Patek Philippe’s Watch Art Tokyo 2023 exhibition shows how the manufacture is spectacularly asserting its leadership in Haute Horlogerie, while at the same time putting itself at its service. It is accompanied by an anthology of firsts.
We have never seen anything quite like it
One of the first things to note about this impressive temporary exhibition in the heart of Tokyo is its size. Watch Art Tokyo 2023 covers 2,500m2 divided into 10 themed spaces, virtually under an open sky. The glass structure atop the 25-metre-high Shinjuku Sumitomo building, in the Sankaku Hiroba event space, allows visitors to take advantage of the natural light, making it all the easier to project themselves into the recreated Geneva setting with its famous Flower Clock, Jet d’Eau water fountain, cobbled streets of the old town, the Patek Philippe salon and museum, not to mention the manufacture.
For the first time, 180 watches from the Patek Philippe Museum have temporarily been exported to Japan to seduce the Japanese public (from 10th to 25th June 2023). The exhibition showcases 500 timepieces and objects testifying to Patek Philippe’s age-old expertise that have been displayed for enthusiasts to admire along with the entire current collection. The importance of the Japanese market is also reflected in the six limited series reserved for the country, two of which feature a world first: the first automatic Quadruple Complication, and the first date display indexed on local time (patented).
A Tremendous Desire to Educate
The educational approach intrinsic to any exhibition takes on a whole new dimension when Patek Philippe decides to set an example. As its Product Development Director Philippe Barat explains on site, the brand has designed a whole arsenal of tools to help customers better understand the expertise involved in fine watchmaking and to help its teams explain it more simply. Digital tools include configurators that link each calibre to the model it equips, immersive experiences and films, which are joined by large-scale Plexiglas models of movements to help visitors decipher the complications, as well as a whole room dedicated to the step-by-step manufacturing and decoration processes of the components and movements.
Another themed area is devoted to complications and R&D, while yet another is dedicated to craftsmanship, with a particular focus on the 40 unique pieces made for the Japanese market. A big surprise was the presence of star enameller Anita Porchet, who is appreciated by both collectors and luxury watch brands alike. Porchet was on hand to talk to customers about her work on certain pieces, such as the Calatrava Minute Repeater and Tourbillon reference 5538G-061 Tiger. Thanks to this exhibition, Patek Philippe’s President, Thierry Stern aims to educate over 100,000 visitors, 50% more than the last exhibition which took place in Singapore in 2019. As you pass the great Japanese collectors who have come with their children, you can’t help but think that Patek Philippe’s initiative benefits the entire watch industry.
Exceptional Limited Editions
Nothing is done by half at Patek Philippe. In terms of limited editions, it is not just a question of one or two limited series with a simple change of dial colour. A High Artisanal collection features 40 creations illustrating Patek Philippe’s expertise in craftsmanship and has been inspired by Japanese culture with eight Dôme clocks, five table clocks, nine pocket watches, and 19 wristwatches. The way they are displayed is spectacular, magnifying the veritable visual poems that each unique piece represents.
The whole exhibition is exceptional and many of us who had seen the 175th Anniversary edition in 2014 agreed that this edition was even more astounding. In addition to the exhibition itself, no fewer than six special series were unveiled on site, including the reference 5330G-010 World Time Tokyo 2023, a limited series in white gold that will delight 300 Japanese clients. A nod to the imperial colours, its plum hue is just one of the Japanese inspirations that distinguish the design of this watch. Its technical interest lies in its new extra-thin automatic calibre, whose patented differential system enables it to manage the date indexed to local time. Limited to just 15 pieces, the Quadruple Complication reference 5308P-010 Limited Edition Tokyo 2023 combines for the first time a minute repeater, a split-seconds chronograph, and an instantaneous perpetual calendar with automatic winding. With 799 components, this new calibre features two patented energy-saving innovations in the clutch and split seconds. The picture is completed by a magnificent Minute Repeater World Time (reference 5531R-014) in pink gold with a cloisonné Grand Feu enamel dial, a pair of highly colourful Calatrava timepieces sold as a set, and a third Calatrava featuring the phases of the moon.
