What is the Patek Philippe WATCH ART Grand Exhibition that is being held in Milan during October 7th – 18th 2026?
It is the seventh edition of Patek Philippe’s Grand Exhibitions, held across the world since 2012. Milan was chosen as Italy is historically one of the brand’s most important markets. Prior exhibitions were held in Dubai (2012), Munich (2013), London (2015), New York (2017), Singapore (2019) and Tokyo (2023).
Prior to the exhibition, the brand has unveiled two exceptional new timepieces belonging to the Rare Handcrafts collection. They include the “Burano” Ref. 992/193J-001 pocket watch and the “Sicilian Oranges” Ref. 20179M-001 Dome table clock.
Also Read: Patek Philippe unveils new models at Watches and Wonders Geneva
What is the “Burano” Ref. 992/193J-001 pocket watch?
A pocket watch created from yellow gold, it pays tribute to Burano, a Venetian island famous for its canals and colourful houses. It is hand engraved and showcases three types of enamel artistry, “cloisonné, flinqué, and paillonné.”
It comes with a stand crafted from yellow gold, featuring “an arc adorned with a capstan knot and eight rings, set with 108 spinel gems (1.15 cts) and 102 sapphires (1.18 cts). The arc rests on an oval base in blue quartz clad with glyptic work in rock crystal and set with a blue sapphire cabochon (0.4 ct). It also comes with a chain in yellow gold, suspending a medallion set with 18 sapphires (0.31 ct) and 18 spinels (0.30 ct).”
Similar Rare Handcrafts pocket watches are powered by the calibre 17’’’ LEP PS, a manual winding movement that drives the hours, minutes and small seconds. It measures 38.65 mm (diameter) * 3.8 mm (thickness), comprises 157 parts and 18 jewels, beats at a luxurious frequency of 2.5 Hz or 18,000 vph, features a Breguet balance spring, delivers a minimum power reserve of 50 hours and is adorned with the Patek Philippe Seal.
The “Burano” Ref. 992/193J-001 pocket watch is a piece unique.
What is the “Sicilian Oranges” Ref. 20179M-001 Dome table clock?
It is the brand’s iconic and rare Dome table clock featuring Grand Feu cloisonné enamel artistry. It showcases “the technical feat of offering two visual planes for a sense of depth to the scene: the first plane is of orange trees, the second of the city of Palermo in miniature painting on enamel.”
It is powered by calibre 17’’’ PEND DOME, a mechanical movement wound by an electric motor that drives the hours and minutes. It measures 38.65 mm (diameter) * 3.7 mm (thickness), comprises 214 parts and 21 jewels, beats at a luxurious frequency of 2.5 Hz or 18,000 vph, features a Breguet balance spring and is adorned with the Patek Philippe Seal. Clock dimensions: Height 213.5 mm. Width: 128 mm.
The “Sicilian Oranges” Ref. 20179M-001 Dome table clock is a piece unique.
Please click here to learn more about the brand’s Rare Handcrafts timepieces.
What other timepieces will be showcased at the exhibition?
The brand’s entire current catalogue collection.
Twenty-seven Rare Handcrafts pieces will be exhibited. They will include wristwatches, pocket watches and Dome table clocks showcasing the brand’s expertise in “miniature painting on enamel, cloisonné enamel, hand engraving, micro wood marquetry, hand-executed guilloché work and gemsetting.”
Ninety “jewels” from the Patek Philippe Museum will be exhibited. “Those from the “Antique Collection” (16th to early 19th century) include some of the oldest watches in the world and numerous technical and aesthetic masterpieces illustrating the entire history of horology.”
Three legendary grand complications will be exhibited. They include the Calibre 89, Star Caliber 2000 and Grandmaster Chime. The Calibre 89 was unveiled in 1989 to celebrate the brand’s 150th anniversary. Featuring 33 complications and limited to four pieces, it was the most complicated portable timepiece in the world for more than two decades. The Star Caliber 2000 was unveiled in 2000. A pocket watch featuring 21 complications, it was limited to twenty pieces, sold in five sets of four pieces each, one each in yellow gold, rose gold, white gold and platinum. The Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 was unveiled in 2014 to celebrate the brand’s 175th anniversary. Initially a limited edition of seven pieces, the model continues to remain in the current catalogue in different iterations.
Also Read: A beautiful Patek Philippe World-Time watch reappears at auction
What do we think?
Patek Philippe has been having an incredibly busy year. They unveiled several new models during Watches and Wonders Geneva, encompassing their simple time only pieces to the grand complications. They celebrated the 50th anniversary of their iconic Nautilus by unveiling new references.
In addition, they have been busy preparing for the WATCH ART Grand Exhibition in Milan, an enormous undertaking that most definitely consumes the brand’s resources – manpower, finances, and logistics. Yet, this is Patek Phillipe, part of the Holy Trinity, among the most prestigious brands across any luxury category in the world, family owned and independent. They do things differently. The exhibition has both long term benefits for them and luxury watchmaking as a whole.
It will delight watch enthusiasts and collectors, many of whom will fly in from across the world. It will also serve an educational purpose by introducing a younger generation of watch enthusiasts to haute horology and luxury craftsmanship.
The “Burano” pocket watch and the “Sicilian Oranges” Dome table clock are examples of Patek Philippe at its artistic and sublime best. Expect other exceptional timepieces to be unveiled in honour of the exhibition.
Please click here to register.
