Patek Philippe opens its first standalone boutique in Bangkok with Cortina Watch, expanding their partnership across Southeast Asia.
BANGKOK – A longstanding and treasured partnership between the last family-owned Genevan watch manufacturer, Patek Philippe, and Cortina Watch culminated in the first Patek Philippe boutique in Southeast Asia managed by the retailer in 2009.
With a shared vision of bringing the finest timepieces with over 180 years of brand expertise and philosophy to horological connoisseurs across the region, Patek Philippe and Cortina Watch have opened its newest boutique in Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2024.
An architectural beauty inspired by timeless elegance
Located on the ground floor of Central Embassy in the vibrant heart of Bangkok’s rich cultural district, the boutique boasts an impressive 108 square meters of space with an elegant and contemporary design.
The store features a brand new façade concept with grooved stone exterior walls that contrast against the textured decorative panels and leather-clad walls that are part of the showcase windows. The main doors feature engraved glass over which the brand’s logo and Calatrava Cross symbols are set on a grooved metal panel.
Every detail of the boutique is carefully curated to transport guests into a universe of exceptional timekeeping, enriched by Patek Philippe’s history and tradition. Upon stepping through its expansive doors, guests can view some of the world’s finest timepieces in the main watch gallery. Within the boutique, gentle hues of beige and shades of brown create an inviting ambiance, where time is suspended and tradition is honoured.
Guests can explore the displays of Patek Philippe timepieces housed within the boutique’s showcases, or simply relax in various designated areas. Laser-cut screens that feature the brand’s emblematic Calatrava cross motif offer additional privacy for customer conversations.
Finally, a VIP room located right at the back of the boutique provides complete privacy. A small library of books dedicated to watchmaking, including the Patek Philippe Authorized Biography, have been carefully curated for browsing.
The right side of the boutique offers a bar set-up where guests can enjoy a refreshing drink and discuss haute horlogerie with likeminded enthusiasts. This lounge ambiance encourages guests to unwind and speak with Cortina Watch’s retail specialists to learn more about Patek Philippe’s watchmaking savoir faire.
A unique artwork
Finally, a unique feature of this boutique is a triptych artwork that is inspired by an exceptional creation by Patek Philippe – the Peacock Ref. 1627M Cloisonné Enamel Dome Table Clock. The Manufacture’s Dome Table Clocks are prized for their rarity, with only a few pieces produced each year.
Each clock is unique in design and are never replicated again. The panels of each clock, including the hemispherical dome cover, are decorated using various Rare Handcrafts practiced by Patek Philippe, with a particular highlight on enamelling. Each clock is the work of a single artisan, who has the skill to bring its own unique design to life.
The Peacock Ref. 1627M features the elegant and regal creature in different poses across three panels. A green and a blue peacock are perched on the branches of a maple before a bright blue sky in opposite panels; in another, its train is fully spread in display.
The dial and dome of the clock features a detailed depiction of its covert feathers and eyespot in a patterned design. These artistic depictions are crafted using the traditional technique of cloisonné enameling, a process that takes a single enamel artist days and even weeks to complete.
The triptych of the Ref. 1627M magnifies the design of the Dome Clock so that guests can admire the beautiful artwork in the lounge area of the boutique. The blue and green peacocks, native to India and Southeast Asia respectively, symbolise fortune, kindness, patience, and compassion among other qualities in Asian culture.
A trusting and favourable partnership for over five decades
“Since the first Cortina Watch Boutique opened at Erawan Bangkok in 2004, and more recently followed by the Central Embassy expansion in 2017, Patek Philippe has been our key partner for nearly twenty years. It is a brand that rouses our heartfelt dedication and attention. This dedication reflects our enduring commitment to delivering the highest level of service to collectors and enthusiasts in Thailand. We take immense pride in the creation of this boutique, designed to deliver unparalleled experiences for watch enthusiasts in Thailand,” says Mr. Krist Chatikaratana, Managing Director of Cortina Watch Thailand.
“The opening of the new boutique with Cortina Watch Thailand is a testament to the strong and longstanding friendship between Patek Philippe & Cortina Watch. We are very grateful to our Thai clients and, we look forward to our next plan in the near future that will further strengthen our relationship with both Cortina Watch and our clients in Thailand”, says Mr. Thierry Stern, President of Patek Philippe.
Patek Philippe and Cortina Watch have been close partners since 1972. What started as a personal friendship between Mr. Anthony Lim, the founder of Cortina Watch, and Mr. Henri Stern in 1956, evolved into a powerful professional alliance that has steadily grown over the last 52 years. Today, Cortina Watch manages eight boutiques across Southeast and East Asia, in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and now Thailand.
