PATEK PHILIPPE CALLS it PP6, the brand’s sixth production wing at Plan-les-Ouates in the Genevan suburbs; a watchmaking plant that will birth all your Calatravas, Nautiluses, Aquanauts, Gonodolos and Twenty~4s for foreseeable decades to come. A creative hub, inner sanctum and manufacturing monolith rolled into one, PP6 took five years to construct and cost almost CHF600 million—and it is bigger and better than any facility that Patek Philippe has built.
PP6 needed to be massive, too. Especially when the 184-year-old company has outgrown itself several times over. Patek Philippe has come a long way from the 19th century, when its watchmakers made timepieces at the top floor of its historic building on rue du Rhône, along Lake Geneva, which is now an iconic landmark that houses its flagship salon. And also, from the facilities it constructed in 1964 and 1996, which quickly filled to capacity.
Though PP6 officially opened in 2020, it remained a mystery to people outside Patek Philippe, no thanks to a pandemic that shuttered global borders. Almost three years on, however, Robb Report Singapore finally had a chance to tour the facility. It was as much a peek into the inner workings of Patek Philippe as it was a view to the foresight of Thierry Stern, the company’s president, and his father and predecessor, Philip, who in the 1990s had already envisioned a futureproof manufacture that would house Patek Philippe’s production departments and ateliers under one roof.
Opposites Attract
Walking along the wide corridors that seem to stretch forever, one cannot help but be struck by the delicious contradictions that the building and its inhabitants offer. Within the factory is a confluence of man and machine, tradition and innovation, and things big and small.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Building Lasting Legacies In Asia
Julius Baer’s commitment to long-term client partnerships is key to its success in helping clients in the region realise their wealth ambitions.
Empowering Generations Of Wealth Owners
Serving one-quarter of the world’s billionaires globally, Citi Private Bank offers a time-tested approach to preserving and growing family wealth, seeking to help legacies flourish for generations to come.
This Month's Feed
Only the best dining and drinking spots in Singapore.
SUSTAINABILITY ON THE GREENS
The general manager and director of agronomy at Sentosa Golf Club, Andrew Johnston, reflects on his tenure at one of Asia’s elite golfing destinations.
Best of the Best - Wine
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Travel
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Home
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Technology
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Style
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.
Best of the Best - Jewellery
Lounging in a Maldivian resort, wine-tasting in Bordeaux, putting a sports car through its paces at Sonoma Raceway, curating the best watches from Geneva, perusing the top menswear accoutrements in Milan, testing cutting-edge yachts in Monaco. The life of a Robb Report editor may sound glamorous, but-actually, we can't argue there. Even so, separating the wheat from the chaff is no small task in the luxury realm, since even the chaff can be mighty impressive. In our 36th annual Best of the Best issue, we again offer our assessment of the past year's most exemplary products, places and experiences. And yes, edition number 37 is already underway.