Patek Philippe’s new twenty~4 royal purple watch is fit for a queen

A quarter of a century ago, Patek Philippe’s Twenty~4 burst onto the luxury scene with an unexpectedly modern take on the iconic brand.

As the debut watch in the house’s first collection dedicated exclusively to women, the watch was crafted from stainless steel with diamonds, a groundbreaking pairing that caused a wave of surprise and buzz in the world of horology.

Twenty~4 quickly became an object of desire for collectors and enthusiasts. Now, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Patek Philippe has introduced a new rose-gold version with a (fitting) royal-purple dial.

Twenty~4’s retro-modern Art Deco design inspiration has long been evident in its rectangular, two-tiered case, flanked by two rows of 17 brilliant-cut diamonds. Only two Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock extend the simple and linear composition of the watch. Its bracelet, a cuff or cuff style, consists of wide interlocking links that continue the clean lines of the watch as it encircles the wrist.

Interestingly, the design concept also inspired its name. Equipped with a user-friendly quartz movement, the watch aims to accompany a woman throughout her day in style. As the brand explains, it was created “for every hour of the day and night, at work, at home and during leisure activities”.

In its 25 years, the watch’s distinctive design has been created in a range of dial colors and precious metals, including rose, yellow and white gold. A diamond-free yellow-gold version was added to the stable in 2009, while high-jewel versions set with an array of precious stones have added dazzle to the range. In 2015, the line was expanded to include watches equipped with a self-winding mechanical movement in a round case.

This year’s 25th anniversary edition in rose gold features an incredibly textured, rich purple shade not previously available in the collection. The dial plate is embossed with a concentric wave pattern and coated with dozens of layers of translucent purple lacquer, then covered with more transparent lacquer. The effect is of incredible depth, creating a brilliant play of light.

Meanwhile, Twenty~4’s iconic Arabic numerals at 12 and 6 o’clock pay tribute to its heritage.

The new offering is one of 11 Patek Philippe watches that made their debut at this year’s Geneva Watch and Wonders Salon. The brand has added a chain-style gold bracelet to its Golden Ellipse line, also expanding its travel, calendar and sports watch collections. It also doubled its warranty on all new watches – extending it from two to five years. The Swiss house has been committed to the integrity and long-term reliability of its watches since 1839 and shows no signs of slowing down.

So will twenty~4 reign for another 25 years? You can bet on it.