LIMITED EDITIONS
for Ladies
PATEK PHILIPPE CREATES SOME OF THE WORLD’S MOST IMPORTANT
TIMEPIECES, NOT JUST FOR MEN, BUT FOR THE GROWING NUMBER OF
FEMALE WATCH AFICIONADOS.
THE TERMS “LADIES’ WATCH” AND “COLLECTIBLE” ARE RARELY
USED IN THE SAME SENTENCE, BUT WITH CERTAIN BRANDS,
THE LIMITED-EDITION LADIES’ WATCH IS NOT A NEW CONCEPT.
PATEK PHILIPPE’S VERY FIRST WRISTWATCH WAS MADE FOR A
WOMAN, COUNTESS KOSCOWICZ OF HUNGARY. CRAFTED IN 1868
IN ITS GENEVA WORKSHOP, IT WAS A GOLD BRACELET, SET WITH
LARGE DIAMONDS AND ELABORATELY ENGRAVED. SINCE THEN,
PATEK PHILIPPE HAS EARNED A REPUTATION AS THE WORLD’S
FOREMOST WATCHMAKER, SPECIALIZING IN COMPLICATED
WATCHES FOR MEN, BUT IT HAS NEVER STOPPED DESIGNING
TIMEPIECES FOR WOMEN.
The Countess of Hungary would no doubt have loved Patek’s main
introduction at Baselworld 2017, the liberally diamond-set Haute
Joaillerie Ref. 4899-900G Calatrava. The case is classic Calatrava, slim,
easy to wear and nicely rounded. The watch is set with 149 flawless
diamonds and 182 pink sapphires in various shades, for a total of 4.35
carats. The background on the upper dial is natural pink mother-of-
pearl, which is rare. It is also delicate, so it is a testament to the steady
hand of the engraver that the mother-of-pearl is carved with feather
motifs. Another subtle but exquisite detail is the engraving on the 18k
gold hands, also to resemble feathers.
As important as the gemsetting is the movement. It contains the ultra-
thin automatic Caliber 240 with an integrated micro-rotor, silicon-based
components and a 70-hour power reserve. This year, Patek celebrates
Seen here is another historic creation by Patek Philippe,
the watch made for Queen Victoria.
WINTER 2018 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | 41