First up we ventured from the Hotel d'Angleterre the twenty minute drive to Plan les Ouates which is the home to all the major watch brands inluding Rolex and PP.
There are two main parts to the PP "factory" - machining and assembly. We were given unprecedented access to both.
The movement (heart of the watch) is made up of brass, steel and nickel silver. There can be up to 1600 parts to a movement really depending on the number of features or complications it has. We watched as artisans buffed and drilled and polished and cut all the pieces that make up a movement. It's skilled work I can tell you!
The movement pieces are sent to assembly where the watchmakers go to work. We met up with Paul Buclin - the Master Watchmaker. He showed me some pieces --- I was totally blown away at the detail, beauty and cost of them ...
From there we went to the Museum - located in the centre of Geneva.
Polish immigrant and watchmaker Antoni Patek started making pocket watches in 1839 in Geneva. In 1845 Patek joined with the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, inventor of the keyless winding mechanism. In 1851, Patek Philippe & Co was founded.
The Museum is a MUST ... it's full of amazing timepieces ...
I want a PATEK PHILIPPE NAUTILUS ... if anyone with oodles of spare cash is reading this!!!
