According to the inspiration and pattern, the artist uses an entire palette of wood, mainly in natural colors, which they painstakingly cut, assemble, glue and paste to create the image.

Patek Philippe’s rare handcrafts preserve art through precision.

Few names resonate as profoundly in haute horlogerie as Patek Philippe (patek.com), the venerable Geneva-based watchmaker. With its roots deeply embedded in tradition, Patek Philippe doesn’t just manufacture timepieces; it safeguards a heritage. The company’s dedication to preserving the rare handcraft s that have beautified timepieces for over four centuries is not just about keeping traditions alive but breathing new vitality into them through continual practice and innovation.

The crafts of marquetry, enameling and engraving are often seen clinging to the edges of modern relevance, their intricacies almost too delicate for a rapidly industrializing world. Yet, precisely, this fragility makes their mastery all the more impressive and essential. Patek Philippe’s commitment shines brightly in its limited editions and bespoke pieces, where these old-world techniques transform wristwatches, pocket watches and table clocks into canvases of exquisite artistry.

Take, for example, its latest marquetry marvel: a Calatrava wristwatch dial depicting a surfer poised on a California beach, waiting for the perfect wave. With an artist’s eye and a surgeon’s precision, the marquetry specialist uses over 100 tiny pieces of veneer and 75 microscopic inlays from 23 diff erent species of wood. The result is a miniature masterpiece, where each grain and shade of wood plays its part in a larger tableau, depicting not just form but emotion and movement—the anticipation of a wave, the calm of the sea, the thrill of the ride.

The meticulous craft smanship extends even to the calfskin strap, embossed with a Cordura pattern featuring contrasting stitching, and mirrors the sportiness of a surfer’s attire. With production limited to just 10 pieces, this creation stands as a testament to Patek Philippe’s philosophy: to preserve the past and infuse it with the present, ensuring these rare handcraft s continue to astonish and inspire. Encased in a sleek white gold case with Dauphine-style hands and a sapphire crystal case back, this watch does more than tell time. It tells a story.