Make 2024 your year of the Twenty~4. We look at the history of the collection, which turns 25 this year.
The number 24 has significance across various cultures and in watchmaking, from the number of hours in a day to the way we quantify precious metals (24-karat). In 1999, it gained new significance as the name of a new ladies-centric Patek Philippe collection. The Twenty~4 was a watch they could wear all the time, no matter where they were headed.
Extensive research went into the making of this watch, revealing what ladies sought in a modern luxury watch: practical and accurate; comfortable and stylish like a piece of jewellery; chic and elegant that could be worn to the office or gym; recognisable in design, and relatively affordable.
The Patek Philippe Ref. 4910/10 was the first Patek Philippe ladies’ collection to have diamonds with a steel case, powered by the E15 quartz movement.
Using the Gondolo as inspiration, the Ref. 4910/10 was introduced in three dial variations, with diamond indexes and along the manchette case. Slim, with a cuff-like cambered bracelet that fit every wrist, it was also the first steel Patek Philippe watch to be set with diamonds.
Of course, as lifestyles have evolved significantly since 1999, the Twenty~4 has also undergone several evolutions to reflect that. The Twenty~4 Automatic was introduced in 2018 and the Twenty~4’s dial was redesigned in 2020 to align it with the automatic models. Now as the Twenty~4 is about to turn 25 in 2024, we consider why it’s still the best ladies’ watch for daily wear, whether you prefer the Ref. 4910/1200A or the Ref. 7300.
The Ref. 4910/1200A-010, in steel with a chocolate brown dial, is a watch that will remain stylish 25 years from now.
It’s Effortlessly Stylish
When the Ref. 4910/10 was first released, Patek Philippe introduced a new ad campaign featuring the glamorous Bridget Hall with the tagline: “Who will you be in the next 24 hours?” It was both mysterious and aspirational, and portrayed a young and dynamic persona for the collection. The 2018 campaign for the Twenty~4 Automatic took this even further, with a spoken word manifesto that demonstrated the confidence of the women this watch epitomises.
The beauty of the Twenty~4 is in its effortless style. For those who prefer the manchette-style design of the steel quartz models, the dials have been refreshed with brushed, sunray-finished dials in cool and calm shades of blue, olive green, and cool brown that are perennially stylish. The polished case and bracelet, with two rows of diamonds on each side of the case, add a touch of glamour to an otherwise discreet and casually luxurious watch.
The design of the Ref. 4910/1200A-001 remains close to the original Ref. 4910/10, with a manchette or cuff bracelet design that’s inspired by the Art Deco style of the Gondolo.
The Twenty~4 Automatic shares the same bracelet design as the Ref. 4910/1200A, but with a slight tapering and short endlinks. This allows it to flow into the larger round case middle while retaining the same jewellery-like feel to the watch. A double row of diamonds on the bezel parallels the design of the quartz Twenty~4 models. Where it differs are the additional dials options, from a silver Shantung silk dial with horizontal and vertical satin brushing to a classic grey or brown sunburst finishes, and a vintage-inspired rose-gilt sunburst dial.
The Ref. 7300/1200R-011 Twenty~4 Automatic has a rose gold or gilt dial with a sunray brushed finish, enhancing the warm beauty of the rose gold case.
There’s Something for Everyone
There is a Twenty~4 for every lady and every moment. If you’re in search of a watch that is as much a precious jewellery object as it is a precise timekeeper, the Ref. 7300/1450R-001 Twenty~4 Automatic Haute Joaillerie is the watch for you. The rose gold watch is set with diamonds on the crown, bezel, dial, and bracelet in a snow setting, with a total of 3,238 diamonds, approximating 17.21 carats, on the whole watch. Polished rose gold indexes with Super-LumiNova coated hands indicate the time, equipped with Patek Philippe’s modern automatic in-house Caliber 324 S C.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 Haute Joaillerie Ref. 7300/1450R-001 is thoroughly covered with diamonds of different sizes in a snow setting.
The Ref. 4910 has been a best-seller since its introduction in 1999. 25 years later, the Ref. 4910/1200A which is the latest version of this reference remains one of Patek Philippe’s most popular releases. Not only does it feel and look like an elegant cuff-style bracelet, the compact dial is sized the same as the bracelet for a seamless appearance. Updated with a new dial design, that uses trapeze and Arabic numeral indexes, it offers a sleek and casually chic look with evergreen colours such as olive green and chocolate brown dials.
The Patek Philippe Ref. 4910/1200A-001 is both a jewellery and watch, with a sleek design that never goes out of style. The polished case and blue sunburst dial are timeless.
For ladies who enjoy mechanical watchmaking with a touch of decadence, the classically styled Ref. 7300/1200A or Ref. 7300/1200R models are sophisticated dress watches that will suit a high-powered executive or a free-spirited bohemian. With a wide variety of dial designs to select from, the Twenty~4 Automatic in stainless steel or rose gold is an ideal choice for any occasion, formal or laidback. The double row of diamonds on the bezel add a touch of glamour to the timepiece.
The Patek Philippe Ref. 7300/1200R-010 has a special textured dial inspired by Shantung silk, that adds to the allure of the diamond-set watch.
A Reliable Performer
While the Twenty~4 and Twenty~4 Automatic are designed for ladies, they are simply beautiful watches that can be enjoyed or worn by everyone. But they are important timepieces in Patek Philippe’s history. The Ref. 4910 is powered by the watchmaker’s E15 quartz movement, which not only has high precision and battery life, but is also finished with techniques like perlage and Côtes de Genève just like a high-quality mechanical movement.
The Ref. 7300/1200A-010 is a watch everyone can enjoy today, with an automatic Caliber 324 movement powering this timepiece.
The Twenty~4 Automatic is fitted with Patek Philippe’s in-house Caliber 324 S C, and was in fact the first watch to be equipped with this movement when it was released in 2018. It’s a chronometer-standard movement with a power reserve of 45 hours and an accuracy guaranteed by the watchmaker to +3/-2 seconds a day (per the Patek Philippe Seal criteria). It’s a relatively slim and robust movement, even with a full-sized rotor and a Gyromax balance spring with four spokes and four tunable weights.
It also features a new tooth geometry on the wheels, a reinforced winding wheel, and low-friction arbor pivots, all of which enable the movement to support advanced complications such as perpetual calendars.
The Twenty~4 collection is an impressive and stylish watch that can be worn all year long. Enrich your 2024 with a Twenty~4 today.
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