Pilot Programme

After a brief hiatus, aviator timepieces are back on Patek Philippe’s agenda.

- Celine Yap

At the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, there are timepieces of all stripes and colours, some of which are made by the manufacture, and others by various ateliers dating back to the 17th century. A special curation of these artefacts was on show at the Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition, most recently staged in Singapore in 2019 at Marina Bay Sands, to provide an overarching view of Patek Philippe’s history, expertise and watchmaking philosophy through the years.

Watch connoisseurs know and love Patek Philippe as a maker of exceptional classical wrist and pocket watches, grande complications, and iconic sports models such as the Nautilus and Aquanaut. But if one has the chance to visit said museum, one might be surprised to learn that Patek Philippe’s portfolio also includes a full assortment of digital timekeepers, artisanal dome clocks, elaborate nurses’ watches and even aviation instruments. While they all fall under vastly different timepiece categories, one unifying feature found in every creation is functionality.