Press Release
Patek Philippe, Geneva
June 2018
The Patek Philippe Craftsmanship and Precision Competition: The Genevan manufacture
celebrates the ninth edition of its watch talent competition
On April 19 and 20, 2018, 18 students from six Swiss watchmaking schools participated in the ninth
Patek Philippe Craftsmanship and Precision Competition (Concours Bienfacture et Précision). The
prizes were awarded at the Patek Philippe Museum on Saturday, May 26, 2018. The ceremony took
place in the presence of Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern, jury chairman Carlos Dos Santos,
Human Resources Director Daniel Rochat, Watchmaking Division Director Laurent Moles, andTraining Center Director Jérémy Annen.
The ninth edition of this competition reaffirms Patek Philippe’s commitment to its partnerships with thesix Swiss watchmaking schools. It is based on an initiative that dates back to November 2008. The
objectives are to intensify the relations between the manufacture and the watchmaking schools, tocontribute to the training of future professionals, and to hand down the heritage and know-how ofPatek Philippe in the fields of precision adjustment and precision timekeeping.
Opportunities for young talentAs its name implies, the competition is aligned with Patek Philippe's fundamental values:
craftsmanship and precision. These values reflect the operating principles and the concept of quality
applied in the manufacture and mandated by the directives of the Patek Philippe Seal. The
competition motivates the students to achieve their training goals and provides an objective evaluationof their professional aptitude. It creates equal conditions for all participants.
As was the case in earlier years, the intention of the competition is to make trainees aware of thesignificance of artisanal skills and to identify the most promising and talented individuals. The term
artisanal skills refers to dependability and precision in manual finishing and timing processes. The
pedagogical goal of the competition is supported by the invaluable know-how and expertise of
members of the manufacture’s staff. It gives the participants a rare opportunity to work with amechanical movement that complies with the extremely strict directives of the Patek Philippe Seal.
The trainees are offered a glimpse into the exclusive realm of haute horlogerie.
The three best-ranked participants are given the opportunity to enrich their occupational experience
with an internship in the manufacture’s ateliers. Additionally, the first prize includes a week’s training
at a Patek Philippe Service Center abroad, a welcome annotation to the lucky winner’s curriculumvitae.
The technical tests are rated in the manufacture's ateliers under the supervision of a jury composed ofsenior Patek Philippe employees: Carlos Dos Santos (Supervisor, Precision Timing Ateliers 1 and jury
chairman), Luc Valet (Technical Instructor), André Gallopin (Horloger HAH), and Patrick Conus(Master watchmaker).

PATEK PHILIPPE SA GENEVE
Chemin du Pont-du-Centenaire 141 – 1228 Plan-les-Ouates
P.O. Box 2654 – CH - 1211 Geneva 2 - Switzerland
Tel. + 41 22 884 20 20 – Fax + 41 22 884 25 47 – www.patek.com

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Theoretical and practical introduction with focus on precision timing and balances
On the first day of the competition, the candidates of the 6 schools (3 per school) and their instructors
paid a visit to several departments of the manufacture (Spiromax® Balance Springs, Timing, HauteHorlogerie, International Customer Service). The tour was followed by a theoretical introduction and asubsequent series of practical exercises reserved for the candidates.
During the theoretical introduction, they were familiarized with the methods for starting and adjusting aGyromax® balance. At Patek Philippe, these processes are applied in virtually all domains ofproduction. Then, the trainees were acquainted with the practical requirements.
The examinations
During the competition, the participants are expected to assemble the balance and the balance cockin a Patek Philippe movement, to poise the balance, and to adjust it in the six positions as specified by
the standards and criteria of the Patek Philippe Seal. Additionally, the trainees must demonstrate theirawareness of the practical working guidelines that apply in the watch industry and especially thosedefined by Patek Philippe. This includes keeping the workbench neat, the tools in proper order andthe work well organized.
In assessing the candidates, the time taken for the assignments, the parts used, and obviously theresults of their work are all taken into consideration.
As in previous years, the results showed a very uniform picture with regard to the success andabilities of the candidates, which illustrates the consistently high level of training provided by all of theparticipating watchmaking schools. The ninth edition again confirmed that the skill levels of thestudents are consistently high.
Award presentation at the Patek Philippe Museum
On Saturday, May 26, 2018, President Thierry Stern and the members of the jury presented theawards to all prizewinners during a ceremony at the Patek Philippe Museum. The top threeprizewinners (see below) have the opportunity of working in the manufacture's ateliers: Here, they will
experience at first hand the company’s culture and philosophy, work on a manually wound and a selfwinding caliber, and be able to visit the different production facilities of Patek Philippe in Geneva(Plan-les-Ouates and Perly). During their internship week, they will also encounter students from anaffiliated watchmaking school (Hiko Mizuno College in Tokyo).
As every year, the winner of the first prize was invited to a week’s internship at the service center of
one of Patek Philippe’s subsidiaries. This year, it will be at Patek Philippe España in Barcelona.
The awards ceremony was preceded by a tour of the Patek Philippe Museum.
Patek Philippe very much looks forward to organizing the next "Concours Bienfacture et Précision"
with various participating watchmaking schools in 2019. The Genevan manufacture has a few
surprises in store for the trainees to celebrate the tenth edition of this sophisticated competition.

Continued 3Prizes
1st prize:

2nd prize:
3rd prize:
4th prize:
5th prize:

1 winner's trophy (large replica of a balance and hairspring that can be kept
by the winning school for one year and is then awarded to the next winner in2019) + 1 week of training at the Patek Philippe workshops in Geneva + 1week of training at Patek Philippe’s Spanish subsidiary in Barcelona + 1 toolset
2 weeks of training at the Patek Philippe workshops in Geneva + 1 tool set
1 week of training at the Patek Philippe workshops in Geneva + 1 tool set
1 tool set
1 tool set

Winners of the Patek Philippe Craftsmanship and Precision Competition 2018
1st rank
VILLEMIN Jana
CEJEF – Ecole des Métiers Techniques de Porrentruy (JU)SANTOS ALMEIDA
2nd rank
CIFOM – Ecole Technique du Locle (NE)André
3rd rank
ALLEMAN Audrey
CFP – Lycée Technique de Bienne (BE)
4th rank
SCARABELLO Nico
CIFOM – Ecole Technique du Locle (NE)
5th rank
LUSTENBERGERBBZ – Zeitzentrum Uhrmacherschule de Grenchen (SO)Valentin
The six participating schools
The following six schools participated in the Concours:• CFPT• ETVJ• CEJEF• CIFOM
• BBZ
• CFP

Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève
Ecole Technique de la Vallée de Joux
Ecole des Métiers Techniques de Porrentruy
Ecole Technique du Locle
Zeitzentrum Uhrmacherschule de Grenchen
Lycée Technique de Bienne