Continuity and diversity. The contemporary watch industry is characterised by an extreme diversity of expressions. Today’s watch has a thousand and one faces. Not only do its functions and shapes vary according to its designers’ inspiration, but its size and its materials are constantly being enriched. As a natural corollary to these creative bursts, prices are also experiencing a boom that no one would have anticipated even a few years ago. But observers are beginning to run short on superlatives to describe these technical feats and these bold design moves. Timepieces themselves have become “instruments of time” or “expressions of time”. This clear-cut trend – disconcerting for some and exciting for others – is vividly illustrated throughout the following 100 pages. Within this watchmaking world pervaded by an intensity that is further heightened by the need for novelty and differentiation, the line of conduct adopted by Patek Philippe and aimed at long-term continuity is naturally reassuring. Without restricting innovation, tradition wins out over fashion stunts. A timeless oasis in an increasingly fast-paced world, the Gondolo immortalised on the cover gives us an opportunity to take our time. Isn’t that the ultimate luxury?

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