Patek Philippe: The 175th Anniversary of the Shining Star

Patek Philippe celebrated its 175th anniversary on Monday and TheWATCHES.TV was delighted to witness, again, the level of richness and consistency this family-owned watch company demonstrated from past to present. Indeed, Patek Philippe stands at the pinnacle of high-end watchmaking for having pushed the boundaries of the demanding art of complex watchmaking on a regular base, perfectly mixing its commercial development all the while extending its know-hows, both technically and artistically. As you will see in our video, the aura of the brand shines beyond compare among the journalists and collectors we interviewed. Many reasons established this reputation. Patek Philippe’s watches are among the most expensive in the world; consequently, the independence of the brand is synonymous with assurance for collectors and clients, in knowing that commercial interests are not the only criteria guiding the management. Patek Philippe has always been deeply involved in developing and preserving the art of mechanical watchmaking, particularly when this industry went through hard times during the « quartz crisis » of the 80’s. For instance, Patek Philippe was a major - and mostly single - supporter of the Geneva Hallmark, before they introduced their own internal Patek Philippe seal in 2009; furthermore, it ordered enamel dials and clocks from craftsmen when this technique had fallen out of interest - and before it became a must again. Technically, Patek Philippe is also renowned as the master of chiming watches for the purity, intensity and duration of the notes. Today, Patek Philippe is said to produce about 60’000 pieces a year and more than 2000 people contribute to this achievement. Stunning novelties were launched for this 175th anniversary; one in particular is the Grandmaster Chime Ref.5175: it holds 20 complications, required 7 years of R&D and, most importantly maybe, only 6 pieces will be available for CHF. 2,5 millions each - as the 7th one will go to the Patek Museum. The Chiming Jump Hour Ref. 5275 is another new piece which rings the hour automatically and presents a refined engraved dial. The World Time Moon Ref.5575 and 7175 are full of poetry because the moon now revolves in the middle of the dial, set in a large night sky. The Multi-Scale Chronograph Ref. 5975 and 4675 bring the ancient counters to mind but their aesthetic are more than contemporary in the end. In one word, Patek Philippe proves its indisputable mastery with a sublime collection of « métiers de haut artisanat » watches.  

If you want to read more about this evening and the timepieces presented, please visit our friends' specialized website www.quillandpad.com:

Dawn On The Lake: Celebrating Patek Philippe’s Grandiose 175th Anniversary With Art And Collaboration

Patek Philippe’s 175th anniversary celebration, which took place on October 13, 2014 at the brand’s impressive factory in Geneva, was a firework of artistic expression.

Not only was this true for the many timepieces introduced in honor of the anniversary, but also for the event itself, which was uncharacteristically colorful.

The explosion of color served an important purpose: it heralds a new era at Patek Philippe, an era that begins with the dawn of a new, yet familiar, future. Naturally, today all eyes are on the big introductions: the Grandmaster Chime, the Chiming Jump Hour, the World Time Moon, and the Multi-Scale Chronographs. These are all extremely interesting pieces from both a collector’s standpoint and from the way they combine functionality with an artistic expression of heritage. We will certainly come back to some of these in the not-too-distant future.   Click here to read the full story  

Patek Philippe’s 175th Anniversary Is A Swirl Of (Grandmaster) Flash And Emotion

Bigger. Better. More. Though it may not seem possible, or even necessary, Patek Philippe, arguably the most traditional and respected of Swiss manufactures, has fully outdone itself in terms of both the anniversary timepieces and the way they were introduced to guests. But I do suppose that to stay on top of your game, you must continue to better yourself again and again. And this Patek Philippe has certainly done with the presentation of watches created in honor of the esteemed brand’s 175th anniversary. Click here to read the full story