Technically Speaking

Patek Philippe's head of watch development, Philip Barat, on imbuing complications with emotions.

- Alvin Wong

PHILIP BARAT IS Patek Philippe's go-to guy when casual chats about watches take a turn towards erudite discourse. At every annual reveal of the Genevan manufacturer's watches, he is there, hosting curated technical presentations' for deep dives into Patek Philippe's most complex watches of the year.

Barat looks like a drill sergeant but has the manner of a gentle librarian. Affectionately referred to as Mr Plexi by industry peers for his love of using plexiglass models to explain complex mechanisms, Barat was again called upon to explain one of Patek Philippe's more unusual watches this year: Ref. 5224R Travel Time, which features a 24-hour dial that can display two time zones at once.

"It is a 'simple' development," he reassures. The unfussy way in which he breaks down the mechanism makes it easy to understand for those less inclined to micro-engineering.

Beyond his technical insights, however, Barat is keen to remind us that watches and watchmaking have to be anchored in virtues such as beauty and emotion. They are far from tangible, but these qualities make watches truly desirable, he says. "At Patek," Barat stresses, "we don't pursue the accolade of making the world's most complicated watches."

What is the origin story of Calatrava Travel Time Ref. 5224R?