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PATEK PHILIPPE IS BREAKING NEW GROUND WITH ITS NEW CUBITUS COLLECTION. WE EXPLORES WHAT THIS MEANS TO THE MAISON AND TO THE INDUSTRY.

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

“I ALWAYS WANTED a square shape,” Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern told a group of journalists as they became among the first in the world to handle Patek Philippe’s new Cubitus watch in the maison’s minimalist office in Munich’s Old Town. “To have a complete collection, a square watch has to be part of your collection.”

Additionally, Stern revealed that the development process had been extensive: four years for the design and an additional two for the movement. But when one considers the Cubitus, it is apparent that a lot of work went into ensuring that it fitted precisely into that Venn Diagram overlap between a watch that embodies Patek Philippe’s signature elegance while offering something the maison didn’t have yet.

Reflecting on the collection, he saw it as a “personal challenge” and a bold, unexpected move for Patek Philippe—especially considering how quickly it was released. Most maisons launch novelties at large-scale, international watch industry events such as Watches & Wonders Geneva. Patek Philippe chose to do this in its own space in late October, at the cusp of winter. Like the timepiece itself, its release broke tradition. Nevertheless, the Cubitus enriches the maison’s already impressive array of timepieces in many ways.

There are three distinct models, each with a unique character. The Cubitus Instantaneous Grand Date, Day and Moon Phases in platinum boasts a technically impressive new movement with instantaneous displays. It showcases Patek Philippe’s commitment to innovation and pushes the limits of horological complexity. The vintage-inspired two-tone Cubitus with its blue sunburst dial offers a touch of nostalgia and elegance. A steel model with an olive-green sunburst dial completes the collection.

New Forms Of Elegance