Press Release
Patek Philippe, Geneva
April 2018
The Patek Philippe Salons in Geneva present the “Rare Handcrafts 2018” exhibition
From April 19 to 28, at its Salons on Rue du Rhône, the Genevan manufacture will
showcase its entire collection of the rare handcrafts timepieces that premiered atBaselworld 2018. It is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to discover the fifty exceptional dome
table clocks, pocket watches and wristwatches before they continue their journey toprivate collections all over the world.
Undisputedly, Patek Philippe is one of the most dedicated guardians of grand traditions. Under
the auspices of president Thierry Stern and his wife, Creative Director Sandrine Stern, thefamily-owned manufacture spares no effort to preserve all artisanal skills that for centuries havebeen used to adorn timepieces and are intimately linked to watchmaking artistry: manualengraving, various grand-feu enameling techniques (miniature painting on enamel, cloisonné,champlevé, paillonné, flinqué, grisaille, plique-à-jour, Limoges enamel painting, etc.), as well as
gemsetting and hand guilloching. The Genevan brand is also committed to further evolving suchskills and broadening the portfolio by refining new crafts such as wood micromarquetry or
combining several techniques to create breathtaking works of art. Every year, the result of thisintensive involvement with tradition and innovation is presented by Patek Philippe with a rich
palette of one-of-a-kind treasures and limited editions that meld sublime craftsmanship with theultimate in creativity and aesthetics.
A rich harvest in 2018
The 2018 collection, highlighting fifty creations for dome table clocks, pocket watches andwristwatches (some with minute repeaters) experienced its debut at Baselworld and pays tributeto a suite of rare handcrafts manifested by an extensive range of creations that have taken theirinspiration from many different sources.
Engraving, the most venerable craft in the service of watchmaking, is prominently represented,
especially with the low-relief of a galleon on a pocket watch case. On the “Whirling Dervishes”
pocket watch, damascening is the ancient technique used to embed fine rose-gold threads intoa white-gold background.
Among the Grand Feu enameling techniques, cloisonné enamel – with its color cells enclosedby thin gold wires – enjoys prominence on many dome table clocks. This applies to the “CubistFantasy” model, for example, with its cubistic color ornaments, and to other unique pieces withthemes ranging from nature (birds, flowers, savannah at sunset, planets), to the fine arts
PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
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Continued 2(Persian porcelain, Art Deco butterflies) and to different world cultures (Indian women, Arabic
calligraphy). Cloisonné enamel is often adorned with gold dust, white- or yellow-gold paillons aswell as white- or yellow-gold leaf and used to decorate wristwatch dials with eclectic motifs fromaround the globe (Bhutan Textiles, Chart of the Caribbean, Tropical Plants, Tropical Fish).
The highly complex art of miniature painting on enamel is a grand Genevan specialty practiced
exclusively by an elite of the most gifted artisans. It unfolds its magic on the backs of pocket
watches or on wristwatch dials with sublime reproductions of a Vermeer painting or the exquisite
details of Portuguese azulejos.
For the 2018 lineup, the manufacture also commissioned other very rare and challenging
enamel arts such as enamel reliefs (also referred to as Fauré enamel) with its spatial renderings
that require the utmost in firing expertise, or the famous Longwy enamels on ceramics with its
motifs framed in black.
Wood micromarquetry is another specialty that has been promoted by Patek Philippe for severalyears. The Genevan manufacture executes this exclusive technique for adorning wristwatch
dials or the backs of pocket watches at the highest level of artistry. It is used to product small,fascinating images of incredible detail such as the “Roped Alpinists” composed of 262 parts andintarsias with 27 species of wood.
The Genevan manufacture also lets its creativity roam free with several “mixed-technique”
pieces that combine different artisanal skills. “Italian Scenes” is one example with cloisonné
enamel dials on manually guilloched backgrounds ennobled with miniature painting on enamel.
The three “Pictures in Relief” wristwatches feature hand-guilloched dials decorated with tiny
gold appliques.
The exhibition also showcases two new models from the current Patek Philippe collection. They,too, celebrate the rare handcrafts professions. The first one is a limited-edition Golden Ellipse
commemorating the 50th anniversary of this iconic watch. This model has a hand-engraved
black enamel dial and comes with matching cuff links. The second one is the new Ref. 5531
World Time Minute Repeater that always strikes local time. The center of its dial is adorned witha cloisonné enamel depiction of the Lavaux wine-growing region overlooking the shores of Lake
Geneva.
Numerous masterpieces reflecting contemporary inspirations combined with centuries-old skills
can be admired from April 19 to 21, 2018, at the exclusive “Global Finissage” in the Patek
Philippe Salons in Geneva. The exhibition is open to the public from 10 am to 6 pm.