Inside Patek’s new factory

[Rollieo]

Interesting article

https://revolutionwatch.com/patek-ph...6-manufacture/

[ButtButt]

Thanks for sharing, always love to see the insides of different manufacturers.

[Russell996]

I was lucky back in July and got to tour the new facility - breathtaking!

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by Russell996

I was lucky back in July and got to tour the new facility - breathtaking!

You ARE so lucky. I hope one day I can visit the factory. I was supposed to visit the Patek museum earlier this year but my Europe trip was cancelled last minute. Im going to do it next time I’m in Europe, probably later this year or early next.

[Ichiran]

Thanks for sharing the article. There are some members here who have propagated misinformation that Patek movements are totally finished by CNC. That is not true and quoting the article:

"Next, any minute burrs or tiny scraps of material remaining on the bridges from machining are removed using a scraper with a narrow spearlike head and manually checked for quality control. Once completed, they are then ready to undergo hand finishing."

"The edges of the bridges are then beveled using a handheld rotary tool, followed by straight graining on the squared-off sides of the bridge using an abrasive pencil-like tool."

You might have seen images of Patek movements with milling marks, but that is more of QC issue.

[rcwatches]

incredible

[Yobrooks]

Thanks for posting. Great article, what a manufacturing process from start to finish.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

[Partekular]

Excellent piece of informational journalism. Thanks for posting

[Rollieo]

Yea, very enjoyable article.

I liked learning about the Nautilus bracelet finishing. Definitely makes you appreciate it more.

“There is perhaps no area of finishing more synonymous with Patek Philippe than the finishing of its bracelets. Few can match their devotion to the craft of the perfectly finished bracelet. Following the machining process, it takes no less than 55 steps to perform the finishing operations on a Nautilus case and bracelet.”

You see a lot of hand finishing on the bracelet too.

[byow]

Originally Posted by Rollieo

Yea, very enjoyable article.

I liked learning about the Nautilus bracelet finishing. Definitely makes you appreciate it more.

“There is perhaps no area of finishing more synonymous with Patek Philippe than the finishing of its bracelets. Few can match their devotion to the craft of the perfectly finished bracelet. Following the machining process, it takes no less than 55 steps to perform the finishing operations on a Nautilus case and bracelet.”

You see a lot of hand finishing on the bracelet too.

The article does not mention it, but before working on a Nautilus bracelet, the person has to go through several « courses ». The person we talked to explained that he had more than ten years of experience as a « polisher » before working on Nautilus bracelets.

He also told us the time spent on polishing a steel Nautilus bracelet. I forgot the exact number, but remember that it was shocking for me to spend such amount of time on something that people would scratch in no time.

[Calatrava r]

Very interesting read. Thanks for posting.

[John Doyle]

I deeply dislike Wei Ko and anything related to him. Thanks for sharing the article but I certainly won't contribute to the amount of views any of his articles get.

[Subtronics]

Originally Posted by byow

The article does not mention it, but before working on a Nautilus bracelet, the person has to go through several « courses ». The person we talked to explained that he had more than ten years of experience as a « polisher » before working on Nautilus bracelets.

He also told us the time spent on polishing a steel Nautilus bracelet. I forgot the exact number, but remember that it was shocking for me to spend such amount of time on something that people would scratch in no time.

555555

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[Chiboy]

Very interesting, although it almost sounds like it was written by Patek itself. It does give an appreciation for some aspects of watchmaking that would be easy to take for granted.

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by John Doyle

I deeply dislike Wei Ko and anything related to him. Thanks for sharing the article but I certainly won't contribute to the amount of views any of his articles get.

He’s over the top and sometimes seems a bit full of himself. But very informative and articulate guy.

[Rollieo]

Originally Posted by Chiboy

Very interesting, although it almost sounds like it was written by Patek itself. It does give an appreciation for some aspects of watchmaking that would be easy to take for granted.

Unfortunately I think this is the way of journalism in horology, and most product level journalism. Ultimately people aren’t going to get access to the brands if they aren’t speaking positively.

Personally I think Hodinkee is the worst. I really liked it before they so commercial. They occasionally still put out some good stuff, but it’s by and large marketing specifically for brands and selling pre owned watches now. Sad days

[chimp98]

Originally Posted by Rollieo

He’s over the top and sometimes seems a bit full of himself. But very informative and articulate guy.

Wondering why 'deeply'? Hahaha. I don't like the guy either but he's one of the very few in the industry who can hold an articulate conversation with someone like Journe. But I don't disagree with how you feel about the guy.

[codecow]

So has anyone been? I couldn’t really tell what happened to the old building 5 from it and exactly where 6 is. Also if the restaurant has the private area like the flagship HQ building.

[byow]

Originally Posted by codecow

So has anyone been? I couldn’t really tell what happened to the old building 5 from it and exactly where 6 is. Also if the restaurant has the private area like the flagship HQ building.

The « old » building (PP 5) is still there. The PP 6 is next to it, like less than thirty-second walk.

There is a restaurant with one thousand seats (if I remember correctly) and of course private salon with a bar and dining rooms.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Russell996

I was lucky back in July and got to tour the new facility - breathtaking!

Originally Posted by codecow

So has anyone been? I couldn’t really tell what happened to the old building 5 from it and exactly where 6 is. Also if the restaurant has the private area like the flagship HQ building.

Apparently

[codecow]

Originally Posted by byow

The « old » building (PP 5) is still there. The PP 6 is next to it, like less than thirty-second walk.

There is a restaurant with one thousand seats (if I remember correctly) and of course private salon with a bar and dining rooms.

Ah nice. The private area in the main building was quite nice!

[chunkythebulldog]

Was there in May, thoroughly enjoyable trip.

2 days in the factory including dinner with Jerome Pernici where it was an ask anything Q&A session.


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