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Patek Philippe: Complex Functions Are Incredible.

2011/1/28 16:18:00 78

In 1933, Patek Philippe delivered a pocket watch made to him by New York banker Henry Graves 8 years ago.

complex

The manufacturing standard of pocket watches has been established.

When ordering, Graves asked to produce the most complicated pocket watch in the world.

Mechanics

The miracle watch has more than 900 components, which can calculate sunrise, sunset and sidereal time, and also show signs in the sky above New York.

It wasn't until 1989 that Patek Philippe built a more sophisticated pocket watch than these 24 complex functions.

To commemorate the establishment of the company 150th anniversary, Patek Philippe launched the Caliber 89, which weighs about 0.4 kilograms and contains 33 complex functions and 1728 components.

10 years later, Graves's pocket watch at the Sotheby's auction made the highest price at that time - $11 million.

"This is an astronomical figure," said Larry Pettinelli, President of Patek Philippe America.

I believe this will improve people's interest in pocket watches, especially complex pocket watches.

For Patek Philippe, which is a low bidder at Sotheby's auction, Graves's pocket watch also inspired some recently launched pocket watches, including 8 years.

Development

And launched the Star Caliber 2000.

The pocket watch has 21 complex functions, including the movement of moon and constellation.

Pettinelli said: "innovation is one of the essence of Patek Philippe. Felix den, President of the company, hopes to get an unprecedented masterpiece when he builds these pocket watches.

Although these pocket watches follow our historical tradition, we also put forward higher requirements for watchmakers, watchcase craftsmen and gift designers in the process of innovation.

One of the biggest problems in the process of making Star Caliber 2000 is to replicate the ringing time of the clock tower in Westminster Palace, where the British Parliament is located, the first time on a portable table.

The watchmaker needs to combine the latest technology with the ancient tabulation skills in solving the problem of the machine maker who has made the London logo "Big Ben" shrink.

Pettinelli explained: "in the era of no computers, watchmakers need to keep experimenting and correcting errors in making Graves pocket watches."

He reckons that if you don't use CAD graphics software, it will be unthinkable to design Patek Philippe's complex function pocket watch now. Even if it works, it will take at least 20 years.