News Last January, Patek Philippe celebrated in Dubai the inauguration of the «Watch Art Grand exhibition».
First step of its worldwide journey, the Patek Philippe's «Watch Art Grand Exhibition» welcomed, from 24 to 27 January 2012, about 3,500 visitors and over 100 press members under the patronage of his Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and United Arab Emirates Minister of Finance.
This exhibition offered a rare insider’s perspective into the art of watchmaking within a family owned company. Visitors were able to explore as many as 400 exhibits presented in eight themed rooms. On show was the complete collection of Patek Philippe timepieces, including complications and grand complications ranging from perpetual calendars to minute repeaters, such as the most complicated Patek Philippe wristwatch: The Sky Moon Tourbillon. Also on exhibit, were one-off pieces, featuring rare artisanal skills such as engraving or enamelling, as demonstrated in the handcrafted Dome Clocks, as well as over 60 timepieces from the Patek Philippe Museum including very rare, pre-Patek Philippe era, antique portable watches dating back to the 16th century and very early Patek Philippe watches pieces from the 1860s.
The jewel in the crown of the exhibition was the Patek Philippe Star Caliber 2000 - nine years of research and development were invested into the creation of this masterpiece, which has 21 complications and contains six patented innovations. It features a Grande Sonnerie; the first of its kind that plays the correct sequence of the Westminster Chime.
This event was free to the public and allowed visitors to discover over 1500 m2 of exhibition space, the recreated Geneva based environment of the company’s historic headquarters, its workshops and world renowned museum. It gave visitors the chance to experience the company’s history from its very origin in 1839.
After the Middle East, the «Watch Art Grand Exhibition» will then stop in Germany in 2013 and the United Kingdom in 2014, which will coincide with Patek Philippe's 175th anniversary.
February 29, 2012
