PATE K PHILIPP E THE WORLD OF
LIFESTYLE ASIA travels to the Lion City to immerse in the world of PATEK PHILIPPE and to discover the clear line separating luxury and priceless
There is a school of thought that believes premium pieces are never really owned. Instead, they are borrowed and eventually passed on from one person to another. This belief applies to items such as jewelry, precious stones, and most especially, timepieces. Because they are priceless, it is best given during important celebrations and milestones such as an eighteenth or twenty-first birthday, a graduation, wedding, a promotion, or any time you feel like gifting a loved one. For Swiss luxury watchmaker, Patek Philippe, this spirit of family, love, tradition, innovation, joie de vivre, and the passing of priceless timepieces are at its core. A testament to this is the brand’s adherence to family tradition for the last
180 years. Today, fourth-generation Stern family members who have learned the joy of watchmaking and horologie run the Geneva-based company.
Apart from family, Patek Philippe believes in using the right amount of time in anything it does. This is very much alive in its activities, endeavors, and most especially in the brand’s products. Luxury watchmaking is a well-thought of and painstaking process that should never be hurried. It is this meticulous tradition that is present in every Patek
Philippe timepiece. The same principle of excellence and time are present in its salons in Rue du Rhône in Geneva and its manufacturing site in Plan-les-Ouates and the Patek Philippe Museum. This is further observed in one of the brand's major activities, the Watch Art Grand Exhibition.
WATCH ART GRAND EXHIBITION SINGAPORE 2019
For the last seven years, Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe has been sharing its history and almost two centuries worth of archives to collectors, aficionados, and the public through the Watch Art Grand Exhibition. It began in Dubai in 2012 and has traveled to three other cities, Munich (2013), London (2015) and New York (2017). In the celebration of its bicentennial year, Patek Philippe has chosen Singapore as the fifth destination of the most prestigious timepiece exhibition. Over the last two years, the Stern family, its prized craftsmen, and curators have been preparing for the largest edition of the Watch Art Grand Exhibition. The event featured Patek Philippe’s current collection of watches and movements, a selection of antique pieces from the Patek Philippe Museum which was incarnated in 1930, and the most complicated and complex portable timepiece ever created during its time, the Calibre 89. More than just a gathering of iconic and historic pieces, the Watch Art Grand Exhibition in Singapore was a unique experience that took us to the world of Patek Philippe. Here, guests discovered the brand’s spirit and fully understood why it goes beyond luxury.
“This edition of the Grand Exhibition will be our first in Asia—it is one that is the largest Patek Philippe has presented thus far, which includes an important collection of rare handcrafts timepieces that have been inspired by the mix of cultural and artistic expressions of Southeast Asia and Singapore,” shared Deepa Chatrath, General Manager of Patek Philippe Geneva Master Time Marketing LLP in Singapore. Taking place at the Marina Bay Sands Theater last September 28 to October 13, 2019, the Watch Art Grand Exhibition 2019 came at an important and timely manner. It spanned 1,800 square meters of exhibition space and was highlighted by 10 rooms that transported each visitor to its Swiss headquarters. “Singapore and Southeast Asia are of prime importance to Patek Philippe, owning to their many collectors and connoisseurs, but also their passion for fine workmanship, rare handcrafts, and mechanical watchmaking at its most beautiful. Their rich cultures, a precious blend of heritage and modernity, are in tune with our own tradition of innovation. The flourishing city-state of Singapore has also become indispensable as the center from which we distribute our watches throughout the Southeast Asia region,” said Thierry Stern, President of Patek Philippe on why Singapore was chosen as the city for its fifth edition. From Munich to Singapore, each edition of the Watch Art Grand Exhibition has been unique. This year, the exhibition was made extra special with the inclusion of the Singapore Historic Room, a tribute to the city-state in celebration of its 200th anniversary as well as the Southeast
Asian region. Here, visitors experienced the rich culture, history, art, and natural environment through timepieces on loan from museums and private collections from the region. It also included four special limited-edition watches specially created for the Watch Art Grand Exhibition. In addition, the 5th edition has also brought the largest number of watchmakers and artisans from Geneva to Singapore who took part in live demonstrations of fine watchmaking. Patek Philippe generously shared their know-how to guests as they were treated to a rare and up-close look into how each watch is painstakingly made, decorated and adorned for the last 180 years.
SWISS AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN CHAMBRES
The Sands Theater at Marina Bay was divided into 10 rooms for the Watch Art Grand Exhibition. Upon entering l’espace, visitors were treated to the Current Collection Room. It showcased the brand’s current collections including several incarnations of the best selling Patek Philippe Calatrava, Patek Philippe Nautilus and Patek Philippe Aquanaut. Watch collectors from the region were treated to a special-edition collection honoring Singapore that included a red Aquanaut Singapore 2019 Ref. 5167A-012, World Time Chronograph Singapore 2019 Ref. 5930G-011 and a Minute Repeater Tourbillon. More than a grand showcase of current pieces, what was special about the Current Collections Room was its design. It was a replica of the Patek Philippe Salons on the Rue du Rhône in Geneva, Switzerland.
A few steps into the exhibition took visitors to the Napoleon Room, a space in dark wood highlighted by a life-size view of Lake Geneva by way of large floor to ceiling screens. The space included rare handcrafts timepieces, first edition Patek Philippe portrait books and photographs. The Napoleon Room gave visitors a rare experience of what it felt like to buy watches from the original Swiss store.
Further into the Sands Theater gave a sneak peek of the Patek Philippe Museum through the third room. Divided into two sections, the Museum Room was modeled after
the original museum in Geneva and featured The Antique Collection, which dated back to 1530. Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019 curator Dr. Peter Freiss was present to explain some of the brand’s first watches ever made. On display were a 1925 wristwatch, which had firstedition perpetual calendar, 19th-century pocket watches of the Lotus Flowers, Raphael’s Madonna of the Chair which was designed for the Chinese market, and the stunning Star Calibre 2000, an astronomical pocket watch that marked the beginning of the new millennium.
The Rare Handcrafts Room and Watchmakers Room were a visual treat for enthusiasts and regular visitors. Artisans from Patek Philippe Geneva traveled to Singapore to share the steps and techniques involved in luxury watchmaking. These were engraving, enamel painting, wood marquetry, and hand guilloché. The experience was truly fascinating as tiny brushes, saws, and other tools were in live-action. In between each watchmaking technique were a display of limited edition Rare Handcrafts timepieces, which were specially made for the Singapore event such as the Indonesian batik Dome Clock, and White Tiger and Old Port of Singapore enamels. The Watchmakers Room was an interactive display that delved into the movement, repeating pocket watch and the trademark annual Calendar of Patek Philippe.
Apart from tradition, Patek Philippe focused on innovation throughout its 180 years, so it was only fitting to install the Movements Room and Grand Complications Room. On display here were all of the brand’s current movements from simple calibres to more elaborate ones. The Grand Complications Room, however, was a collection of the most complicated Patek Philippe timepieces ever made. The Ref. 5370P split-second and the Ref. 5270P Salmon were found here as well as the most complicated wristwatch Patek Philipe has ever made, the Grandmaster Chime.
The Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019 was a testament that family and time work well to produce not just luxury products, but pieces that are nothing but priceless. Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern said it best, “We are a family business, yes, this is for sure. We do it with passion. When we do such an event. Everything has to be perfect, the watches, the venue, the people, and also the explanation. I hope that what you will discover today will have a great impact on you on your passion, not only in business but also just for you.”
Patek Philippe is happy to announce that the sixth edition of The Watch Art Grand Exhibition will be in Tokyo, Japan in 2022.