OK, I admit it, I am tumbling down a rabbit hole of literature on Patek Philippe. After my visit to Geneva at the tail end of last year, I found myself curious to learn more, and it is fair to say that curiosity grew the more I learned. I started by reading Nicholas Foulkes’ book, Patek Philippe: The Authorised Biography (you can read my review of this here) which was about as good as an introduction to all things Patek Philippe as you could hope to find.
Since then, I have been exploring more articles, and was even lucky to be gifted some old editions of the Patek Philippe Magazine, as well as some other reading material too.
One of these was a small book about the special edition releases that Patek Philippe launched for their 175th anniversary in 2014, amongst which was the legendary Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime. They produced just 7 pieces of this special grand complication, one of which was destined for the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva which we got to see on display when we visited.
There was also a special, one-off Grandmaster Chime produced in steel for OnlyWatch 2019 which I managed to try on my wrist during the world tour prior to the auction.
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime for OnlyWatch 2019
It has always been a watch that I was fascinated with, owing to its incredible complexity but more because of the way in which it is a champion of acoustic watch complications.
When I learned of a book published by Patek Philippe dedicated to all things Grandmaster Chime, I decided I wanted to learn more.
Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime
Grandmaster Chime by Patek Philippe
For Patek Philippe’s 150th anniversary in 1989 the brand created the Calibre 89 pocket watch, which for 25 years was the most complicated watch in the world with 33 complications (until Vacheron Constantin’s reference 57260 came along in 2015 with its mind-boggling 57 complications). Only 4 were ever made.
At the turn of the Millennium, Patek Philippe created the Star Caliber 2000 pocket watch, with no less than 1118 individual components.
To mark the brand’s 175th anniversary in 2014, Philippe Stern officially started the Grandmaster Chime project in 2007, conceptualising a wristwatch that would befit the occasion: the most complicated wristwatch that Patek Philippe had ever produced, celebrating the entire legacy of Patek Philippe since 1839.
This book charts in incredible detail the journey of the Grandmaster Chime from the design to realisation.
It is presented in typical Patek Philippe fashion, with a beautifully embossed fabric cover and accompanying slipcase, both adorned with a celebratory 175th anniversary emblem. Despite its 200 pages, it is packed full of magnificent photography and imagery, and is a surprisingly easy read.
There is a chapter dedicated to each facet of the watch and, where appropriate, this includes instructions on how to operate certain complications which is perhaps a little less enjoyable given the nature of instructions!
However, I found it nonetheless interesting to see how the various considerations made early in the design of the watch ultimately manifested themselves for the owners, and how the problems identified were solved.
It wasn’t until reading this that I fully comprehended the scope of innovation and research that went into the Grandmaster Chime: this book charts in great depth the development process behind the calibre 300 movement and its 1366 individual components, the twenty different complications including five acoustic complications, two of which were world firsts, six new patents, even something seemingly so simple as the rotating case that ensures the owners can enjoy either side of the two-faced dial with ease.
What are the Grandmaster Chime Complications?
1. Grande sonnerie; 2. Petite sonnerie; 3. Minute repeater; 4. Strikework mode display (S – Silence, G – Grande sonnerie, P – Petite sonnerie); 5. Alarm with time strike; 6. Date repeater; 7. Movement power reserve indicator; 8. Strikework power reserve indicator; 9. Strikework isolator display (chiming enabled or disabled); 10. Second time zone; 11. Second time zone day-night indicator; 12. Instantaneous perpetual calendar; 13. Day display; 14. Month display; 15. Date display (one per dial); 16. Leap year; 17. Four-digit year display; 18. Moon phase; 19. 24-hour dial and minute sub-dial; 20. Crown position indicator (R – Winding, A – Alarm, H – Timesetting)
Macro photo of the engraving on a single lug
As I mentioned earlier, the photography within this book is stunning – none more so to me than the close-up photography of the case and the masterful engraving which adorns it, allowing the reader to see the detail with a greater appreciation than ever before. Even the case comprises no less than 214 individual parts!
After the 60,000 hours (or 2,500 days) of research and development that went into creating the Grandmaster Chime, there were just seven watches produced: six going to the brand’s most esteemed collectors, and one remaining in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. Of course, there was later a piece unique Grandmaster Chime for OnlyWatch in 2019 as seen above, too.
I found this book incredibly eye-opening in both learning the story behind the Grandmaster Chime as well as providing a great insight into the process that goes into creating a watch. If ever you needed convincing that Patek Philippe are widely considered as the finest watchmakers in the world for a reason, this book is highly recommended.
Available here
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You might also be interested in:
- Spotlight: Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119
- Recommended Reading: ‘Patek Philippe – the Authorised Biography’ by Nicholas Foulkes
- OnlyWatch 2019
- Watch Stationery and Gift Ideas
- Watch Books, Watch Boxes and more at the Watch Affinity Shop on Amazon (commissions earned)
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