Article of the week
The New Patek Philippe Twenty~4 7340/1R Perpetual Calendar

Introduced in 1999, the Twenty~4 collection was Patek Philippe’s first dedicated line of feminine timepieces. The original model featured an Art Deco-inspired manchette (cuff) design, but in 2018, the brand unveiled the Twenty~4 Automatic, which is a round-cased iteration powered by an automatic movement. This year, Patek Philippe elevates the collection further by introducing a perpetual calendar complication, marking the collection's debut in the realm of Grand Complications.
Crafted entirely in 18K rose gold, the watch features a 36mm case with a slender profile of just 9.95mm, making it sit gracefully on the wrist. The case is meticulously finished with a combination of polished and brushed surfaces, enhancing its refined aesthetic. Two dial options are available. The Ref. 7340/1R-001 features a silvery opaline dial with a vertical satin finish, evoking the texture of shantung silk that feature irregular texture, while the Ref. 7340/1R-010 presents an olive green sunburst dial for a more contemporary appeal.

News F.P.Journe Young Talent Competition Goes to Thomas Aubert

A 23-year-old Frenchman who earned the prize with the Séléné

Since 2015, the Young Talent Competition by F.P.JOURNE has been supporting emerging watchmaking students and recent graduates as they enter the world of independent watchmaking. The competition is organized with support from The Hour Glass, a luxury watch retailer in the Asia Pacific. Participants in the competition present a timepiece they have designed and constructed themselves. These submissions are judged based on their complexity, aesthetics, and craftsmanship by a distinguished jury. The panel includes François-Paul Journe, Philippe Dufour, Andreas Strehler, Giulio Papi, Marc Jenni, Michael Tay, and Elizabeth Doerr.

This year's winner is Thomas Aubert, a 23-year-old from France, who submitted his wristwatch, the Séléné, a one of a kind creation developed during his final year at the “Edgar Faure High School” in Morteau, France. The watch comes in a 43mm stainless steel case, measuring 13 mm in thickness. The shooting stars on the back of the watch move as the key is wound, activated by the turning mechanism. The stars are made of steel, polished and chamfered to enhance their shine. 

An engraving of the Pisces zodiac sign adorns the watch caseback, though this can be customized to suit the owner's preference. The front dial consists of two sections: the inner part, in silver, while the outer portion is circular-grained, with a hairspring positioned at 9 o’clock. The hands are crafted from steel, chamfered, blued, and polished. The three-quarter bridge and plate are made from nickel silver with a sandblasted finish.. 

The watch is powered by the caliber 6497 modified, a manual winding movement that operates at 18,000 vph (2.5Hz) and offers 46 hours of power reserve. The watchmaker redesigned all the key components such as the bridges, platebalance, time adjustment, and winding, to achieve his desired design without compromising on quality. To bring to life the themes of curiosity and shooting stars, he wanted the moving elements to be fast-paced, positioned on the back of the watch, and active during winding. 

The winner of the 2024 Young Talent Competition is awarded a diploma and a CHF 50,000, equivalent to AED 200,000, from The Hour Glass and F.P.Journe, allowing him to purchase watchmaking tools or finance a horological project. We wish Thomas Aubert all the best in his journey.

For more information please visit F.P Journe  official website. 


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