor and Geneva striping. Replicas usually run a Miyota 9015 derivative or a Chinese dual-time module.
- Weight and feel: solid white or rose gold is dense. A stainless-steel replica of the same 42 mm size sits noticeably lighter in the hand.
- Dial printing: genuine text is razor sharp under magnification on grained blue or brown lacquer. Copies show fuzzy edges and uneven graining.
- Hallmarks and engraving: caseback markings, gold hallmarks, and the buckle engraving are deep and even. Replicas use shallow laser etching.
What Movement Do Replica Aviator Travel Time Watches Use?
Most replicas run a modified Miyota 9015 or a Chinese automatic with a bolt-on GMT module. Higher grades add a decorated rotor and engraved bridges, but none reproduce the 324 S C FUS architecture or the pusher-driven hour jump.
That detail matters because the pushers are the whole point of the watch. If the 8 and 10 o'clock pushers do nothing, the second time zone is set through the crown instead and the watch is a cosmetic copy only.
What Should You Check Before Buying a Replica?
- Ask the seller to confirm pusher function and the exact movement inside, in writing.
- Request photos of the actual watch, not factory stock images.
- Compare case diameter and thickness against the 42 mm genuine spec.
- Confirm the return window and whether a strap or bracelet is included.
- Review payment, customs, and shipping terms before sending money.
Is Buying a Fake Patek Philippe Legal?
In the United States, buying or importing counterfeit goods is illegal, and the FTC notes that counterfeits fund criminal activity and arrive without warranty support. Customs can seize shipments, and reselling a replica as genuine is trademark infringement and fraud.
Anyone shopping in this category should treat a replica as an as-is novelty item rather than an investment or a serviceable watch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Aviator Travel Time 5390 a real Patek Philippe reference?
Patek Philippe's pilot dual-time watch is catalogued as the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time, most often under reference 5524. The 5390 label shows up mainly in replica listings.
How much does a genuine Aviator Travel Time cost?
Retail for a gold Pilot Travel Time runs well into five figures in US dollars, and secondary-market prices stay close to that. Replica pricing is a small fraction of the figure.
Do replicas keep accurate time?
A Miyota-based replica can keep reasonable time, but the second-time-zone function is usually the first thing to stop working.