Patek Philippe enriches its collection with alluring continuity
With its decorated history of nearly two centuries, Patek Philippe has become a cultural phenomenon, and the value of its rare and iconic timepieces increases year-upon-year, boasting record-breaking prices at notable auctions. This 2016, the family-run Swiss watch company continues its legacy with the fresh dose of fascinating pieces to its regular collections
Definitely one of the most recognised names in the watchmaking industry, Patek Philippe does not only sit among Switzerland's oldest manufactures, but also carries the crown being the oldest and last independent family-owned watchmaking company in Geneva. Since Patek Philippe has stayed in the family for an uninterrupted legacy of over 175 years, it has retained its total creative freedom, to entirely design, produce and assemble what experts agree to be the finest timepieces in the world – following the vision of its founders Antoine Norbert de Patek (1839) and Adrien Philippe (1845).
In the hands of the Stern family since 1932, the company is managed today by a board of directors composed of Honorary President Philippe Stern, President Thierry Stern, and CEO Claude Peny. During his years as President, Philippe Stern marked the history of the company with significant building projects to reinforce its industrial infrastructure and independence, with the creation of the Patek Philippe Museum, and with the launch of exceptional timepieces such as the Calibre 89. Appointed President in 2009, Thierry Stern aims to ensure that Patek Philippe remains at the leading edge of watchmaking technology and research into material sciences, thus contributing to the continual improvement of the long-term quality and reliability of its timepieces.
In 2009, Patek Philippe launched its proprietary quality label for mechanical watches. This Patek Philippe Seal attests to the utmost quality of its timepieces, far above and beyond official standards, by integrating all competencies and features of relevance in manufacturing, precision and lifelong maintenance. The Patek Philippe Seal applies to the entire watch and is the only seal of quality that assures lifetime maintenance of the watch, regardless of the date of completion. It is governed by detailed regulations and an independent supervisory body. The Patek Philippe Seal embodies all the company’s values and quality standards, and Messrs. Stern act as its main guardians.
Indeed, crafting timepieces of the highest quality and reliability, the distinctiveness and exclusivity of Patek Philippe creations makes them rare and precious pieces, an exceptional legacy that has been passed along from one generation to the next. Investment in pioneering new materials and ultramodern technology, and maintaining the time-honoured expertise and customs of Swiss watchmaking, while meeting the industry’s meticulous criteria of quality control, has proven to be a successful formula for the brand. An impressive repertoire of more than 100 patents attests to this. Patek Philippe’s main workshop is based in Geneva at Plan-les-Ouates, and the extraordinary brand has significant number of points of sales across the globe.
Through the years, the brand has grown its notable reputation and staggering passion for the pursuit of horological superiority. Up to this day, it operates under the pillars of ten fundamental values of the Genevan watchmaker: Independence, tradition, innovation, quality and craftsmanship, rarity, value, aesthetics, service, emotion, and legacy. This year, the manufacture enriches its regular collection with seductive continuity.
As a first big surprise at Baselworld 2016, Patek Philippe presents a new model in the regular collection that pairs two highly popular complications in one watch. The second première is a new model that celebrates the 20th anniversary of a genuine bestseller. The third debut graces feminine wrists, the fourth is a grand classic that was subtly reworked, and number five once again demonstrates that no complication is too challenging for Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300
Patek Philippe has announced a changing of the guard at the top of its ranking for the most complicated regularly produced wristwatches. The new Number 1 is the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300 with a novel and distinctive exterior. Featuring 20 complications, among them 5 strikework functions, it redefines the benchmark. Its hand-guilloched white-gold case clearly distinguishes it from the totally hand-engraved Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 that was crafted in a limited 7-watch commemorative edition.
World Time Chronograph Ref. 5930
Aficionados, collectors, and connoisseurs of mechanical timepieces will be awed when the see the new Patek Philippe World Time Chronograph Ref. 5930. It combines the Genevan manufacture's patented World Time mechanism with a proprietary self-winding chronograph movement that comes in a round white-gold case and a dial with a blue, manually guilloched center.
World Time watch Ref. 5230
The new World Time watch Ref. 5230 supersedes all previous models of its lineage because politically motivated modifications of the World Time order called for a new time-zone scale. Patek Philippe took this as an opportunity to subtly rework the dial and case of the new Ref. 5230.
Annual Calendar Ref. 5396
The second debut is the Annual Calendar Ref. 5396 that very tastefully recalls the 20th anniversary of the patented Annual Calendar (its successful career began in Basel in 1996 with the Ref. 5035 that a few months later was voted Watch of the Year). Since then, the Annual Calendar has been crafted in 21 versions including ladies’ diamond-set models with mother-of-pearl dials, not to mention the numerous variations in platinum, yellow gold, white gold, and rose gold with eclectic dial designs. The new Ref. 5396 is model No. 22.
Calatrava "Timeless White" Ref. 7122
For ladies, Patek Philippe is presenting the Calatrava "Timeless White" Ref. 7122 for the woman's wrist. With the timeless beauty of the bright white dial, innovative gemsetting artistry featuring white flawless diamonds, and a refined case design, it is compellingly seductive.
