At the David M Robinson boutique in Canary Wharf, perpetual calendars showcase the fascinating watchmaking world of Patek Philippe
At watch and jewellery retailer David M Robinson, time moves at its own rhythm. Amid the bustle of Canary Wharf, clients discover the world of Patek Philippe, the Geneva manufacture whose watches measure not just hours and minutes, but the passing of generations. Working with a brand like this, says store manager Bale Sekulceska, is as much a privilege as it is a responsibility.
‘When a client comes to purchase a Patek, it is important to discuss the heritage, the craftsmanship and, above all, the work that goes into each piece.’ Patek Philippe only produces around 72,000 watches a year, and each one can take many months or over a year to complete. Managing expectations can be an art form in itself.
‘We spend a lot of time helping clients understand why these watches are so special and rare,’ says watch manager Lee Chadwick. ‘It’s not about exclusivity for its own sake – it’s the time it takes to finish every component by hand. When you explain the craftsmanship behind every watch, people understand why they are so desired.’
David M Robinson showroom at Canary Wharf
Chadwick knows this first-hand, having completed all stages of Patek Philippe’s training programme, which culminates with a week immersed at the Geneva manufacture. He recalls the experience with awe. ‘Seeing the dial-makers at work was unforgettable,’ he says. ‘The engraving, the polishing, the clean-room conditions – it’s a world most people never get to glimpse. You come back very impressed with so much admiration for the work and passion that is dedicated to each timepiece.’
That reverence translates directly into the showroom. Each member of the DMR team is trained across months of online modules and intensive in-person courses covering everything from the brand’s history to the intricacies of its movements. Only then are they ready to meet clients. Sekulceska says, ‘The learning journey prepares us to give the right advice to our clients. It is important they can trust us.’
Among the models that inspire the most fascination are Patek Philippe’s Perpetual Calendars – watches that consider monthly variations as well as leap years; they will not require adjustments for decades, with no correction needed until 2100. ‘The perpetual calendars are classic grand complications,’ says sales ambassador Hugo Ferreira. ‘Technical brilliance combined with emotional beauty. Every one of them tells a story.’
The stories differ, yet share a common thread of ingenuity. Take the Ref. 5236P-001, whose design nods to a 20th-century pocket watch but reinvents the concept entirely. Its in-line display presents the day, date and month side by side – something you don’t see on any other mechanical wristwatch. Beneath its blue gradient dial, four tiny discs rotate in perfect harmony via a mechanism that requires 118 individual components and three separate patents to prevent even the slightest misalignment. ‘It’s the definition of understated complexity,’ Ferreira says. ‘From the front, it looks effortless – and that’s the genius.’
Patek Philippe is renowned for its Perpetual Calendars
Then there is the Ref. 5320G-011, a white-gold watch that pays homage to the brand’s mid-century designs. The salmon dial glows with vintage charm under a raised sapphire-box crystal. Luminous Arabic numerals and syringe hands stand out, with Patek Philippe more often opting for polished gold markers and hands. ‘It’s a modern reinterpretation of something classic,’ says client adviser Charley Cooke. ‘You get the romance of the 1940s with the reliability of a modern calibre. People love that balance.’
Nowhere is Patek Philippe’s technical skill more evident than in Ref. 5270P-014 – a perpetual calendar chronograph in platinum with a green lacquer dial that fades to near-black at the edges. It houses the first chronograph movement with an integrated perpetual calendar designed and built entirely in-house by Patek Philippe – a landmark in the brand’s long mastery of grand complications. ‘It’s one of the grand complications that defines what Patek Philippe does best,’ says Chadwick. ‘You can feel the legacy of 80 years of development, yet it looks completely contemporary.’
Working with a brand like Patek Philippe is a privilege and responsibility for the DMR team
While such complex pieces attract seasoned collectors, DMR’s team often guides first-time clients too – individuals taking their first step into the world of high horology. ‘A perpetual calendar might not be someone’s starting point,’ Sekulceska says, ‘but it’s certainly something to aspire to. The idea that a watch can keep going for generations – that resonates deeply.’
