A concise history of tomorrow: Patek Philippe launches its ‘Knowledge Series’

We are on the doorsteps of the year 2020 — and still there are no flying cars around just like in The Jetsons. Or teleporters (which you must check very thoroughly for errant houseflies or risk turning into a buzzing Brundle). No extra-terrestrial visitors have held press conferences, posted stories on Instagram, or succumbed to earthly germs (as far as we know). No versions of you and me travelling across time and space, creating confusing multiples of selves along the way (go watch Shane Carruth’s Primer, now — but download the time travel chart first). Our most orgasmic sci-fi dreams haven’t come true. Not just yet. But there are things that make us marvel every now and then: smart phones that are on the threshold of becoming a Hitchhiker’s Guide to everyday living; Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets, too bad we didn’t get to see the mini-sub in action; awesome hi-fi systems that combine cool vintage, sometimes steampunk appeal with the warm grooves of the future; as well as intricate Swiss-made timepieces that are mechanical wonders and a source of aesthetic pleasure.

Just looking at the Perpetual Calendar timepiece of Swiss brand Patek Philippe jolts you into thinking about time, heritage, science, design, art, craftsmanship, beauty, 500 years of ideas, and how those tiny, tiny pieces of gear create a clockwork orchestra of silent beats and subtle shifts. The recently held “Knowledge Series” presented by the brand, which is exclusively distributed in the Philippines by the Lucerne Group, showcased the intricacies behind one of the most sophisticated horological grand complications of, well, all time. Also highlighted were some of the brand’s most legendary models.

Deepa Chatrath, who is the Patek Philippe-South East Asia general manager, explained: “For us at Patek Philippe, we are oftentimes speaking to the converted. We are very rarely somebody’s first watch. You are very lucky if you receive a Patek as a gift on your 18th or 21st birthday. But most people come to Patek after falling in love with watches.” Maybe right after captaining an industry, championing a cause, or plainly and simply marking an occasion.  

Chatrath said, “At this point in time, brands like Patek have such a strong DNA, a strong sense of quality, consistency, rarity. We are getting a lot of interests not just from our established collectors, but also from the young ones, those in their late 20s or early 30s. We hold sessions like this to make Patek more accessible and the technology more understandable.”

(Left) Patek Philippe hosts the first instalment of its “Knowledge Series,” taking participants on a journey of discovering the intricacies behind one of its most sophisticated horological grand complications — the Perpetual Calendar. (Center)The 5740/1G-001 is the thinnest perpetual calendar in the collection at 8.42 mm. Its new fold-over clasp is secured with four independent catches; its blue dial is similar to the 40th anniversary models; and its new corrector arrangement was designed exclusively for the Nautilus case. (Right) One of the centerpieces of the 2018 collection is the 5270P-001 Chronograph Perpetual Calendar. It has six patented chronograph innovations, tachymeter scale, and diamond at 6 o’clock on the caseband.

At the “Knowledge Series” session at Shangri-La at The Fort, participants were first treated to a technical and historic presentation explaining the functional principle of the mechanisms; the different display types; Patek Philippe’s rich tradition in this field; and the craftsmanship invested in the movements and exterior components. The background history was illustrated with different showcases containing several antique pocket watches and wristwatches — all on loan from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.

Also shown was the entire collection of Patek Philippe’s Perpetual Calendars: from the ultra-thin self-winding models with analog indications, the timepieces with double apertures for the day and month, to the retrograde date versions that are available in officer’s-style cases. This selection was complemented with the Ladies First Perpetual Calendar, a feminine watch with exquisite nuances, as well as one of Patek Philippe’s most important debuts in 2018: the Ref. 5740 Nautilus with a perpetual calendar, which is the first complication in this casually elegant family of timepieces. It was an impressive ensemble of timekeeping instruments that meld timeless beauty with optimized legibility.

Additionally, watchmakers were on hand to answer questions and help the attendees deepen their understanding of technical aspects. The intention was to make guests more aware of the rich traditions upon which high-end watchmaking artistry is based.

“One of our core values is customer service,” shared Chatrath. “I think we are the only manufacture that can service, repair and restore every watch in our history. Watchmaking has changed a lot over the years, so the skills need to restore a hundred-year-old watch, for example, is vanishing. For us to be able to make the claim (about ‘current owners being merely caretakers of Patek watches for the next generation’) means that we still have those traditional equipment, the know-how, and the skill set to able to keep each watch running.” Running perpetually, to be more precise.

Thus, owners of Patek Philippe timepieces — from pocket watches to more contemporary models — are assured that their treasures have a perpetual support system. “We’ll be around,” she guaranteed. “All you need to do is to take adequate care of your Patek watches because they are mechanical pieces with all moving parts.”

The brand executive said she always tells people that the best minds work in the mechanical watch-making industry. “The astronomers, the mathematicians, the master craftsmen… At Patek, we practice the Genevan tradition: it’s not just about the highest accuracy, but also about the highest aesthetic beauty. And not just on the externals of the watch, but also on the hand-finishing and all the components inside — which you don’t even see.”   

Emerson Yao, managing director of Lucerne, nodded in agreement. “Patek Philippe manufactures some of the most beautiful and valuable watches in the world. And it is one of the few remaining truly family-owned watch companies.”

During her talk, Deepa delved upon key topics such as the evolution of the Perpetual Calendar, key historical Calendar watches from the brand, and the technical specificities of these grand complications. All of the brand’s brilliant tomorrows are still unfolding, she assured.

“We actually don’t need watches to tell time — we have it on our smart phones, computers and even ovens (laughs),” she said. “But you know what? Even the most techie geeks buy a Patek when they make their first big money. They say a Patek watch kind of ‘grounds’ them. They are so fascinated with the idea that something that has no inherent source of power… functions. And not just function, mind you, but it functions with the greatest accuracy possible.”

That’s why the level of watchmaking that Patek practices will always be precious, concluded Chatrath. “Watches are instruments. They are holders of memory. We wear them next to our skin. We always buy them when we are happy. There is a cause for celebration. I have never seen a sad client buy a Patek Philippe watch (laughs).”

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Exclusively distributed by Lucerne, Patek Philippe is available at the Patek Philippe Shangri-La EDSA boutique, Level 2, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.