A quarter century ago, Patek Philippe’s Twenty~4 burst onto the luxury scene with an unexpectedly modern look from the storied brand.
As the debut watch in the house’s first collection dedicated exclusively to women, the timepiece was crafted from stainless steel set with diamonds, a groundbreaking pairing that caused a ripple of surprise and buzz in the horology world.
The Twenty~4 soon became an object of desire for collectors and aficionados alike. Now, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Patek Philippe has introduced a new rose-gold version with a (fittingly) royal-purple dial.
Equipped with a user-friendly quartz movement, the watch is intended to accompany a woman through her entire day in style.
The Twenty~4’s retro-modern Art Deco design inspiration has long been evident in its rectangular, two-tiered case, flanked by two rows of 17 brilliant-cut diamonds. Only two Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock extend the watch’s simple, linear composition. Its bracelet, a manchette or cuff style, consists of broad interlocking links that continue the watch’s clean lines as it encircles the wrist.
Interestingly, the design concept also inspired its name. Equipped with a user-friendly quartz movement, the watch is intended to accompany a woman through her entire day in style. As the brand explains, it was created “for every hour of the day and night, at work, at home and during leisure activities.”
In its 25 years, the watch’s distinctive design has been crafted in a range of dial colors and precious metals, including rose, yellow and white gold. A yellow-gold version without diamonds was added to the stable in 2009, while high-jewelry versions set with an array of precious gemstones have added dazzle to the range. In 2015, the line expanded to include watches equipped with a mechanical self-winding movement in a round case.
This year’s rose-gold 25th anniversary edition features an exceptionally textured, rich purple dial not previously available in the collection. The dial plate is embossed with a concentric wave pattern and coated with dozens of layers of translucent purple lacquer, then topped with more transparent lacquer. The effect is one of extraordinary depth, creating an exquisite play of light.
Meanwhile, the Twenty~4’s iconic Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock pay tribute to its legacy.
The new offering is one of 11 Patek Philippe timepieces that made their debut at this year’s Watches and Wonders Geneva Salon. The brand has added a chain-style gold bracelet to its Golden Ellipse line, while also expanding its travel, calendar and sporty watch collections. It also more than doubled its warranty on all new watches — extending it from two to five years. The Swiss house has committed to maintaining the long-term integrity and reliability of its timepieces since 1839, and shows no signs of slowing down.
So will the Twenty~4 reign for another 25 years? You can bet on it.