Quality and Fine Workmanship
Dials
The dial interprets the tiny mechanical world beneath it that creates time. At Patek Philippe, we craft dials with skills passed down through generations.
Olive green sunburst dial with a black-gradient rim and faceted gold applied hour markers: Annual Calendar Ref. 5205R-011.
Blue varnished dial featuring a tachymetric scale: Complications Ref. 5172G-001.
Lacquered purple dial with a “wave” motif and rose gold applied ogival-shaped hour markers and numerals: Nautilus Ref. 7010R-013.
Laquered red dial with a black-gradient rim and gold applied hour markers: Grand Complications Ref. 5271/12P-010.
Ebony black sunburst dial, with rose gold baton-style hour markers, on a 18K gold dial plate: Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001.
Silvery-grained dial with gold applied hour markers and dauphine-style hours/minutes hands: Calatrava Ref. 6119R-001.
Opaline rose-gilt, charcoal gray dial with white gold applied faceted baton-style hour markers: In-Line Perpetual Calendar Ref. 5236P-010.
Colors
Our dials orchestrate a play of colors, showcasing a palette of hues, from pristine ivory white to deep ebony black, and the vibrant colors in between. These captivating shades are meticulously achieved through specialized techniques such as electroplating, varnishing, and enameling, transforming each dial into a time-telling canvas.
Hand-engraved, black enameled dial on a 18K gold dial plate: Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/51G-001.
Hand-guilloched swirling patterned dial beneath a Grand Feu blue transparent enamel: Grand Complications Ref. 5178G-012.
Fully diamond-paved dial using the random setting, with gold applied numerals: Twenty~4 Ref. 7300/1450R-001.
Grand Feu cloisonné enamel dial motif depicting a map of Oceania and South-East Asia: Complications Ref. 5231G-001.
Rare Handcrafts
Dials are where artistry can truly shine. For our Rare Handcrafts collection, we perpetuate the grand Geneva traditions that have been used to decorate timepieces for more than four centuries. Techniques such as miniature marquetry, gemsetting, enameling, engraving or guilloché work are all embraced to create unique and highly decorative dials for exceptional timepieces.
Silvery-grained dial with faceted rose gold applied hour markers and dauphine-style hands: Calatrava Ref. 6119R-001.
Horizontally embossed, sunburst blue dial with baton-style, white gold hands with luminescent coating: Nautilus Ref. 5811/1G-001.
Textured charcoal gray dial with “Seringue” hands that resemble syringes, with beige luminescent coating: Calatrava Ref. 5226G-001.
Blue varnished dial with leaf-shaped hands in 18K white gold with luminescent coating: Grand Complications Ref. 5470P-001.
White gold hour and minute hands and 24-hour ring and day/night indication for all 24 time zones: Grand Complications Ref. 5531G-001.
Hour and Minute Hands
Our hour and minute hands are crafted from gold, save for instances where technical constraints necessitate alternative materials. Hands may be small, but they are much more than a component. Depending on the intricacy of its design, one of our hands can take four months of preparation, including the manufacture of bespoke tools, before production even begins.
The crafting of a silicon-based hand for the Grand Complications 1/10th of a Second Chronograph, Ref. 5470P-001.
Silvery opaline dial with blackened white gold applied Breguet numerals: Grand Complications Ref. 5160/500R-001.
Olive green sunburst dial with white gold applied Roman numerals with luminescent coating: Twenty~4 Ref. 7300/1200A-011.
Opaline blue-gray dial with white gold applied baton-style hour markers with white luminescent coating. Nautilus Ref. 5980/60G-001.
Sunburst ebony black dial with rose gold applied baton-style hour markers: Golden Ellipse Ref. 5738/1R-001.
Appliques and Hour Indicators
All of our appliques, also known as hour markers, whatever the dial’s base material, and whether they are index batons, Roman or Arabic numerals, are made of 18k gold. Hour indicators may also be transfer printed by hand on the dial surface, created using round or baguette-cut diamonds in gold settings. The gold and the diamonds are set on appliques, which creates a height to the indicators, subtlety increasing contrast.
The application and riveting of the appliques are carried out on the finished dial and require great attention to detail.
Creating a Dial
Making a dial is less a branch of watchmaking, more a dedicated craft in itself. Dial makers and finishers use cutting-edge technology and age-old hand-craftsmanship skills, alongside trade secrets passed down through generations. Creating one of our dials can take us four to six months of production, and from 50 to 200 operations, including decorative techniques.
Crafting
Each model of dial is different and has its own systematic process, much like a recipe. First, the dial plate is cut to resemble a circular dial. Once this blank has been milled into shape, it then begins its journey that will see the brass disk slowly develop its individual identity as it travels from workshop to workshop, passing through the hands of dozens of highly skilled individuals.
Decorating
To decorate our dials, a range of techniques are used that respect tradition and show an appetite for innovation. The equipment used ranges from multi-axis milling machines to simple wooden brushes. The operations, many of which are carried out by hand, will lead to decorating our dials with almost endless possibilities, from motifs, patterns and engravings to a variety of finishes or meticulous gemsetting.
Electroplating protects a dial from oxidation and colors it by successive immersions in chemical baths.
To decorate the dial, the artisan uses an abrasive natural rock ground into a fine powder, which is then mixed with water.
Pad printing consists of transferring all the inscriptions visible surface of the dial using a silicone pad.
