Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and Jean Adrien Philippe. Their more than 180-year history has been marked by tradition and innovation. One of their collections is catered specifically for the ladies – the Patek Philippe Twenty~4. Originally launched in 1999, the collection has had different versions but each reference stays true to the initial aesthetic: timeless feminine elegance.

The Cuff
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 has been revitalized for 2020 with a fresh interpretation of the “manchette” or cuff design. The cuff style, whether in a watch or a piece of jewelry, is not for the faint of heart. The cuff is a statement, bold and confident. And the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 is no different. It is the perfect watch for a lady who knows what she wants and is achieving her goal. She makes every moment count and needs a watch that can keep up with her.

A Look Back
The original Patek Philippe Twenty~4 was an art-deco-inspired cuff, and the recent references keep that iconic style. The watch was also one of the first to pair stainless steel and diamonds, a look oft copied in other brands, but perhaps not equaled. Different metals have been used in various iterations of the collection. The original in 1999 was in stainless steel, but there have been rose gold and white gold versions too. The dial has also been executed in various colors, such as brown and blue. One collection had different size models offered, and of course there was the Haute Joaillerie models too.

The original Patek Philippe Twenty~4 was an automatic watch, but in 2018 they created a mechanical version, much to the delight of the ladies. The watch had external changes too, such as a round case, a double row of diamonds, and the applied Arabic numerals on the dial. This particular model is still available, either in steel or rose gold. And (yes) an Haute Joaillerie model in rose gold and diamonds.

The collection name says it all – this watch is meant to accompany the lady throughout her day – and night – for a full 24 hours. Everyone has different tasks and roles within one day. The day may begin with the role of mom or sister, then change to corporate tasks during work hours, shift to girl best friend mode for a quick drink with friends, switch to glam girl mode at an evening event, then back to family time at the end of the day. Through it all, the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 stays on the wrist.

The Surge Forward
The latest references of the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 in the medium size (25.1 x 30 mm) are in steel. The steel is clean and polished to an impressive shine. The steel bracelet has a fold-over clasp, and the combination of 1 large link and 2 smaller links is both an aesthetic choice and a comfort choice. A nice detail is the Patek Philippe Calatrava Cross as an added embellishment on the crown.

One change on the dial you’ll notice right off the bat is that Arabic numerals have taken the place of their Roman counterparts at the 6 and 12 o’clock. The diamond hour markers are gone too, now replaced by applied trapeze-shaped hour markers. At first I thought this was a downstep, but now I realize I don’t miss those gems too much, thanks to the rows of diamonds on the bezel. The two-tier rectangular case looks elegant and confident with 36 Top Wesselton diamonds. The dials also receive a different treatment with either a blue sunburst (reference no. 4910/1200A-001) or with a gray sunburst with gradation to black (reference no. 4910/1200A-010). The applied numerals and hour markers complement the sunburst design without obstructing anything.

Powered by the quartz Caliber E 15, the movement has 57 parts. The Patek Philippe manufacture gives as much focus and fine workmanship to the quartz movement as it does the mechanical movements. The watch has the hour and minute functions, and really, that’s all you need.

Two of Patek Philippe Twenty~4
Both Patek Philippe Twenty~4 models are worth taking a closer look at. The blue sunburst model (reference no. 4910/1200A-001) is a personal favorite, but I can’t deny that the gray sunburst model (reference no. 4910/1200A-010) would be a welcome on my wrist too.