The never-ending elegance of Patek Philippe
In 1839 the famous Patek Philippe company was founded, based in Geneva, which produced excellent quality watches, equipped with the most prestigious watchmaking complications. The design is always traditional but with a sober elegance that preserves its style over the years. Famous for the most mechanically complicated pocket watch ever produced globally, this company has a reputation for excellence. Loved by collectors, its models are chronographs that have set world records for auction results more than any other brand.
Among the most beautiful women’s models is the Calatrava 4897R; it is a timepiece with a hand-wound mechanical movement. Its round shape is a unique piece, the essence of elegance, with clean lines, timeless in its mechanical perfection with the 215 calibres, cream-coloured dial, dusted gold hour markers. The case is in rose gold, and the back is in sapphire crystal, the diameter of the case is 33 mm, and the thickness is 6.6 mm. The bezel has the beauty of 72 diamonds, a feature that provides, when fully wound, a duration of 44 hours, a woman’s watch, flat, of marvellous refinement on a woman’s wrist.
The Calatrava is considered the true essence of a wristwatch and is the symbol of this brand’s style; in its supreme elegance, it fascinates every woman who loves timeless perfection and sobriety. With this model, the company has interpreted the model with reference 4897 in 18K rose gold, with an exclusive chocolate coloured dial. A precious object in aesthetics and mechanics, in its pure lines created by the manufacture of wise watchmaking. The Calatrava’s name is inspired by the chivalric order founded in the town of the same name in 1158. They were the first models dedicated to a female public; over time, they improved by creating models with sapphire crystal, diameter 21.9 mm, thickness 2.55 mm, 130 components, including 18 jewels and 5 bridges with 44-hour winding, GYROMAX balance, frequency 28800 vibrations/h.
We can find this wonderful watch in a wide range of decorations, an example of beauty and precision. Among the women’s models that I particularly love is the Gondolo, an extraordinary timepiece named after the “Gondolo & Labouriau” Dealer in Rio de Janeiro who maintained a working relationship with Patek Philippe from 1872 to 1927. From this collaboration were born famous watches such as the Gondolo chronometer, initially produced only as pocket watches, and then in 1920 saw the birth of wristwatches.
One of its characteristics was the presence of the 9K gold gears, the ébauche of the movement was based on Jean Adrien Philippe’s design, patented on 13 January 1891. These wristwatches were distinguished by an exuberant style, in their cases which could be round, square, rectangular, tonneau or cousin. The 4824J from 1993 is absolutely the model for me of unique elegance, with a contemporary aesthetic in which design has influenced several collections.
Equally fascinating is the model with reference 7099G which has a guilloché gold dial set with 367 diamonds, a sapphire crystal case back and a hand-wound 25-21REC calibre; a thrill of aesthetic and mechanical perfection that displays all the professionalism of this brand. Women-inspired Patek Philippe timepieces are pure elegance, unique pieces that will pass from generation to generation in their timeless sobriety.
Article edit by Antonella Malizia
