Patek Philippe has been at the forefront of developing women’s watches for two centuries. Pioneering artistic elements such as enamelling, high-level gem setting, and engraving, are the hallmarks of Patek Philippe’s women’s watches. Stylistic elements aside, Patek Philippe incorporated useful complications, like quarter-repeaters that chimed the time at fifteen-minute intervals. These references caught the attention of queens and the women of high society. Patek Philippe’s bespoke work for aristocratic women gave them the reputation as the premier watchmaker of women’s watches.
Conforming to the ethos of the original Twenty~4 collection launched in 1999, the Twenty~4 Automatic has been designed for the modern woman. And, true to its name, the Twenty~4 works for a multitude of occasions across the day: it’s a watch that can be worn to work and easily transitioned to the evening thanks to its versatile design. It’s restrained, yet abundant in fine detail; functional, yet impeccably stylish.
The Twenty~4 Automatic features the same articulated bracelet and expertly hand-set diamonds, but most other elements have undergone a serious overhaul. Most notable is the fact that the new collection has been refreshed with a round diamond-encircled dial to house a self-winding mechanical movement. While the previous Twenty~4 models housed quartz movements, the contemporary interpretation is powered by automatic movements. The Twenty~4 Automatic uses Patek Philippe’s very own calibre 324 S C complete with a Gyromax® balance and Spiromax® balance spring in Silinvar®. In essence, the self-winding movement is impeccably precise and reliable.
Aesthetically, the Twenty~4 Automatic builds on the tasteful design of the original, but is distinctly more casual in its appearance. The first iteration of the Twenty~4 came with a small rectangular face, which gave the watch a classic, bracelet-like look. The new version has a sportier and more relaxed edge, broadening its appeal to a younger, style-conscious market. The 36mm round face is complemented by a slightly domed sapphire-crystal glass, a sturdy articulated bracelet, rounded baton hands with luminescent coating. The ‘6’ and ‘12’ Roman numeral hour markers on the original have been replaced by Arabic numerals.
While the mechanics and overall design features are uniform across the range, the Twenty~4 Automatic collection contains nine different references: available in three stainless steel versions and five in rose gold. In stainless steel, the watch’s dial comes in a sunburst blue, sunburst olive green and sunburst grey with black gradation. In rose gold, the dial is either a lush sunburst-brown, a rose-gilt sunburst or silver-grey with a beautiful double horizontal and vertical satin finish. There’s also a stunning haute joaillerie model with the dial, bezel, crown and bracelet all paved with diamonds, presented in a “random” or “snow” setting.
For the modern woman, the Twenty~4 Automatic is a wise choice. Combining a chic aesthetic with some of the finest mechanics on the market, it’s a watch that delivers functionality and style at any time of day.
The Hour Glass is the ultimate destination for luxury timepieces, renowned for its customer service and carefully curated stable of watches, with Patek Philippe available in boutiques in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.