Exciting times await fans of Patek Philippe, thanks to the announcement of the next Watch Art Grand Exhibition to be held by the brand. After successful shows in Dubai in 2012, Munich in 2013, London in 2015, and New York in 2017, Patek Philippe will hit the road once more and head to Singapore for the 2019 edition of an event that is fast becoming one of the watchmaking industry’s most engaging. Not only are swathes of historic timepieces from the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva shipped out for the show, but also ten themed rooms, spanning 1,800m², are set up to entertain and delight visitors.
Patek Philippe appreciates how integral its fandom in Singapore and Southeast Asia is to its global reputation. In this corner of the world, the artisanal craft of the Geneva master is highly regarded. And to satiate the bubbling desire for all things Patek, this edition of the Watch Art Grand Exhibition will be the largest yet.
The brand aims to effectively transport the world of Patek Philippe halfway across the globe and give visitors the feeling that they are visiting the salons, manufacture, and museums they would normally have to travel to Geneva to see. And as a special treat to make the experience all the more memorable, the exhibition will accompany the launch of several new limited-edition timepieces, extolling the cultural and artistic traditions of the region.
And it is no coincidence that this event will take place during the year that marks the 200th anniversary of Singapore’s foundation, and will serve as a simultaneous celebration of both Asian and European culture. Singapore’s historic importance as a trading hub that linked the Far East and the Western World has long been respected by watchmakers, as we can see from a famous Geneva pocket watch that depicts the port of Canton painted on enamel. The watch dates from around 1830, just 11 years after Singapore’s foundation, and was commissioned for the Chinese Market. This, and many other artifacts created to celebrate the link between the Orient and the Occident, will be on display throughout the fair, which will be held from September 28th to October 13th, at the Marina Bay Sands Theater in the heart of Singapore.
The 10 interactive rooms erected for visitors to explore will be Cinema Room, Current Collection Room, the Napoleon Room, the Museum Room, the Rare Handcrafts Room, the Watchmakers Room, the Grand Complications Room, the Movements Room, the Interactive Room (where visitors can get an immersive experience of movement architecture), and the Singapore and Southeast Asia Room which pays tribute to the region’s heritage.
The show is open from Sunday-Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm (last entry at 6 pm), on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 10 pm (last admission 9 pm), and is free to enter. On the last day, October 13th, the exhibition will close early at 5 pm (no entry after 4 pm), and both Sundays (October 6th and 13th) will be family days, during which children’s activities will be held between 10 am and 5 pm (the show will be open as normal around these activities). To register for free tickets, visitors must access the booking platform on www.patek.com. Once at the event, visitors will be provided with an audio guide in Mandarin or English and a detailed catalog explaining all exhibited pieces will be available. To learn more, visit patek.com.
