For all those as passionate about watches as us here at W. T. Author, the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition in London, is simply one not to be missed!
This 2015 showcase, brings more than 100 historical timepieces, which are part of the Patek Philippe Museum collection, to the Saatchi Gallery, on the Kings Road.
For the first time in London, visitors will be able to see iconic historical pieces such as:
The Antoine Norbert de Patek’s watch (1)
The Patek Philippe Duke de Regla, a minute repeating pocket watch with Petite Sonnerie and Westminster Chime on five bells
The first Swiss wristwatch made by Patek Philippe in 1868, sold to a Countess of Hungary
The ca.1830 table clock in the shape of a cage with five singing-birds and music
The exhibition celebrates Patek Philippe’s tradition of high-precision watch manufacturing and shows an insight into the company’s 175-year history and the heritage of the last family owned Genevan watchmaking company.
The impressive surroundings of the Saatchi Gallery hosts 15 themed rooms (including the Immersion room, the Film Theatre room, the Current Collection room, the Museum room, the Grand Complications Room, the 175th-Anniversary Collection Gallery room and the Rare Handcrafts Gallery room) for visitors to access to over 400 exceptional pieces in a space of 2,200 square meters.
London of course holds a central position in the history of time recording – with Greenwich Mean Time having been internationally adopted as a global time standard in 1884. A city also significant to Patek Philippe as it was during the Great Exhibition of 1851 that Queen Victoria (one of the first royal watch collectors and connoisseurs) was captivated by Patek Philippe, purchasing pocket watches for both herself and Prince Albert.
On show is a complete collection of Patek Philippe timepieces, ranging from perpetual calendars and minute repeaters to the Grand Master Chime, unveiled in 2014 to commemorate Patek Philippe’s 175th jubilee. These are accompanied by one-off pieces from the company’s rare and historical collection including the first Swiss wristwatch ever created in 1868.
‘Watch Art’ is set to be a captivating exhibition, a show of artisanship and informative to deepen the knowledge of even the most refined watch connoisseurs. View collections which encompass a tradition of innovation and independence, art and craftsmanship, aesthetic and passion – the values which have defined the company since being founded and ones we hold closely to our hearts too.
We are W.T. Author and we’d say you’d be mad to miss it, catch it at the SAATCHI GALLERY before 7th June 2015.
WT AUTHOR
