WatchProSite|Market|Digest
WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Patek Philippe

marquetry dials from Patek

 

Hi Bruno,

Patek has previously created marquetry dials in year 2010 (Tiger), 2011 (Rabbit) and 2013 (Snake) within its Chinese zodiac series.  Over 200 wood pieces of different types and colors are used in creating each dial.  These are the pieces that I know of but there might be more.  Below are photos of some examples from the Chinese zodiac collection.

Earlier this year, I wrote a post regarding the snake marquetry.  If you are interested, here is the link.

patek.watchprosite.com


















Given the experience of Patek on marquetry and the recent popularity of this type of artistry, it is understandable that some of the 175th commemorative pieces contain these dials.

Recently I had dinner with a friend (the chief editor of a popular Chinese watch magazine and very knowledgeable about Patek and other top brands) who said that Patek utilizes more wood pieces than other brands (including the ones you mentioned) and that motifs of Patek's marquetry dials are more clear and contain more details.  Guess we would have to perform a side by side comparison test to prove his comment.  This comparison will be a fun and worthwhile task !!  smile

Would be great if you can share about what you find further on marquetry.

Cheers,

Gordon


  login to reply
Related Content
expand_more
Zodiac
💰3 Marketplace Listings for Zodiac›
 
18 Comments view entire thread 

PP 175th Anniversary Part III – The Rare Handcrafts

 
By: small-luxury-world : October 17th, 2014-14:31
Is there a better way to mark an important date than with exceptional timepieces made by scarce specialists? So far we almost only have seen and talked about the regular Anniversary collection, but when it comes to Patek Philippe there is always more to...  

The 5089 Breeze and Storm is sublime! Now we are talking.

 
By: amanico : October 17th, 2014-14:41
My favourite from the 175th Anniversary. Now, that is something different, elegant, refined, and coherent. Well done! Best, Nicolas

Funny, it is a matter of taste because I don't like this kind of dial...

 
By: foversta : October 18th, 2014-00:56
I much prefer the enamel ones... The good point is that the themes of these watches are less ridiculous than usual. But you can't prevent me thinking that they still look like themes for the French Post Calendar. Fx

Very, very impressive...

 
By: tempus : October 17th, 2014-14:44
Stunning and very impressed by the skills of the employees of Patek. Thx for the report!

I'm usually not a fan of Metiers d'Arts watches, but

 
By: Mark in Paris : October 17th, 2014-16:12
those 5089 are making me dream. I wish I'll be able to see one or two one day. Cheers, Mark

These watchers are pure logic...

 
By: foversta : October 18th, 2014-00:49
I remember a discussion with Thierry Stern... Patek is clearly attacking now Vacheron Constantin on the Métiers d'Art field. Patek has the feeling to have given them too much space. Thanks Oliver. Fx

FX, thanks and I like that kind of logic.

 
By: small-luxury-world : October 19th, 2014-13:12
From my point of view PP was to "shy/silent" of those crafts for too long - even when there are dedicated books about rare handcrafts from PP. They just did it, even when there was almost no real market. Maybe except from some very few pieces in the colle... 

I think the 4 enamel dials look the best..............

 
By: TonyR : October 18th, 2014-07:16
Im not a fan of the engraved pieces at all. That may have looked nice on the caseback with more of a traditional dial. Thanks for sharing! Tony

Great report Oliver and many thanks !!

 
By: GLau : October 18th, 2014-07:26
The enamel dials are my favorites !! Look forward to live shots. Thanks again, Gordon

Many thanks Oliver for that great report...

 
By: Mike H : October 18th, 2014-08:08
At last that gave us a chance to see these LE that we were all waiting for since long. I can't say that I am crazy of all but they are certainly few of them that I would be delighted to get... Best, Mike

more info on the Marquetry dials ?

 
By: Bruno.M1 : October 19th, 2014-00:34
To be honest, until a few months ago I never heard about marquetry dials before. First time was when I got that book they made for their 175th anniversary. A few pages in this book are about enamel, engraving and…. marquetry. How does this compare to for ...  

marquetry dials from Patek

 
By: GLau : October 19th, 2014-08:56
Hi Bruno, Patek has previously created marquetry dials in year 2010 (Tiger), 2011 (Rabbit) and 2013 (Snake) within its Chinese zodiac series. Over 200 wood pieces of different types and colors are used in creating each dial. These are the pieces that I kn...  

thank you Gordon

 
By: Bruno.M1 : October 19th, 2014-11:35
Thanks for the reply and your link strange bur somehow I completely missed these, I was not aware of the previous watches they made I'll take some time to learn a bit more about these and hope to see one in the flesh one day I can tell you that I would no... 

Gordon, count me in.

 
By: small-luxury-world : October 19th, 2014-13:26
"Guess we would have to perform a side by side comparison test to prove his comment. This comparison will be a fun and worthwhile task !!" I would LOVE to participate, but I guess this is no suprise to you :-) Thanks for sharing your pictures and knowledg... 

Hi Oliver, the year of the rabbit was ...

 
By: GLau : October 20th, 2014-09:59
3 February 2011 to 22 January 2012 So the information in Patek's book is only partly (a small part) right because the Year of the Rabbit began in 2011 and most of this zodiac resided in 2011 Perhaps the book was referring to when the watch was delivered W... 

I am surprised that you have been not aware of those ...

 
By: small-luxury-world : October 19th, 2014-13:22
rare handcrafts watches. There have been always some on display at their Basel Fair booth, for example. You ask what comes next? Well, I bet we will only see pieces dedicated to outstanding (traditional) crafts from Geneva. Nothing more, nothing less. Som...