GRAND AMBITI NS
As timepiece connoisseurs will agree, Patek Philippe is less a watch brand as it is a horology institution, given its 178-year history and notable contributions to the field.Thus, when it organises a watch exhibition, you can expect nothing less than a showcase of beautiful and technical watches that chart the history of high watchmaking. Held at New York’s Cipriani 42nd Street, and spanning 13,218sqft across two stories, Patek Philippe’s 11-day “The Art of Watches, Grand Exhibition NewYork 2017” in July brought to the NewYork public an experience like no other. Over 450 watches dating back to the 16th century were on display across 10 thematic rooms.These included the Museum Room that presented notable timepieces from the 1600s to 1900s (including the earliest watches ever produced); the US Historic Room, which held Patek timepieces from historic American collectors; the Rare Handcrafts Gallery, where visitors got to see live demonstrations of the masterful decorative techniques used on Patek’s enamel timepieces and dome table clocks; and the Watchmaker’s Room with master watchmakers that guided visitors through an exploration of a watch’s movement. From the live demonstrations by watchmakers and artisans, to the Patek Philippe café that offered people respite after their immersive tour, the exhibition welcomed 27,449 guests into the Patek Philippe universe where the inner-workings of haute horlogerie were laid bare.