Geneva, Switzerland — An exhibition devoted to elegance, style, the rare and the arts and crafts used in watch making is unfolding in Geneva on the shores of the lake in the Patek Philippe Salons which is exhibiting the largest Rare Handcrafts collection ever presented by the manufacture. In the house’s historic building in the rue du Rhône, the public will have the chance to discover the new Patek Philippe “Rare Handcrafts 2024” collection, with a total of 82 timepieces combining technical mastery with unlimited inventiveness. Live demonstrations by master engravers and enamelers are on the agenda as well. Every year, to perpetuate all the fine artistic crafts associated with the decoration of timepieces for almost five centuries, Patek Philippe unveils a new collection of one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces showcasing these precious skills. True to its “tradition of innovation” the manufacture also aims at enabling these exceptional techniques to progress, by constantly pushing back the boundaries of what is possible while drawing on ever-more diverse sources of inspiration – as evidenced by the rich creativity of the themes.

Morning on the Beach — Calatrava wristwatch with dial in wood marquetry by Patek Philippe.  This limited edition of ten watches with a dial in wood marquetry gives center stage to a surfer waiting for the waves on a California beach. To bring this little picture to life in all its finesse, from the play of light and shade on the young man to the outlines of the wavelets breaking on the shore, the marquetry maker cut out and assembled 100 tiny veneer parts, as well as 75 microscopic inlays, together spanning 23 species of wood of different colors, textures and veining. Dauphine-style hands in white gold with a pierced center fillet adorning the dial. The white-gold case is outfitted with a sapphire crystal case back protected by a hinged dust cover, affording a private view of the caliber 240 ultra-thin self-winding movement. The sporty touch continues through to the calfskin strap embossed with a Cordura pattern in blue with contrasting cream hand-stitching and a prong buckle in white gold. Photo courtesy Patek Philippe. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

The “Rare Handcrafts 2024” collection (82 pieces in total, comprising 27 dome clocks and small dome clocks, 3 table clocks, 9 pocket watches and 43 wristwatches) once again showcases a vast body of know-how, spanning both ancestral skills (Grand Feu cloisonné enamel, miniature painting on enamel, grisaille enamel, flinqué enamel, paillonné enamel, champlevé enamel, hand- engraving, hand-executed guilloché work, and gem setting) and techniques that are relatively new to horology, such as micro wood marquetry and Longwy enamel on faience. 

Portrait of a White Egret — Pocket watch in wood marquetry by Patek Philippe. This unique piece featuring a case back in wood marquetry gives center stage to a white egret and its delicate ornamental plumage, the details depicted with extraordinary finesse. The marquetry-maker cut out and assembled a remarkable 53 tiny veneer parts and 400 inlays, together spanning a palette of 18 species of wood of different colors, textures and veining. The gold dial was hand-guilloched with a sunburst motif recalling the plumage and coated with translucent blue enamel, according to the traditional technique of flinqué enameling. Applied Breguet numerals and leaf-shaped hands, all in white gold, indicate the time. An orange opal cabochon (0.29 ct) echoing the golden color of the bird’s bill embellishes the crown. This pocket watch is accompanied by a handcrafted stand in white gold decorated with a motif inspired by reeds, on an oval base in silver obsidian. It houses the caliber 17’’’ LEP PS manually wound movement with small seconds. Photos courtesy Patek Philippe. Handout via The Gourmet Gazette

The “Rare Handcrafts 2024” exhibition will be open to the public until April 27th, 2024 in the Patek Philippe Salons in Geneva, at 41 rue du Rhône, every day except Sunday, from 11am to 6pm (last entry at 5pm). Visitors are invited to register online beforehand on the website patek.com. The “Rare Handcrafts 2024” exhibition will then be presented from June 7th until June 16th, 2024 at the newly renovated Patek Philippe Salons in Bond Street, London. Special to The Gourmet Gazette. https://www.patek.com/en/home