Ever since Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 the watchmaker has prized and perpetuated the rare handcraft techniques historically used in the decoration of timepieces. Since the Stern family took the reins of the company in 1932, its four generations to date have committed to preserving these artisanal skills. As the only remaining family-run watch business left in Geneva, it’s guardian of the city’s great watchmaking tradition. Each year the company creates a new collection of one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces to illustrate what it calls “tradition of innovation”, drawing on a wide source of inspiration, while enabling such skills to progress by setting itself increasingly great creative challenges.

Visitors at the Rare Handcrafts 2024 exhibition will witness expert artisans employing age-old techniques such as hand-engraving, marquetry and hand-executed guilloche

Historically, the new, exceptional timepieces have been briefly showcased in the company’s headquarters before going off to private collectors, but this year, for the first time, the exhibition is being brought to the Patek Philippe Salon in London. The Rare Handcrafts 2024 collection comprises 83 pieces, including wristwatches, dome clocks and pocket watches. Visitors will be able to view the results of a range of artistic skills, métiers d’art techniques that are centuries old – such as Grand Feu cloisonné enamel, miniature painting on enamel, grisaille enamel, hand-engraving, guilloché work, gemsetting, plus innovations such as wood marquetry.

One of the pieces featured in the Rare Handcrafts 2024 collection depicting the elegant white egret in wood marquetry

Nature is celebrated with a tour of the world’s most beautiful gardens via exacting enamelling, and there’s a focus on birds, particularly the elegant white egret, depicted in wood marquetry. Meanwhile, a group of timepieces celebrates Hawaii and its surfing culture – a highlight is the Calatrava wristwatch “Morning on the Beach” featuring a portrait of a surfer in micro wood marquetry. While exploring the exhibition, visitors can also observe elite artisans at work on hand-engraving, marquetry and hand-executed guilloche – a chance to see just how much expertise (not to mention a steady hand) is required to execute these skills.

The Calatrava wristwatch “Morning on the Beach”

This is a unique opportunity for connoisseurs, collectors, enthusiasts and the public to gain an insight into one part of the top-tier watchmaking business and discover how métiers d’art marries haute horlogerie in meticulously fascinating style.

Open 7-16 June, 1^st Floor, Bond Street House, 14 Clifford Street, W1S 4JU; free entry, but register early at patek.com