I wanted to share one of the greatest experiences of my life, as one of fifteen collectors from around the United States to be invited by Patek Philippe for a week in Geneva to tour everything that is Patek Philippe.
Patek flew us all Business Class to Geneva with hotel accommodations at the Mandarin Oriental, with a weeks worth of activities to follow. Here's a short and very brief synopsis..
Day 1 - We arrived in the morning at the Patek Factory to experience Manufacturing/Hand Finishing and Grand Complications. We had lunch in Patek's private dining room with Thierry Stern and Larry Pettinelli. Following lunch we departed to the Patek Philippe Museum with a tour of the past and present watches.
Day 2 - We departed to St-Imier to visit the dial factory. Following the factory we traveled to Montreaux to visit the Chateau de Chillion midieval Castle.
Day 3 - We arrived in the morning to the factory to experience the International Service Center/Restoration Division as well as the Department of Creation presented by Mrs. Stern. Afterwards we departed to the factory of Perly to visit Patek's Case and Bracelet Manufacturing which included Case Stamping/Bracelets, Links and Clasps/Engine Turning and Jewelery.
To finish the day we went back to the headquarters and was presented with the entire current collection (All 200 references) to look at, admire, and try on!
There were many breakfasts, lunches, presentations, dinners, meet and greets, outings (Geneva Boutique was mind blowing!), sight seeing etc. But I just wanted to give you a quick synopsis of some of the weeks activities.
This trip was a once in a lifetime experience that I will cherish forever. I always loved the brand, but this took it to a completely different level and perspective to see, meet, hear and experience first hand what it truly takes to make an incredible masterpiece, a Patek Philippe timepiece.
Here are a few pictures from the trip..
A light dinner on my way to Geneva..
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Cheers, Oliver