Patek Philippe

The caliber 28-20/222 is an outstanding movement and a very good reason to like the Ref. 5101, for sure. The technical solutions and finishing shown is simply gorgeous.

Nonetheless I would like to come back at that special time of the year with something even more extraordinary – rare handcrafts and in specific engraving.

Engraving

Burins, needles, chisels, and other sharp metal blades with wooden handles are among the tools used for engraving, probably the oldest technique with which timepieces have been embellished for hundreds of years. In the hands of an expert, engraving transforms the case of a pocket watch into a work of art with sharp contours and graceful reliefs that come alive as the light caresses them. The same tools are used to further adorn the delicate architecture of a skeletonized movement with elegant arabesques and volutes. The highly specialized discipline, which requires considerable artistic subtlety and dexterity, is mastered only by a small, elite community of doyens. Nearly two hundred engravers were registered in Geneva alone in 1789; meanwhile, their ranks have dwindled to perhaps a dozen.

I am aware that not all of you like that kind of cases, but the skills shown are something really rare and hard to find these days. Not all of us have the same taste or share the same lifestyle. Some drive a Volkswagen … some a Porsche … and some Bentley or Bugatti. Some stay in an apartment, a house or a castle. Some … I think you get what I have in mind. Hopefully every Purist here can appreciate what he or she has. Me, I am happy that Patek Philippe and some (eclectic) customers/collectors support rare handcrafts. It would be a pity if we don´t have such rare handcrafts in the future anymore. For those who are interested, please enjoy.

Some examples to share :

Ref. 5101 - It needs more than 100 hours of handwork only for the engraving of the case.

Ref. 5160

And of course THE big surprise of 2013, the Patek Philippe Ref. 6002 Sky Moon Tourbillon a current masterpiece that exemplifies the art of relief and line engraving at its best.

Violins from Guarneri, Stradivari … I am not able to see the differences of their shape. Some time ago I tried to identify several very famous violin makers only by listening to them. Therefore I bought a CD from a small classic label and there was one artist who played the same piece of music on several violins. It was quite challenging, but I managed it after some time. Will I ever be able to identify the work of different engravers? I have no idea, but at least I would like to try it one day …

 

Best,

Oliver

This message has been edited by small-luxury-world on 2013-12-22 13:58:19