PHILIP BARAT IS Patek Philippe's go-to guy when casual chats about watches take a turn towards erudite discourse. At every annual reveal of the Genevan manufacturer's watches, he is there, hosting curated technical presentations' for deep dives into Patek Philippe's most complex watches of the year.
Barat looks like a drill sergeant but has the manner of a gentle librarian. Affectionately referred to as Mr Plexi by industry peers for his love of using plexiglass models to explain complex mechanisms, Barat was again called upon to explain one of Patek Philippe's more unusual watches this year: Ref. 5224R Travel Time, which features a 24-hour dial that can display two time zones at once.
"It is a 'simple' development," he reassures. The unfussy way in which he breaks down the mechanism makes it easy to understand for those less inclined to micro-engineering.
Beyond his technical insights, however, Barat is keen to remind us that watches and watchmaking have to be anchored in virtues such as beauty and emotion. They are far from tangible, but these qualities make watches truly desirable, he says. "At Patek," Barat stresses, "we don't pursue the accolade of making the world's most complicated watches."
What is the origin story of Calatrava Travel Time Ref. 5224R?
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2023-Ausgabe von Robb Report Singapore.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der December 2023-Ausgabe von Robb Report Singapore.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
Gordon Ramsay Makes it Rain
The famed British chef and TV host hasn’t held on to three Michelin stars at his flagship restaurant for 23 years simply by screaming. Alex French unearths the secret to his worldwide domination.
The Weight Of Tradition
Maximilian Riedel reflects on balancing the weight of a 260-year family legacy with modern innovation, steering a historic brand into the future while honouring its rich heritage.
Balancing Thrills
Lotus’s first electric Hyper-GT, the Emeya S, delivers thrilling performance, luxury and practicality in a striking package.
Burn Calories, Not Carbon
Luxury fitness equipment purveyor, Cycling Bears, proves that sustainability is more than a buzzword-it’s a lifestyle that we need to espouse for the sake of posterity and ourselves.
Cool As Ice
Mercedes-Benz’s brainy, down-to-earth CEO Ola Källenius is an expert at racing a nearly 4-ton truck across a frozen lake. Can he steer the marque’s electric vehicle-focused future as adeptly?
VINCENZO CASTALDO
The creative director of Pomellato delves into the artistic and personal philosophies shaping his life and work.
Electric Shock
Porsche finally adds hybridisation to the 911 with the all-new GTS, and enthusiasts are, predictably, up in arms. But how does it actually drive?
Swing Into Luxury
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN you combine one of Singapore’s most prestigious golf courses with a luxurious five-star resort? You get a hole-in-one golfing escape like no other.
Don't Bid Adieu Yet
The Vicem 65 Classic, offered in both fibreglass and cold-moulded wood, is a sophisticated vessel imbued with anachronistic panache.
STRAIGHT OUT OF ORBIS
Roger Dubuis has never been one to play it safe, and the Orbis in Machina shows why
