Feature:

Journey to the East

The lobby and entrance of “Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019” is being hosted at the Marina Bay Sands Theater in Singapore, and is the venue’s first event of this nature.

AFTER EXHIBITING in Dubai (2012), Munich (2013), London (2015), and New York (2017), Patek Philippe chose Singapore to be the venue for the fifth exhibition that offers in-depth insights into its universe and its creations. From September until October 2019, collectors, aficionados of watchmaking artistry, and the general public immersed themselves in the world of Patek Philippe as if they were personally visiting the historic salons on Rue du Rhône in Geneva, the manufacture in Plan-lesOuates, or the Patek Philippe Museum.

Taking place during the Singapore Bicentennial year, the Grand Exhibition underlined the importance of Singapore and Southeast Asia for Patek Philippe. These markets are significant when it comes to the numbers of collectors and enthusiasts based in the region as they also play a major role in building appreciation for the work of fine mechanical watchmaking. This is why Thierry Stern, president of Patek

Philippe, and his father, honorary president Philippe Stern, placed so much emphasis on hosting this grand exhibition in Singapore and making sure it was an event of extraordinary proportions. It showcased the launch of limited special-edition watches and an important collection of rare handcrafted timepieces that are inspired by the mix of cultural and artistic expressions of Southeast Asia and Singapore.

Ten themed rooms

“Watch Art Grand Exhibition Singapore 2019” was open to the public and admission was free. The exhibition was at the Marina Bay Sands Theater in Singapore,

and is the venue’s first event of this nature. The 1,800-square-meter exhibition was subdivided into 10 themed rooms, each with its own distinctive ambiance. Visitors watched a movie portraying Patek Philippe’s history, admired the manufacturer’s complete current collection, and immersed themselves in a unique selection of complicated watches as well as a stunning range of movements. Live on site, watchmakers and artisans demonstrated their skills, offering visitors insights into horological artistry and the finesse mastered by specialist artisans such as enamel painters whose guild has been associated with watchmaking for centuries. After completing the tour, visitors had the opportunity to relax in the Patek Philippe lounge café.

A specially themed Singapore 200th Anniversary room exhibited selected timepieces and milestones of Patek Phiippe’s history together with key milestones of Singapore’s rich history since Sir Stamford Raffles’ arrival in Singapore.

The Patek Philippe Museum

With its 2019 exhibition in Singapore, Patek Philippe wanted to give the audience an opportunity to discover an important selection of exhibits from the Patek

Philippe Museum, among them some extremely rare pieces. This is the first time that so many timekeeping instruments of the distinguished museum in Geneva were exhibited in Singapore. The museum section was divided into two departments, as is the case in Geneva. The “Antique Collection” provided a wonderful historic panorama of the history of watchmaking with some of the very first portable timepieces from the mid-16th century, richly enameled pocket watches, musical automata, and technical timepieces crafted by Europe’s most gifted watchmakers.

The “Patek Philippe Collection” offered a selection of the manufacturer’s most splendid creations from 1839 to the present day. Notable among them were the royal watches (particularly a piece presented to

Queen Victoria in 1851 during the Great Exhibition at the London Crystal Palace), the first Swiss wristwatch (1868), and some of the most famous Patek Philippe “supercomplications.”

A tribute to Singapore and Southeast Asia

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Singapore, Patek Philippe honored the city-state and its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia with a specially appointed exhibition complex. For this glimpse into the history, culture, art, and natural surroundings of a region to which it is deeply committed, the manufacturer introduced a selection of timepieces that in this breadth will be united in one place for probably the first and just as likely for the last time because it includes extraordinary exhibits on loan from museums and private collectors. The role of Singapore as a hub of trade between the Far East and the Occident was impressively exemplified with a Genevan pocket watch that depicts the port of Canton in miniature painting on enamel; it was commissioned for the Chinese market around 1830 (S-112). The Patek Philippe dome table clock (reference

20074M) decorated with the “Thai Ornaments” motif in cloisonné enamel infused with silver spangles paid homage to the exceptional aesthetic sensitivity of these countries as expressed by architectural decorations and traditional textiles. A pair of peach-shaped pendant watches (S-303A-B) crafted in Geneva for the Chinese market around 1810 highlighted the uniqueness of the regional flora and fauna. The marvels of the submarine cosmos can be admired in cloisonné enamel on the Patek Philippe dome table clock themed “Tropical Island” (reference 20087M). Two of the Patek Philippe pocket watches (P-1457) on display once belonged to King Rama V of Siam (now Thailand); they emphasize the cultural uniqueness of the region. The legendary dynamic of Southeast Asia with its promising future is depicted on a Patek Philippe dome table clock (reference 1677M) that was crafted in 2015 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Singapore’s independence; it shows the famous Esplanade.

Current Collection Room— this room is reserved for the presentation of the current collection. Its interior was inspired by the appointment of the Patek Philippe salons on Rue du Rhône in Geneva. Opposite page, from top: The first wristwatch with perpetual calendar; the drum watch

Napoleon Room—the seductive effect of this room is that it spirits visitors away to the Patek Philippe salons in Geneva, treating them to a fantastic motion-picture panoramic view of Lake Geneva. This is also where the limited special editions created explicitly for the market in Southeast Asia are displayed. Above from left: Queen Victoria watch; the first Patek Philippe wristwatch

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Singapore, Patek Philippe salutes the city-state and its neighboring countries in Southeast Asia with a specially appointed exhibition complex. For this glimpse into the history, culture, art, and natural surroundings of a region to which it is deeply committed, the manufacturer is introducing a selection of timepieces that in this breadth will be united in one place for probably the first and just as likely for the last time because it includes extraordinary exhibits on loan from museums and private collectors. Below from left: Dome table clock in cloisonné enamel enriched with silver paillons; dome table clock in cloisonné enamel

Clockwise from above left: Thierry Stern, president of Patek Philippe; Deepa Chatrath, Patek Philippe-South East Asia general manager; the author with Team Philippines celebrating in Cé La Vi at the Marina Bay Sands

Rare Handcrafts Room—artisans demonstrate techniques, especially enameling, with which wristwatches and table clocks are decorated. A selection of watches that would be unthinkable without ancestral skills underscores Patek Philippe’s commitment to rare handcrafts. Below from left: 1989Calibre 89; Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref 6002G-010