New production center Patek Philippe

Three separate buildings are planned in this construction project. The first one will house three companies which are currently located on separate sites. The second will be dedicated to the new technologies. A third building will serve the purpose of future extensions.

In November 2007, Patek Philippe acquired an 18,000 square meter piece of land at the Crêt-du-Locle in the Canton of Neuchâtel. The purpose of this acquisition was to reinforce the presence of the Geneva watch manufacturer in La Chaux-de-Fonds by building a production center dedicated to manufacturing watch cases and components, polishing and gem-setting.

The construction works began in April 2008 and the official ceremony for laying the foundation stone took place on Wednesday 1 October 2008. Three separate buildings are planned in this construction project. The first one will house three companies – Calame, Poli-Art and SHG – which are currently located on separate sites in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The second will be dedicated to the development and production of new technologies. A third building will serve the purpose of future extensions.

Three companies coming together

Calame & Cie SA, in the hands of Patek Philippe since April 2001, is a renowned manufacturer of upmarket watch cases. Managed as an independent entity, this company works in close collaboration with the Case and Bracelets Manufacturing Department of the Geneva watch manufacturer.

Poli-Art SA, fully acquired by Patek Philippe in January 2006, is active in excellence polishing. All the work is performed by hand with no mechanical support, a particularly difficult polishing technique that requires many years of expertise and know-how.

The company SHG (Sertissage Haut de Gamme or Highest Quality Setting), in which Patek Philippe holds a major share, is specialized in top quality hand setting of watches, bracelets and jewellery. The gem setters adjust precious stones using fine jewellery techniques so that a Patek Philippe piece of jewellery is as beautiful viewed from below as it is from above. More than 700,000 stones are set each year at Patek Philippe.

The three companies currently employ around 50 staff each. A corporate restaurant will be set up on the new site for the benefit of the total 150 employees.

The three buildings to be erected on the piece of land will benefit from the Minergie® label, a high quality Swiss label which guarantees the comfort and energetic performance of buildings. Part of the rain water will be collected and used and all technical equipment will achieve optimal performance. Continued 2

The first building – which will cover a surface area of 4,000 square meters – should be ready in the spring of 2009 and will be composed of four floors: an underground with around one hundred parking slots, technical equipment and services, as well as a ground floor, first floor and second floor, each with around 2,400 square meters of production area.

Reinforced presence at La Chaux-de-Fonds

The Geneva watch manufacturer chose to reinforce its presence at La Chaux-de-Fonds to move closer to the specialized schools and thus promote and perpetuate watchmaking skills, have better access to qualified and skilled workers and contribute to the regional economic development. The project was extremely well received by the regional authorities who are actively taking part in the construction work progress.

Since 1839, Patek Philippe has been continuously perpetuating the tradition of Genevan watchmaking. As an independent company, it enjoys total creative freedom to design, produce and complete what experts agree to be the finest timepieces in the world.

Relying on its extraordinary experience, Patek Philippe cultivates a tradition of innovation crowned by an impressive portfolio of more than 70 patents. The company’s precious, classically elegant watches, proudly handed down from one generation to the next, are the result of latest-generation technology combined with ancestral watchmaking know-how. Patek Philippe employs in Geneva close to 1,300 persons, including 200 qualified watchmakers. ■

© 2008 All rights reserved

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