2020 has not been an easy year for anyone, and for Patek Philippe fans, it was disappointing on another level as the company delayed releasing its 2020 novelties. Today, they have reason to celebrate as Patek Philippe released a limited-edition watch, Ref. 6007A-001 Calatrava, to honor the completion of its new manufacture in Switzerland.
The new manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates on the outskirts of Geneva fulfills a goal from 1996: to have every production element under one roof. For a few years in the 1990s, it was achieved, until the company continued to expand. It quickly outgrew its new manufacture and spread out into different ateliers. With the completion of the new manufacture, Patek Philippe has ensured there is enough room for growth for the next 20-30 years in all departments. Honoring and preserving watchmaking heritage and métiers d’art is incredibly important to Patek Philippe and the Stern family, so there is dedicated space for its artisans who practice rare handcrafts, as well as space to train new artisans in these ancient arts and techniques. In addition to production, there is a restaurant and four VIP lounges on the top floor that showcase views of the Swiss countryside and mountains. The building is lined with floor-to-ceiling glass windows that are separated by white concrete passageways, giving it the resemblance of a chic cruise ship. It was built to comply with Geneva’s strictest energy standards, achieving the HPE standard. The entire investment into the building was an astonishing 600 million CHF.
To celebrate this monumental achievement, Patek Philippe unveiled Ref. 6007A-001 Calatrava. This isn’t the first time the company created a watch to commemorate important milestones in its history, and it will be coveted by collectors who have acquired the others. The first thing collectors will notice is that it is a steel watch, which isn’t frequently used in Patek Philippe’s timepieces and makes this even more collectible. The sector dial is also unique, with a gray-blue color and a carbon pattern embossed on the center of the dial that is surrounded by a railway track hour scale. The gray-blue strap matches the color of the dial, giving it an elegant feel despite its sportiness. It displays hours and minutes, has a sweeping seconds hand, and displays the date in an aperture at 3 o’clock. It’s powered by the 324 S C caliber, which has a 45-hour power reserve. The movement can somewhat be seen through the sapphire caseback, which is marked with the Calatrava cross and “New Manufacture 2019,” which is when its first employees began to work in the new building. It is limited to 1,000 pieces and priced at $28,351. For more information, visit patek.com
words by Kristen Shirley
