Seven limited editions. Twenty-five masterfully crafted pieces. Over 500 timepieces and objects gathered under one roof. From October 2 to 18, Patek Philippe is bringing the WATCH ART Grand Exhibition to Italy for the first time and has chosen Milan as the venue for the largest exhibition installation ever created in the history of the event.
The venue is CityOval, formerly Palazzo delle Scintille, in the heart of CityLife: approximately 2,900 square meters beneath a 30-meter-high dome, divided into fifteen themed areas dedicated to the contemporary collection, the Grandes Complications, the métiers d’art, research, production, and the Manufacture’s historical heritage.
The numbers immediately convey the scale of the event. WATCH ART Milano brings together 152 watches from the current collection, 84 pieces from the Patek Philippe Museum, 12 linked to historic owners, seven dedicated to Advanced Research, three supercomplications, and 21 pieces in the “Master of Sound” room. The space dedicated to the Manufacture features 53 movements inside rotating display cases and another 64 in an interactive installation. The Atrium, meanwhile, features a sculpture nine meters high and 4.5 meters wide, composed of 2,028 translucent droplets, an interpretation of Geneva’s Jet d’Eau.
Milan follows Dubai in 2012, Munich in 2013, London in 2015, New York in 2017, Singapore in 2019, and Tokyo in 2023. These six editions have collectively welcomed nearly 225,000 visitors. The seventh Grand Exhibition, however, features a collection of creations developed specifically for Italy.
There are seven limited editions, accompanied by 25 works of fine craftsmanship dedicated to the country. Milan, Venice, Rome, Ravenna, Turin, Naples, Capri, Tuscany, Sicily, Puglia, Lake Como, and the Amalfi Coast feature on dials, clock cases, and pendulum clocks. They appear on maps, in landscapes, in Italian calendars, and even on city-themed discs.
The mechanical heart of the entire operation is of a different nature. It is a new platinum model and, above all, a new caliber.
Patek Philippe 5978P-010: Four Discs, 30 Milliseconds
The Ref. 5978P-010 , produced in a limited edition of 120 pieces, combines the manual-winding CH 29-535 chronograph with an instantaneous perpetual calendar for the first time, giving rise to the new CH 29-535 PS QI. The lineage is significant: the chronograph and perpetual calendar have coexisted in Patek Philippe’s production line since Ref. 1518 in 1941; since 2011, the CH 29-535 PS Q has powered Ref. 5270. Milan marks a new technical milestone in this story.
The day, date, month, and leap year cycle advance simultaneously in 30 milliseconds. The mechanism is derived from the system covered by two patents that first appeared in 2008 on Ref. 5207 and was subsequently adopted on Ref. 5208 in 2011 and Ref. 5308 in 2023.
The problem to be solved is related to energy. Four discs have a greater mass than a traditional hand-driven system, and the jump must remain reliable even when the movement has only ten hours of power reserve. A large rocker assembly consisting of 15 elements controls the simultaneous shift; two complementary jumpers, operating in opposite directions, maintain a constant energy supply regardless of the amplitude of the movement. The system thus prevents both incomplete advances and the risk of a disc overshooting the correct position.
The CH 29-535 PS QI retains the column-wheel chronograph mechanism and horizontal engagement of the CH 29-535, along with its six patented innovations. These include tooth profiles designed to reduce wear and improve meshing efficiency, an eccentric adjustment cap, self-regulating reset hammers, direct synchronization, and a perforated minute cam.
The movement measures 32 mm in diameter and 8.1 mm in thickness, consists of 500 components and 33 jewels, operates at 4 Hz, features a Gyromax balance wheel with a Breguet hairspring, and offers between 55 and 65 hours of power reserve when the chronograph is disengaged.
The 950 platinum Calatrava case measures 42 mm. It features a concave bezel, curved and delicately sculpted lugs, a full polish finish, and the traditional diamond set on the case at the 6 o’clock position. The thickness is 14.24 mm from crystal to crystal and 14.45 mm overall, with a lug width of 22 mm and water resistance up to 30 meters. The screw-down sapphire caseback bears the inscription “Patek Philippe Milano 2026.”
The navy blue sunburst dial fades to black along the edge. The slightly recessed, textured center and the two sub-dials with azuré decoration display a considerable amount of information without compromising readability. The day of the week, date, and month occupy the upper arc; the moon phases are at 6 o’clock, while the two round windows dedicated to day/night and the leap year cycle are located at 9 o’clock, below the small seconds sub-dial, and at 3 o’clock, below the instantaneous 30-minute counter, respectively.
The applied hour markers and Dauphine hands are made of white gold with luminescent material. The central Pfinodal arrow-shaped chronograph hand and the 30-minute counter hand are lacquered red. The navy blue composite strap with a textile pattern features red stitching and tricolor markers; the three-blade folding clasp with a safety mechanism is made of platinum.
The 5978P-010 is therefore not simply a model dedicated to Milan. It marks the world debut of a new Grande Complication and the caliber that makes it possible.
Three Calatrava, three complications, the Italian tricolor
Red, green, and white define three contemporary Calatrava watches inspired by the design language of the Ref. 6007. The common base is a 38 mm white gold case; the movement and production runs vary significantly.
Ref. 7047G-010: Minute Repeater
Only five examples of the 7047G-010 were produced. It features a deep red lacquered dial with a carbon pattern integrated directly into the lacquer, a glossy red alligator leather strap, and tricolor strap pins.
Inside is the R 27 PS, an automatic movement featuring a minute repeater with two classic gongs and a small seconds sub-dial at 6 o’clock. The caliber measures 28 × 5.05 mm, consists of 327 components and 39 jewels, and features a unidirectional mini-rotor made of 22-karat gold. Gyromax, Spiromax, a frequency of 3 Hz, and a power reserve ranging from 43 to 48 hours round out the specifications.
The repeater slider is integrated into the case at the 9 o’clock position. The case measures 10.24 mm from crystal to crystal and 10.62 mm overall, with a lug-to-lug width of 21 mm. It is protected against moisture and dust but is not rated as water-resistant. The sapphire case back reveals the movement, and the glass bears the inscription “Patek Philippe Milano 2026.”
A 38 mm minute repeater clad in red and carbon: one of the most unusual fusions between a Patek Philippe grand complication and the design language of the contemporary Calatrava.
Ref. 7147G-010: Perpetual Calendar
The green version is the 7147G-010, limited to 100 pieces.
The 38 mm white gold case features a green lacquered dial with a central carbon motif, applied Arabic numerals in white gold, and calendar indications in Italian. The matching alligator strap features tricolor buckles.
The 240 Q caliber measures 27.5 × 3.88 mm, with 275 components, 27 jewels, and a 22-karat gold mini-rotor. It has a frequency of 3 Hz, a Gyromax escapement, a Spiromax balance wheel made of Silinvar, and a power reserve of 38–48 hours.
The day of the week and 24-hour display share the dial at 9 o’clock; the month and leap year indicator share the dial at 3 o’clock; the date and moon phases are at 6 o’clock. Four separate adjusters control these displays. The watch comes with a function stylus made of ebony and white gold.
Ref. 7007G-010: Date and seconds in the center
The third piece in the trilogy is the 7007G-010, produced in a limited edition of 200 pieces.
White lacquered dial, center with carbon motif, anthracite-colored applied Arabic numerals in white gold with luminescent material, and matching baton hands. The date is at 3 o’clock; the white alligator strap complements the color scheme.
The 26-330 S C automatic movement measures 27 × 3.32 mm, with 207 components, 30 jewels, a 21-karat gold central rotor, a frequency of 4 Hz, and a power reserve of 35–45 hours.
The case measures 38 × 9.97 mm, or 8.81 mm when accounting for the distance between the two crystals, with 21 mm between the lugs. Water resistance: 30 meters.
Aquanaut 5167A-014: Blue and Red for Milan
The 5167A-014 is part of a limited edition of 250 Aquanaut watches.
The stainless steel case measures 40.8 mm between the 10 o’clock and 4 o’clock positions, with a thickness of 8.10 mm from the crystal to the case back and 8.95 mm from the crystal to the lugs. The polished surfaces contrast with the vertical satin finish on the bezel and sides; it features a screw-down crown and is water-resistant to 30 meters.
The blue soleil dial fades to black while retaining the embossed Aquanaut motif. The applied Arabic numerals and baton hands are in white gold with luminescent material; the hour markers and central seconds hand are red. Date at 3 o’clock.
The movement is still the 26-330 S C: 27 × 3.32 mm, 207 components, 30 jewels, 4 Hz, a 21-karat gold central rotor, and a power reserve of 35–45 hours.
The integrated strap, made of midnight blue composite material, echoes the dial’s pattern and ends at the folding clasp. The sapphire case back bears the inscription “Patek Philippe Milano 2026.”
5531G-012 and 5531G-013: Milan, Day and Night
Only five units each of the 5531G-012 and 5531G-013 are produced.
In the center of the dial, the first depicts Milan by day, the second by night, both rendered in Grand Feu cloisonné enamel. The 012 requires 45 cm of gold wire, approximately 0.15 g, and 16 enamel colors; the 013 uses the same amount of wire and a palette of 12 colors. The city disc features 24 place names in Italian and reserves the color red for “Milan.”
The automatic R 27 HU measures 32 × 8.5 mm, consists of 452 components and 45 jewels, operates at 3 Hz, and offers a power reserve of 43–48 hours. The 22-karat gold mini-rotor is guilloché-finished, and the Spiromax balance spring is made of Silinvar.
The distinctive feature of Ref. 5531 remains one of the most refined technical solutions in the collection: the minute repeater chimes the local time, that of the time zone selected at the 12 o’clock position and indicated by the central hands. The pushbutton at the 2 o’clock position allows the local time to be adjusted in one-hour increments.
The white gold case measures 40.2 mm in diameter, 43.83 mm including the crown, 47.35 mm from lug to lug, and 12.08 mm in total thickness. The openwork lugs, case middle, and repeater slider are finished with hand-engraved Clous de Paris guilloché.
The 012 features a light brown grained calfskin strap with ecru stitching; the 013 features a midnight blue grained calfskin strap with red stitching. White gold folding clasp. Both models come with two interchangeable case backs: one made of sapphire with “Patek Philippe Milano 2026” printed on it, and the other solid white gold with the same inscription engraved on it.
25 works of fine craftsmanship, four stories from Italy
The second half of the Milano 2026 project consists of 25 pieces of fine craftsmanship: six Dôme wall clocks, one table clock, four pocket watches, and fourteen wristwatches. Patek Philippe divides them into four themes: regions and cities of Italy, traditional Italian craftsmanship, Italian painting, and arts and crafts.
Here, the craftsmanship is just as important as the subject matter. Hand-engraving and guilloché work, gem-setting, Grand Feu cloisonné enamel, miniature painting, paillonné, flinqué, grisaille, and wood inlay are used individually or combined in a single piece.
On the Roads of Italy
Four 38 × 8.3 mm Calatrava watches, each limited to six pieces, depict four Italian landscapes featuring the Cinquecento. The cases are crafted in white or rose gold, the bezels feature a Clous de Paris pattern, and the movement is the ultra-thin Caliber 240 automatic, visible through the sapphire crystal case back.
The 5177G-053, dedicated to the Amalfi Coast, uses approximately 43 cm of gold wire and requires nine firings at 830 °C; the enamel painting further expands the color palette. Turquoise alligator and white gold complement the coastal landscape.
The 5177G-054 “Journey to Puglia” features 47 cm of gold wire, 28 enamel colors plus 13 dedicated to enamel painting, and 12 firings at 820 °C. White gold case and dark blue alligator leather strap.
The 5177R-010 “Chianti” and 5177R-011 “Lake Como” are now available in rose gold, with honey-beige and coral alligator straps, respectively. Overall, the four models use between 43 and 60 cm of gold wire, 28 to 40 enamel colors, 13 to 32 colors for the enamel painting, and nine to twelve firings at temperatures ranging from 820 to 830 °C.
Stamps, Rome, and a map of Milan
The 20183M-001 “Italian Stamps” Dôme Unica combines cloisonné, paillonné, enamel painting, and engraving. The stamps and the map of Italy on the dome require 17.02 meters of gold wire, approximately 31.82 g, 26 enamel colors, and eight to thirteen firings at temperatures between 800 and 830 °C. The fountains and city names are engraved and enameled; three gold paillons mark the cities depicted on the dome. The hour ring is made of marble, with a guilloché soleil en vagues center. The movement is the 17”’ PEND, a mechanical movement wound by an electric motor.
The 20184M-001 “Rome by Night, ” yet another one-of-a-kind piece, features grisaille in blanc de Limoges, yellow and white fine gold painting, and engraving. Each plate undergoes ten firings at approximately 780 °C. The white-lacquered hour ring is flanked by two applied and engraved jewel-like doves; the center features a “soleil en vagues” guilloché pattern beneath translucent gray enamel. It measures 128 × 213.5 mm and is equipped with the 17”’ PEND movement.
The 25028M-001 “Città di Milano,” limited to three pieces, explores an urban theme across three surfaces. The city’s concentric layout extends from the dial to the two curved side panels, requiring the enameler to maintain the continuity of the streets. Each enameled element requires approximately 11 meters of gold wire, 21.3 grams of gold, 20 enamel colors, and eight to nine firings at temperatures between 850 and 900 °C. The guilloché background with a grain d’orge pattern remains visible through the translucent enamel; the Duomo occupies the center of the composition.
Burano, Venice, and the Royal Palace of Venaria
The one-of-a-kind 992/193J-001 “Burano” pocket watch features cloisonné, flinqué, paillonné, and hand engraving. Approximately 2.8 meters of gold wire, 70 enamel colors, and about fifteen firings at 800 °C bring the lagoon’s houses and reflections to life. The yellow gold case measures 44.1 × 8.8 mm, with a crown set with a 0.26 ct red spinel; the movement is the manual-winding 17”’ LEP PS. The lugs and chain feature spinels, sapphires, blue quartz, and rock crystal.
The 995/147G-001 “Cruise in Venice” features a completely different technique. The inlay depicting the motorboat and the Grand Canal features 334 tiles and 15 tiny inlays selected from 37 types of wood, complemented by enamel painting. The matte black dial evokes the ship’s instruments; the crown, lugs, and chain are embellished with onyx. The movement is still the 17”’ LEP PS manual-winding caliber.
The Golden Ellipse 5738/50R-027 “La Grande Galleria” and 5738/50G-050 “Baroque Motif” are limited to five and six pieces, respectively. Both measure 34.5 × 39.5 mm by 6.5 mm, feature the 240 caliber, and have a solid case back.
The first, in rose gold, uses about 1.2 meters of gold wire, 20 colors, and 12 firings at temperatures exceeding 800 °C to recreate the perspective of the 80-meter-long Grand Gallery of the Reggia di Venaria. The second, in white gold, requires about one meter of gold wire, the same palette of twenty enamels, and twelve firings to reproduce a detail of the palace’s Baroque decorations.
Tuscany and the Gulf of Naples
The Golden Ellipse 5738/50R-017 “Sunset in Tuscany, ” produced in a limited edition of ten pieces, features a dial entirely crafted from wood inlay: 203 tiles and 75 tiny inlays made from 57 different types of wood. It features a 34.5 × 39.5 × 6.5 mm rose gold case, the 240 caliber, and a gold-colored calfskin strap.
The three Calatrava models dedicated to the Gulf of Naples, on the other hand, are all limited to six pieces, measure 38 × 8.3 mm, and are powered by the 240 caliber. They all feature a wave-patterned guilloché dial, flinqué enamel, Grand Feu cloisonné, enamel painting, and 112 diamonds totaling approximately 0.87 ct on the bezel and lugs; another 29 diamonds, totaling approximately 0.24 ct, are set on the clasp.
The 5077/100J-010 “Gulf of Naples” in yellow gold, features lemon trees and the Faraglioni of Capri on its dial. It requires 40 cm of gold wire, 30 enamel colors, nine colors for the enamel painting, and eight to nine firings at temperatures ranging from 750 to 820 °C. The strap is made of glossy blue alligator leather.
The 5077/100R-072 “Spiaggia di Capri,” in rose gold, uses 41 cm of wire, 22 colors, plus ten additional colors for enamel painting, and between 15 and 20 firings at temperatures ranging from 800 to 840 °C. Beach umbrellas, swimmers, and sea foam make up the scene; the strap is made of turquoise-blue alligator leather.
The 5077/100G-082 “Baia rosa,” in white gold, features a palette of 84 enamel colors, with approximately 48 cm of gold wire, 15 colors for the enamel painting, and seven to eight firings ranging from 750 to 840 °C. The gulf at sunset is framed by bougainvillea and accompanied by a fuchsia-pink alligator.
Three 38 mm dials, each featuring a distinctly different combination of colors and techniques.
Sicily: Longwy and Cloisonné
The unique Dôme 20185M-001 “Limoni di Sicilia” brings Longwy enamel on porcelain to watchmaking, drawing inspiration from Sicilian majolica. The design is traced onto the bisque with fine black outlines, then filled with 14 opaque enamels and finished with a brush using five additional pigments. Each dial requires five firings at temperatures ranging from 1,020 to 745 °C. It measures 126 × 221.2 mm and uses the 17”’ PEND movement.
The 20179M-001 “Arance di Sicilia, ” also a one-of-a-kind piece, focuses instead on depth. The orange trees in the foreground are crafted in Grand Feu cloisonné; Palermo is depicted in the background using enamel painting. The decoration requires approximately 15 meters of gold wire, 26.8 grams, 49 enamel colors, and an additional four or five pastel colors for the enamel painting. Each plate undergoes nine to eleven firings at temperatures between 900 and 910 °C. Here, too, the movement is the 17”’ PEND.
Florentine Mosaics, Ravenna, and Murano
The 7040/250G-011 “Mosaico fiorentino” is a one-of-a-kind timepiece with a minute repeater. The white gold Officier case measures 36 × 10.1 mm and houses the automatic R 27 PS movement.
The dial recreates the effect of a Florentine semi-precious stone mosaic using Grand Feu enamel and enamel painting. The process involves 16 enamel colors, nine layers of transparent base enamel, and a total of 25 firings at approximately 750 °C. The bezel is set with 168 diamonds totaling approximately 0.83 carats; another 26 diamonds, totaling approximately 0.19 carats, are set on the clasp.
The one-of-a-kind Dôme 20180M-001 “Ravenna” takes these figures even further: approximately 33.4 meters of gold thread, equal to 84.29 grams, twenty enamel colors, and ten firings at 750 °C for each plate. Cloisonné, paillonné, and enamel painting recreate the effect of the micro-mosaic from the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. It measures 128 × 213.5 mm and is equipped with the 17”’ PEND movement.
The mini-Dôme 10039M-001 “Millefiori” produced in a limited edition of five pieces, uses approximately 14.5 meters of gold wire, 27.5 grams of gold, ten enamel colors, and ten firings at 770 °C per plate. The white mother-of-pearl hour ring features twelve dark orange baguette-cut sapphires totaling 1.92 ct. It measures 92.6 × 152.3 mm and is powered by the 17”’ PEND movement.
Dante
The 995/151G-001 “Dante” is a one-of-a-kind white gold piece inspired by Botticelli’s portrait of Dante, painted around 1495.
Cloisonné, enamel painting, gold dust, and engraving coexist on the same surface. The piece features 14 enamels, approximately 19 cm of gold wire, and 25 firings at 800 °C. The stars emerge from the gold dust, while elements inspired by Botticelli’s illustrations for the Divine Comedy frame the composition.
The case measures 44.1 × 9.1 mm, features a blue enamel cabochon on the crown, and houses the 17”’ LEP PS manual-winding movement with a small seconds hand. The white gold setting incorporates segments of rutile quartz and rests on a lapis lazuli base with pyrite inclusions; a white gold chain with an enameled medallion completes the ensemble.
Lions, lace, and stucco
The Golden Ellipse 5738/50G-039 “Reclining Lion” limited to six pieces, uses a blanc de Limoges grisaille technique to interpret the lion sculpted by Pasquale Ricca in 1866, which has been repositioned in the composition in front of the colonnade of the Basilica of St. Francis of Paola in Naples.
The dial requires 19–20 firings at decreasing temperatures ranging from 780 to 755 °C. The white gold case measures 34.5 × 39.5 × 6.5 mm; it has a solid caseback and is powered by the Caliber 240 movement. A black alligator strap and a white gold buckle complete the look.
The Calatrava 5077/100R-069 “Pink Lace” and 5077/100G-080 “Blue Lace” combine champlevé and paillonné enamel with hand-engraved sapphire crystal. Patek Philippe’s materials specifications show a discrepancy regarding the production run of the two references; for this reason, the number of pieces is not listed here. The technical specifications, however, agree on the construction details: both measure 38 × 8.3 mm, are powered by the Caliber 240, and feature 112 diamonds on the case (approximately 0.87 ct) and 29 on the clasp (approximately 0.24 ct).
The pink version, in rose gold, features six enamel colors and requires eight to twelve firings at 760 °C, with a satin-finished chocolate-brown calfskin strap. The blue version, in white gold, uses five colors and requires eight to fifteen firings at the same temperature, paired with a satin-finished navy blue calfskin strap.
The latest model is the Tasca Unico 995/148G-001 “Stucchi italiani.” A sunburst guilloché dial, translucent green flinqué enamel, and a relief-engraved appliqué reproduce the volutes and shells found in Renaissance and Baroque stucco work. Six firings at 765 °C are required.
The white gold case measures 45 × 9.7 mm; the crown is set with a 0.28-carat tsavorite. The dial is in matte white enamel, with applied Breguet numerals and leaf-shaped hands in white gold. The 17”’ LEP PS manual-winding movement controls the hours, minutes, and small seconds.
The white gold setting features a hand-engraved seashell and rests on white marble set with a second 0.35-carat tsavorite. The chain, also in white gold, echoes the seashell design in the medallion.
Gondolo Ladies First: Patek Philippe Revives a Chapter from 2009
Rounding out the new releases presented in Milan is a collection that shifts the focus from complications to the design of the jewelry watch. It is called Gondolo Ladies First and includes six new models: three with an opaline dial and a diamond-set flange, and three Joaillerie models with pavé setting extending across the dial, case, and lugs. All of them revive a silhouette that holds a special place in the Manufacture’s recent history.
The reference is the Ladies First Chronograph Ref. 7071 from 2009 . It wasn’t just because of the cushion-shaped case, with its rounded corners and soft proportions: it was that very watch that introduced Patek Philippe’s first in-house hand-wound chronograph movement, the CH 29-535 PS, choosing a women’s model for its debut. The new Gondolo builds on those proportions, while also reviving a design whose history is rooted in Art Deco and Patek Philippe’s relationship with the Brazilian market. Over the years, the Gondolo has taken on cushion, square, rectangular, and tonneau shapes; even the Twenty~4 of the 1990s traces part of its origins to this formal vocabulary.
The case measures 31 × 34.8 mm and is 8.03 mm thick; it is entirely polished and features articulated lugs designed to follow the contour of the wrist. All six models share a solid case back and water resistance up to 30 meters. The movement is also the same: the E15 quartz caliber, measuring just 15 × 13 mm and 1.8 mm thick, with 57 components, six jewels, a frequency of 32,768 Hz, and a battery life of approximately three years. This is a deliberate choice, which Patek Philippe attributes to its desire to prioritize practicality and ease of use in a collection built first and foremost around shape, color, and jewelry design.
The first group includes the Ref. 7043G-001, 7043R-001, and 7043GR-001 . The opaline dial features a concentric wave pattern embossed in relief; faceted trapezoidal applied hour markers complement the small gold cabochons used for the minute markers and the slender leaf-shaped hands. Framing the dial is an angled flange set with 108 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 0.41 ct, whose sizes are graduated along the perimeter of the case.
The 7043G-001 combines white gold, a blue-gray dial, and a calfskin strap with a denim pattern in the same shade; the 7043R-001 features rose gold, a chestnut-colored dial, and a brown calfskin strap with a denim effect. The 7043GR-001, on the other hand, features a two-tone design: a white gold case, a rose gold crown and articulated lugs, a silver dial, and a hammered beige calfskin strap. Three variations of the same design, achieved without altering the proportions or construction.
The three Gondolo Ladies First Joaillerie models offer a marked shift in intensity. Ref. 7043/250G-001, 7043/250R-001, and 7043/250GR-001 extend the diamond setting from the flange to the entire watch: 687 brilliant-cut diamonds totaling 3.11 carats. Of these, 303 form a circular pavé on the 18-karat gold dial that extends around the center; 108 adorn the flange, 253 cover the case and lugs, and another 23 are set on the clasp.
The colored stones are what distinguish the three variations. The 7043/250G-001 in white gold features 12 trapezoid-cut blue topazes totaling 0.20 ct, blue leaf-shaped hands, and a polished peacock-blue alligator strap. The 7043/250R-001 in rose gold replaces the blue with 12 green tsavorites totaling 0.22 ct, green hands, and a matching alligator strap. The two-tone 7043/250GR-001, on the other hand, combines white gold with a rose gold crown and lugs, 12 trapezoid-cut purple amethysts totaling 0.17 ct, purple hands, and a strap in the same shade. The color of the hands is achieved through ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) treatment, ensuring they match the gemstones and the strap.
What’s particularly interesting, especially given Patek Philippe’s positioning, is the very presence of quartz.The E15 isn’t hidden behind the watch’s jewelry-like nature: it becomes part of the design. According to the Manufacture, only 20% of its components are electronic, while the remaining 80% are produced according to the same criteria applied to mechanical calibers; the mechanical parts also receive the same level of attention to finishing as manual-winding and automatic movements.
Finally, there is another debut related to the collection. Gondolo Ladies First is launching “I AM. I WEAR.”, Patek Philippe’s new campaign dedicated to women, developed in London by Leagas Delaney and accompanied by a short film directed by Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet.
An exhibition worth the trip, even without a watch on your wrist
There are over 500 pieces on display, of course. There’s the Patek Philippe Museum, the Grand Complications, the movements, the artisans at work, and some watches that we’re unlikely to ever see gathered in one place again. But to focus solely on the numbers would mean missing out on an important part of WATCH ART.
Because here we can observe what happens before a watch becomes a watch. We can see a hand bending the gold wire of a cloisonné, follow an engraving, observe guilloché work, or understand what it means to craft a dial through ten, fifteen, or twenty passes through the kiln. A few meters further on, four indicators of a perpetual calendar click into place simultaneously in thirty milliseconds. These are almost opposite aspects of the same craft.
Milan offers yet another reason to visit. It is engraved on the casebacks of the Limited Editions, appears in red on the city disc of the 5531, is depicted by day and by night, and is recreated using eleven meters of gold thread. It is also the city chosen by Patek Philippe to unveil the new instant perpetual calendar of Ref. 5978P-010 to the world.
And here we come to perhaps the most important piece of information for our readers: the WATCH ART Grand Exhibition is open to everyone, and admission is free. It will be held from October 2 to 18, 2026, at the CityOval in Milan; registration is required, and Patek Philippe recommends booking in advance to avoid lines.
You don’t have to be a Patek Philippe customer. You don’t have to own a prestigious watch, nor do you need to know the difference between an annual calendar and a perpetual calendar. The Grand Exhibitions were created precisely to bring watches, heritage, techniques, and people, which we normally see only through photographs and display cases, out of the Manufacture.
For those of us who live and breathe watchmaking, it’s one of those events to mark on the calendar without a second thought. For those who know little or nothing about watches, it can become an exhibition of art, technology, design, history, and craftsmanship, even more so than an exhibition of hands and complications.
Events of this magnitude rarely take place so close to us. This time, Patek Philippe is in Milan; the doors are open, and admission is free. Even if you don’t have a watch on your wrist, it’s worth stopping by.
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