Patek Philippe sets sights on female market

Contemporary women are the target of the latest offering by Patek Philippe, lining up a possible assault on the lucrative market

Patek Philippe is launching a new addition to the watch market, aiming its Twenty-4 offering directly at the desires of female buyers.

The launch of the Twenty-4 is a strategic move by the company, according to Philippe Stern, the president of Patek Philippe, who explained that the firm is aiming to encompass all the qualities that a woman possesses: "Energy, style, sophistication and individuality", the Peninsula revealed.

He said that the company is planning to strongly boost its presence in the ladies watch market, stating: "There is a large potential for Patek Philippe as I feel that, in terms of prestigious traditional brands, there is plenty of room for a contemporary, fine quality watch."

Mr Stern added that as a result, the organisation will commit both time and energy to becoming one of the major players in the market in a similar way to the status the firm holds in the fields of men''s classical and technical timepieces.

Patek Philippe watches are the reserve of many politicians, including French president Nicolas Sarkozy and Peter Mandelson.


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Patek Philippe unveils watch for contemporary woman

The launch of Twenty,4 marks the beginning of a new and exciting era for Patek Philippe. This watch was specially created for the modern woman. The Twenty,4 encompasses all the qualities that this woman possesses: energy, style, sophistication and individuality. Al Majed group are the local agents for this contemporary creation.

Patek Philippe is renowned for its pursuit of technical excellence, especially evident within its men’s collections. However, the company has recognised that a growing number of women have an appreciation for fine timepieces and wish to complement their wardrobe with a beautiful watch that will last.

The launch of Twenty,4 marks a strategic move for the company, as the president of Patek Philippe, Philippe Stern, explains: “We are planning to strongly reinforce our presence in the ladies watch market. There is a large potential for Patek Philippe as I feel that, in terms of prestigious traditional brands, there is plenty of room for a contemporary, fine quality watch. Therefore we will commit time and energy to become a major player in this market in the same way that our status is truly established in the field of men’s classical, technical watches.

With the Patek Philippe Twenty,4, the emphasis will be on beautiful and modern styling, which, I believe, is very important for the ladies market.”

The Twenty,4 has been designed to fit in with every moment of the lives of busy women and will complement both contemporary daywear and elegant evening jewellery. The exquisite craftsmanship that is associated with Patek Philippe watches is paramount in the Twenty,4 with the piece fitting the wrist perfectly with sweeping curves and lines.

The Twenty,4 is a contemporary interpretation of the ladies classic Gondolo collection of watches, which take inspiration from the Art Deco era. The Twenty,4 is available with a choice of three different coloured dials : Forever Black, Eternal Grey and Timeless White.

The thin bracelet of curved steel combined with flawless, Top Wesselton diamonds decorating the case, is highly polished to reveal the beauty and essence of the materials.

The modernity of steel and the elegance and quality of the diamonds produce a unique and contemporary watch which will suit every occasion. The Twenty,4 will be attractively priced at the lower end of the Patek Philippe range.

The Twenty,4 will be previewed at the 1999 Basel International Watch and Jewellery Show and the watches will be introduced worldwide during the summer.

This new phase for Patek Philippe is accompanied by a modern, style led advertising campaign, featuring model Bridget Hall and shot by renowned British photographer Glen Luchford.


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Patek Philippe Creates a Nautilus for Women – Luxury Style

Women who had the habit to borrow the Nautilus from their husbands will be happy to learn that their Patek Philippe proposes a new version of Lady in white gold or pink. The difference compared to the previous variation of the 80 is that the case has been enlarged and has benefited from the makeover made on male models in 2006, which also marked the comeback of the icon to watch its characteristic octagonal bezel. In addition, indexes and hands have earned wide, enhancing readability, and new links of the bracelet offer more comfort.

Hand movement, the Nautilus has a crystal size of finely crafted words “manufacturing”. A richly deserved title under the care taken in its manufacture and finish, the same as the master watchmakers to distill the movements of mechanical timepieces for men. That is enough to justify the price of this piece, while reassuring fans of fine watchmaking who decry the willingly watches whose heart beats … through a stack.


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Fine Watches Distributor Chong Hing Jewelers Gives Home to Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, and Omega’s 2009 'New Constellation' Collection

Luxury watches are items to behold. Chong Hing Jewelers, purveyor of high-end goods, is proud to carry fine timepieces such as Patek Philippe, A. Lange & Söhne, and Omega’s 2009 “New Constellation Collection” exclusively. Additionally, the leading Patek Philippe distributor also offers fine jewelry, loose diamonds, and a wide range of other gift choices.

Los Angeles, CA (Vocus/PRWEB ) January 29, 2010 -- Chong Hing Jewelers, a purveyor of high end goods such as Patek Philippe wristwatches for nearly 40 years, proudly offers timepieces from some of the world’s most renowned watchmakers. The Patek Philippe brand produces some of the most trusted wristwatches by collectors and watch lovers around the globe. As a pioneer of a number of revolutions such as the chronograph and the perpetual calendar, the complete Patek Philippe line includes the Calatrava, Aquanut, and Nautilus watches for men, as well as the Twenty~4®, Gondolo, Aquanaut, Nautilus, Complicated Watches and Haute Joaillerie for ladies.

In addition to carrying the complete line of the Patek Philippe brand, Chong Hing Jewelers also proudly and exclusively carries Omega’s 2009 “New Constellation” Collection. A redesign of the Constellation line, Omega’s Constellation 09 watches still sports the Constellation star, making the timepiece stand out from the rest of its peers. With supernova patterns emerging from their Constellation stars, all timepieces in this latest collection are water resistant up to a depth of 100 meters.

As a recent addition to the Patek Philippe distributor’s list of well-known wristwatchmakers, A. Lange & Söhne is famous for its timepieces made from precious metals such as platinum and gold, instead of the more traditional steel. Most Lange timepieces have a display back which allows its wearer to witness the mechanisms that makes the wristwatch work. Limited watches such as Lange 1 Tourbillon and Anniversary Langematik are included in the Lange collection offered by Chong Hing Jewelers.

Aside from being a distributor of high-end timepieces, Chong Hing Jewelers also offers its clientele loose diamonds, fine jewelry, and a wide array of gift choices to choose from. Sign up with the company’s newsletter for the latest news and events or visit the company’s official blog for tips and other helpful information in the world of horology and luxury watches.


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Traditional Jewelers: One to watch

Erik Halfacre has some big shoes to fill at Traditional Jewelers, but his mother--CEO Lula Halfacre-knows he's up to the task.

Newport Beach, Calif.--Renowned for its deluxe jewelry and watch selection, as well as exceptional customer service, Traditional Jewelers is a Southern California institution. So is its annual September watch gala, where the company flaunts its finest timepieces, including hard-to-get models from Rolex, A. Lange & Söhne and Patek Philippe.

Last fall's celebration, dubbed the "White Party Gala," was held at Traditional's Newport Beach flagship. The emotional evening, featuring a performance by the University of Southern California (USC) Trojan Marching Band, honored two simultaneous milestones: the company's 30th anniversary and company president Erik Halfacre's 30th birthday.

"I was just six weeks old when my parents moved out to California," says Halfacre, a former Trojan. "I've been cleaning glass and filing in our store ever since I can remember."

Having learned the business under the tutelage of his late father, Marion Halfacre, Erik was well prepared to take on the responsibilities of president, at least according to his mother, Lula Halfacre, chief executive officer and chief financial officer.

"She's handing me the keys to the car, but it's still going to be parked in the garage every night," Halfacre says, joking about the family business dynamics. "'President' is a title that says I'm not just Lula's or Marion's son. It's a way to put me out into the community."

You could say that again. The gala, co-hosted by Riviera magazine, welcomed more than 300 customers, local dignitaries and well-wishers who came to pay their respects to a family business whose roots go back three decades to Jackson, Miss. That's where the Halfacres lived in 1979, before finding an ad offering a jewelry store for sale on the California Riviera. Until Marion's untimely passing in 2007, he and Lula were one of the industry's golden couples.

Erik Halfacre says the legacy of his father--a National Jeweler Retailer Hall of Fame member--permeates every aspect of the business.

"His big thing was integrity, what you do when people aren't watching," he says. "If you don't have the trust of your clients, you might as well close your doors."

Not surprisingly, Traditional is doing quite the opposite. The company opened a second, 800-square-foot location further up the coast, in the celebrity-studded Malibu Country Mart, in August 2008.

"That was probably the worst possible time," Halfacre says. "But it's right next door to Nobu. People who spend $250 on sushi can probably afford a nice watch."

The business has also welcomed a new family member: Marion and Lula's daughter, Natalie, began working full-time in the Malibu location earlier this fall.

Erik Halfacre says that his sister would have to pay her dues at the Gemological Institute of America, as he did when, at age 21, he realized selling jewelry and, especially, watches was his true calling. Prior to that, he attended USC as an undergraduate and worked for the sports agent who was the basis of Jerry Maguire, the hit movie that starred Tom Cruise in the title role.

Halfacre says that when he expressed interest in joining the family business, the first thing his father did was to send him to New York, where he interned at Panerai so he could learn the wholesaling side of the high-end watch business.

"My dad always respected what they did," Halfacre says. "He wanted me to respect it, too."

Those lessons certainly paid off. Traditional is considered one of the nation's finest watch retailers, with a lineup that serves as a veritable who's who of the Swiss industry.

Its selection of jewelry brands, which range from David Yurman to Chopard to Valente, is, likewise, not too shabby.

"Marion would be proud of us and how far we've come," Lula Halfacre said during the evening's festivities. "We are so happy to celebrate 30 years of business, and we look forward to the next 30 years. We love our customers, we love Newport Beach and we really love what we do."

Of course, for Erik Halfacre, celebrating a milestone as big as 30 years--in business and in life--without his father is bittersweet.

"Obviously, the plan was for him to still be here," he says.

Tips

As a retailer of prestige timepieces, Erik Halfacre, president of Traditional Jewelers, knows that offering a wide selection of watches is critical to making sales-even if that means stocking more inventory than seems prudent.

"I've been surgical about which brands and which SKUs I've been throwing money at," Halfacre says. "I've probably been a little more aggressive than my CFO would like me to be. But I don't want to miss a sale. If a customer wants it, he wants it now."


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