Text by Kien Lee | Cover photo by Munster
In celebration of its new production facility located in Plan-les-Ouates, Patek Philippe has created an exclusive Calatrava to mark the occasion.
The launch follows a tradition in which the Genevan watchmaker commemorates key events in its corporate history with limited-edition timepieces. Patek enthusiasts will recall back in 1997 when the Ref. 5500 Pagoda and the Ref. 5029 Minute Repeater were unveiled to officially inaugurate the building's first opening at the same address.
With a length of nearly 200 meters, width of 67 meters, 34 meters above ground, and 10 floors of which four are subterranean, the size of the facility is impressive. It is an expansion of the original 1996 building - all this in measured anticipation of the manufacture's growth in the next 20 to 30 years. It also consolidates the ateliers relocated from Perly to Plan-les-Ouates.
This will mean more workspace to accommodate the new strategy to bring together all productions in one centralised location, but this will not mean more watches will be produced per year: Read More.
With its 40mm case and broad-cambered bezel in polished stainless steel, the new Ref. 6007A-001 is highly collectible as the material is rarely used in the Calatrava collection.
On its grey-blue dial, a railway track with triangular markers serves as an hour circle. with applied numerals in white gold with luminous coatings outlining it. At the 3'oclock position, the date aperture reveals the self-winding caliber 324 S C movement inside.
Pierced baton hours and minutes hands in white gold, lacquered in white, are similar to the Ref. 6006 Calatrava that has been part of the collection since 2017.
In its centre, the dial features a "carbon"-style texture with an alternating pattern.The calfskin strap with white decorative seams, the prong buckle, and a delicately embossed structure reminiscent of textile fabrics are coordinated in terms of colour and structure to match the dial centre.
Finally, on its sapphire-crystal caseback, a Calatrava cross and a "New Manufacture 2019" inscription provide a finishing touch, marking the year when the first work groups moved into the new production facility.
The commemorative Ref. 6007A-001 is available only in a special edition run of 1,000 pieces.
More information can be found here.
