Article of the week
The New Patek Philippe Twenty~4 7340/1R Perpetual Calendar

Introduced in 1999, the Twenty~4 collection was Patek Philippe’s first dedicated line of feminine timepieces. The original model featured an Art Deco-inspired manchette (cuff) design, but in 2018, the brand unveiled the Twenty~4 Automatic, which is a round-cased iteration powered by an automatic movement. This year, Patek Philippe elevates the collection further by introducing a perpetual calendar complication, marking the collection's debut in the realm of Grand Complications.
Crafted entirely in 18K rose gold, the watch features a 36mm case with a slender profile of just 9.95mm, making it sit gracefully on the wrist. The case is meticulously finished with a combination of polished and brushed surfaces, enhancing its refined aesthetic. Two dial options are available. The Ref. 7340/1R-001 features a silvery opaline dial with a vertical satin finish, evoking the texture of shantung silk that feature irregular texture, while the Ref. 7340/1R-010 presents an olive green sunburst dial for a more contemporary appeal.

News Legendary Casemaker Jean-Pierre Hagmann Passes Away

His decades of mastery leave behind a legacy of craftsmanship and creativity

Jean-Pierre Hagmann, one of the greatest watch case makers of the 20th century, has passed away. His death was announced on social media by watchmakers and industry professionals who were close to this esteemed craftsman, born in 1940.

In recognition of his contributions and dedication to the craft, Hagmann was honored last year with the Special Jury Prize at the 24th Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), celebrating his exceptional career.

His career spanned decades, beginning as an apprentice in 1956. Throughout the years, he mastered the art of crafting watch cases for Switzerland’s most prestigious watch brands. His artisanal cases, bearing the JHP hallmark, have become highly sought after by collectors.

Hagmann collaborated with renowned maisons such as Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Franck Muller, and Roger Dubuis, but his most celebrated work was for Patek Philippe. He earned legendary status among collectors for his exquisitely crafted cases for Patek Philippe’s minute repeater watches—cases that demand extraordinary skill to strike the perfect balance between protecting the movement and ensuring the optimal projection of the minute repeater’s chimes.

(For an in-depth look at watch case craftsmanship, you can read our article talking about Watch Cases from A to Z.

Hagmann retired in 2017 after more than 50 years of dedication to watchmaking, but he returned to work in late 2019 when he joined the Atelier of independent watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi at Akrivia. There, he continued to create exceptional watch cases while sharing his unparalleled expertise with a new generation of watchmakers.

 

Jean-Pierre Hagmann may have left us, but he leaves behind a remarkable legacy that will forever be etched in the history of watchmaking.


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