During Patek Philippe’s distinguished history it has become something of a tradition to mark key new chapters for the company by launching limited-edition commemorative watches. To celebrate the completion of the new production building, a flagship of impressive dimensions for the creation, development and production of Patek Philippe watches, the brand has launched a special new addition to the Calatrava collection.

The contemporary architecture of the new PP6 building, in Plan-les-Ouates on the outskirts of Geneva, unites all Patek Philippe’s ateliers under the same roof. Five years in the making, it now provides generous space for all the company know-how, including the rare handcrafts professionals and training of its employees. The last independent family-owned manufacture in Geneva, Patek Philippe aimed not to increase the volume of watches produced, but to secure efficient and rational production resources to cope with future challenges and, significantly, preserve its independence for coming generations.

Along the building’s façade, the large-format glazing intersects a white concrete passageway, giving a first impression of a modern ocean liner. Its detailing is subtle and nuanced and often takes its cues from the watch designs, like the slight horizontal curvature of the passageways, which are reminiscent of the gently rounded octagon of the Nautilus case. With ten light-filled floors and a length of nearly 200 metres, the finished structure demonstrates the confidence of the company for its anticipated growth prospects over the next decades.

The new Ref 6007A-001 Calatrava produced for the completion of the building project will set the hearts of connoisseurs racing even more than usual. The reason is that its case and bezel are made in the particularly coveted polished stainless steel, a very rare material for Patek Philippe’s collections. The timepiece’s elegantly graphic style features a railway track scale of the hour circle with triangular markers, applied Arabic numerals, a subtle grey-blue colour dial, and white-lacquered hands in white gold with luminous coatings for lively contrast. At the heart of the dial is a ‘carbon’-style texture design that plays with the light, said to reference the world of high tech. Coordinating with the watch’s colour, the calfskin strap has white decorative seams and a delicately embossed structure-like textile, matching the dial’s centre.

Available in a limited edition of just 1,000, this reference is an attractive archetype of Patek Philippe’s wizardry in melding tradition and innovation.

£21,710; patek.com