In an exclusive interview with Arabian Watches & Jewellery (AWJ) Magazine, Thierry Stern, CEO of Patek Philippe,  highlights the brands expansion plans for the coming 20 years  and the emphasises on ladies watches and men's timepieces as an art of complications. He also explains how the brand has recently adapted its production capacity to the market situation that was changing faster than ever before.

While information about 2021 novelties will be shared during the course of next year, Stern also reveals that as Patek Philippe  will also have lots of good news to share in the coming times.

Watches for ladies were always an essential element of Patek Philippe’s history and portfolio of creations.  Patek Philippe watches complement today’s woman’s busy life with elegance and include such creations as the Twenty~4 and the complications range offered covers all types proposed in the regular collection. There is a growing number of ladies who are watch connoisseurs and require different types of watches for different occasions, needs and tastes.  We try to accommodate all segments and their desires. 

The new building was created to fulfil our needs for at least the next 20 years, not only to increase production, but to have space to expand activities such as artisanship for future technologies. We also need to have extra reserve space for service and training for example. We are satisfied about the new premises, and employees who just moved in earlier this year are very happy with the space, light and also with the noise management. Some production activities are quite noisy, and in this new building we are able to reduce the noise in a significant way, reflecting an improvement in the work environment.  

We had a lock-down in Switzerland and were closed for some period earlier this year. Subsequently our production reduced slightly. On reopening we have returned to full normal capacity and did not have to reduce or increase capacity. The reduction caused by the lock-down adapted our production to the market situation that was constantly changing, with some markets where retailers opened and some markets where they closed down. We are fortunate in having long-term clients who sustain the demand for our watches. In addition, the new models launched this year were well received by retailers and clients alike.

In this particular period with limited visibility we have to adapt, and be even more agile. The policy adopted this year of launching new models throughout the year was well received, so we may still launch some of the new models at different periods of the year, but this is nothing new. In previous years even when we launched most of the new models on the occasion of the main watch fair, we still launched some models later in the year, in summer, or for that matter, during a Grand Exhibition.

All those concerns about the coming year and future models will not be disclosed this year. Please do wait and see, we have lots to share next year to substantiate your great expectations.