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| Watches |
Patek Mystique
James D. Malcolmson
05/03/2004
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Patek Philippe remains one of the very few Swiss watchmakers to manufacture
the majority of its movements in-house. The company’s workshops on the outskirts
of Geneva are very much state of the art, but traditional techniques such as
hand polishing are still used, much to the delight of the serious Patek Philippe
watch enthusiasts.
 | THE NUMBER of collectors who have accumulated more than 10 pieces
from Patek Philippe is estimated to be at least several thousand. |
Though Patek Philippe watches, revered for their
classical, low-key styling, are anything but showy on the outside, the insides
stand out for their remarkable quality. The wells for the screws receive a
mirror polish. A wooden grinding wheel, which reaches even the tiniest surfaces,
is used to polish the wheels and pinions.
The movements have always been
finished with painstaking hand polishing and beveling, qualifying them for the
Geneva Seal, the most meticulous industry quality standard, established in the
mid-19th century.
Craftsmanship and mechanical parts made to exact
tolerances contribute to the renowned longevity of Patek Philippe’s pieces—an
important factor in the vintage market. While many other watches rely on
fast-beating movements that guarantee accuracy at the expense of endurance,
Patek Philippes use a slower movement with a superior balance wheel and
hairspring.
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