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What makes a Patek Philippe tick?
Patek Philippe head of watch development Phillip Barat believes that a Patek Philippe watch can last forever, perhaps echoing the manufacturer’s famous slogan of "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation”.
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In an exhibition in Singapore, Swiss luxury watch manufacturer Patek Philippe reveals its classics, as well as its latest creations, with some taking inspiration from Southeast Asia. (Patek Philippe/-)
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em>Watch manufacturer Patek Philippe invited journalists from around the world, including The Jakarta Post, to experience the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition 2019 in Singapore. The following is a report on the event.
Barat believes that a Patek Philippe watch can last forever, perhaps echoing the manufacturer’s famous slogan of "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation”.
“If someone comes back with a watch from 1839, we will repair it. As long as the mechanism is fine, it will work forever.
“For the vintage watches before the 1970s, we repair them in the way they were built. If the teeth are square, we will make them square as in the original,” Barat said, adding that newer watches received improvements during service when applicable.
Even more special is Patek Philippe’s aptly named Rare Handcrafts line, which could be described as wearable art because of the artistry involved in the creation.
Head of creations Sandrine Stern – who is also Thierry’s wife – says that nearly all of the line’s timepieces are unique one-offs, with the exception of wristwatches, which number between five to seven pieces globally.
The creation of a Rare Handcrafts timepiece utilizes three main techniques: enameling, marquetry and engraving, which take about three months. This does not include other processes like the design research and product rendering.
Meanwhile, Thierry noted that artisans were in short supply as there were no longer any schools to teach enameling or marquetry, meaning that current artisans shoulder the responsibility of teaching the younger generation.
“When I say they, there are not a lot of them, maybe just five to six people who are still able to make beautiful pieces at the highest level.
“Are they able to educate the new generation? Not all of them, as it’s not given to everybody to teach,” he said, noting that the Stern family was privy to many of the techniques.
The challenge now, Thierry says, is to find the right people that deserve to be taught the art form, while also having the artisan teach them the basics.
“Today, it’s not a danger because we can still do it, but it might be a threat in the future."
