It features a sapphire crystal caseback marked “New Manufacture 2019” – signaling when the first group of workers moved into the new production facility last year.

Despite leaving Baselworld this year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Patek Philippe has been keeping busy with its own internal plans – which were finally unveiled last week. The Swiss manufacture officially opened its new 10-floor manufacturing facility in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, which began construction in 2015 with a project cost amounting to $600 million.

The building is designed to bring all of the ateliers owned by the brand under one roof. Spanning 133,650 square metres, the massive space boasts state-of-the-art innovations and machinery dedicated to cutting, milling, polishing, gem setting, testing, R&D and customer service. It also has an auditorium, penthouse, VIP lounges and restaurant to accommodate events and clients.

To celebrate this monumental launch, the brand released its first watch of 2020: a limited-edition Calatrava ref. 6007A-001.

Crafted in stainless steel – a rarity for the traditional watchmaker – the model features a gray-blue dial with a railway track scale and triangular markers encircling a smaller carbon-style cross-hatched circle at the center. Juxtaposed against the satin-finished dial are lacquered white gold baton hands and Arabic applied numerals, as well as a date aperture at 3 o’clock.

Housed within a 40mm case, the watch harks the history of the Calatrava line that dates back to the 1930s, while boasting a modern appeal. It is powered by the self-winding caliber 324 S C movement that is visible through a sapphire crystal caseback marked with the words “New Manufacture 2019” – signaling when the first group of workers moved into the new production facility last year.

To complement the dial, the watch comes with a textured calfskin strap in blue with contrasting white stitching. Limited to only 1000 pieces, the new ref. 6007A-001 is priced at US$28,351.

Photos: Patek Philippe