For just about two weeks in Geneva, Patek Philippe has been opening the doors of its historic Salon headquarters (on Rue du Rhone) to the public for an exhibit of its Rare Handcrafts – watches and clocks that feature meticulous artistic dials that are created using a host of arts from miniature painting to marquetry and more. The exhibit, which comes to a close on April 23, 2022, is one of the most immersive experiences into fine wearable works of art.
Nature comes to life on the back of this pocket watch, as seen at the Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts … [+]
Patek Philippe
Just walking into this historic building, with its beautiful architecture, stunning chandeliers and amazing accoutrements, is a treat. But going upstairs to the exhibit reminds visitors that watchmaking is more than what goes inside the timepiece – even when the mechanical movements are highly complex and intricate.
The Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts exhibit in Geneva goes until April 23 before moving on to Paris … [+]
Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts
With artisans there to demonstrate their work, Patek Philippe’s Rare Handcrafts exhibit is all encompassing. From room to room, visitors can enjoy nearly 60 individual wristwatches, pocket watches and dome clocks that are decorated using an array of visual techniques. Highlights include a series of pieces inspired by the vibrant colors and musical night life of Cuba, and a smartly grouped collection of watches and clocks that bring nature at its finest to life. From lions, to zebras, panthers, elephants and rhinoceros to the tropical geckos, monkeys, birds and flowers, nature has never looked so good.
There are even several pieces dedicated to Patek Philippe’s home city of Geneva. These include a pocket watch with a swan on it, inspired by the birds of the lake, and created using a special marquetry technique and more than 220 pieces of wood. There is even a dome table clock with a sailboat-on-the-lake theme inspired by the regatta win of the brand’s honorary president Philippe Stern on Lake Geneva. That clock is made in enamel with nearly 40 feet of yellow-gold wire to create the cells for the painting. More than 60 colors combine to create the opaque, translucent and opalescent hues.
One series of watches and clocks at the Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts exhibit is dedicated to the … [+]
Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts exhibit
It is difficult to imagine the painstaking, time-consuming work that went into each of these artisanal masterpieces. Patek Philippe is committed to preserving the skills of these artists, many of which have learned their trade from generation to generation over the past 500 years.
Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts exhibit boasts nearly 60 pieces created for the 2022 exhibit.
Patek Philippe
To this day, the brand creates new clocks and watches annually that underscore these arts, including grand feu cloisonné enamel, paillone enamel, miniature painting on enamel, engraving, hand guilloche, marquetry and other techniques. The exhibit will travel, for the first time ever, to Paris next, with a show from May 14-22 in a gallery on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.
