Patek Philippe watches for women

Patek Philippe, the prestigious Swiss watch company, has just launched a new microsite, which is dedicated entirely to showcasing its women’s watches. And high time it is too as Patek Philippe has been somewhat coy in revealing the extent to which it has been catering to women.

From the sporty Aquanaut Luce to the well-loved Twenty4 through to the mechanical mastery of the Ladies’ First ‘grand complications’, I can’t think of another brand that so graciously provides women with such a wide array of watches. In a discreet and measured fashion, the house has quietly gone about its business of charming women.

The website clearly displays the seven women’s watch families with all the information you could need to drink in every detail of these exquisitely made watches. A history of women’s watches at Patek Philippe is a visual jaunt into the evolution of both the style and function of ladies’ watches as well as an insight into many of its royal clients over the centuries.

The site also gives readers the chance to get closer to the brand by offering glimpses into the pristine workshops of the world’s finest watchmaker. One film follows the progress of the ‘Diamond Ribbon’ watch, from drilling holes that look no wider than a human hair into a mother-of-pearl dial to stamping out the solid gold numerals that will adorn the face of the watch. Scenes dreamily segue from one meticulously controlled process to another, and you can spot several hand-polishing sessions, a dip into mysterious blue tanks of liquid and dials spinning on a miniature carousel or, like cakes, being dusted with a fine white powder.

For many it will be the first opportunity to see and hear Sandrine Stern, Head of Watch Creation at Patek Philippe, talk about her approach to design and her philosophy on how to choose a watch. My favourite video of the three, however, is the pretty film of the ‘Diamond Ribbon’ watch that appears to float through the air with the grace of a gymnast’s ribbon. No voiceover is needed as the beauty of the watches speaks for itself. I sat mesmerised for a full minute watching every detail of this diamond-set watch.

The Art of Diamond setting is explained in detail and gives an idea of just how complex it is to gem-set a watch ‘the Patek way’. Like every process at Patek Philippe, the level of detail and meticulous controls go well beyond anything I have seen. The results are clear to see on the finished watches.

But perhaps, most interesting of all, is the section on ladies’ complications, as this is where Patek Philippe has been a true, if understated, trailblazer. The house now offers women three ‘grand complication’ watches in its Ladies First range. These include a Perpetual Calendar, an ultra-thin split seconds chronograph and a minute repeater. For those in the know, I need say no more about the significance of creating women’s versions of these masterpieces. And there is ample information and images on the new website to find out all you could want about the world of haute horlogerie.

Also on show are the other six ‘complications’, which include a chronograph, skeletonised movement, world time, travel time, annual calendar and the ‘Diamond Ribbon with its moon phase display. So make yourself a cup of tea, click here and enter the world of Patek Philippe, where peace and perfection reign. ENDS

A screen grab of the new ladies’ microsite from Patek Philippe.
The new ladies microsite includes videos that take you into the heart of the production process at Patek Philippe.
Detail of a diamond-set watch from Patek Philippe showing one of the many techniques employed in the Geneva gem-setting workshops.
Detail of the Diamond Ribbon watch showing how the diamonds are graduated and set to form a tapered spiral around the entire case and bezel.
Detail from the new ladies’ microsite that also explores the history of women’s watches at Patek Philippe.
One of Patek Philippe’s most recognisable designs is the Nautilus, here shown in a rose gold women’s version is the Ref. 7010/1R with a brown dial and diamond-set bezel.
The Patek Philippe ‘Ladies First’ Perpetual Calendar Ref 7410 R in rose gold is one of the Swiss house’s first ‘grand complications’ for women with an ultra-thin mechanical self-winding movement. The calendar functions need no adjustments before the year 2100.
The Aquanaut Luce Ref. 5067A is the most sporty women’s watch from Patek Philippe with its textured rubber strap and dial in matching colours and with a practical quartz movement.
This Calatrava Ref.4897R in rose gold has a rich brown enamel and the bezel is set with diamonds. It is powered by a hand-wound mechanical movement.
The Calatrava Travel Time Ref. 4934 in rose gold features two-time zones and creates dramatic look with its contrasting dial details. The mechanical manually-wound movement is visible through the sapphire crystal case back.
The Art Deco style of the Gondolo Ref. 7041R in rose gold is inspired by a model made by Patek Philippe for the Brazilian market in the 1900’s that was distributed by a Rio de Janeiro jeweller, called Gondolo e Labouriau. This model has mechanical hand-wound movement.
The Patek Philippe Diamond Ribbon Ref. 4968R. in rose gold set with 273 diamonds has a mother of pearl dial with a moon phase with an automatic movement. It is also available in white gold with a dark mother of pearl dial.