PATEK PHILIPPE YELLOW GOLD MINIATURE ENAMEL OPEN FACE POCKET WATCH, ‘BLUE MACAW’ REF. 974/31J

It is an absolute honor to offer for sale a miniature enamel by the celebrated enamelist, Anita Porchet. Ms. Porchet is recognized as one the greatest enamelists of our era and her work can be seen on Patek Philippe miniature enamels as well as some of the masterpieces of other brands including Vacheron Constantin, Hermès, and Piaget. She has won numerous accolades including the “Prix Gaïa” in the category of Artisanat-création at the Musée International d’Horlogerie de la Chaux-de-Fonds. The Financial Times appropriately dubbed Porchet “The Greatest Watch Painter” in this impressive article by Nick Foulkes from September 2021. Perhaps most interesting, is how she reveals her relationship with Patek Philippe in this article:

“In 2008, I opened my atelier thanks to Philippe Stern,” she says of the Patek Philippe scion. Among the highlights of her work for Patek are a watch that recreates Klimt and a piece for Stern himself that features five depictions of dawn on Lake Geneva by different Swiss artists. Stern Sr is both a noted collector of Swiss art and a champion yachtsman. “He lent me the money for the studio, but above all he left me free to work for other marques.” 

If you haven’t listened to Anita Porchet’s recent podcast with Carlos Torres, please listen and you will have a whole new understanding of Anita Porchet’s work.

This enamel depiction is of a blue macaw, one of most endangered species in the world.  Under high magnification, one can appreciate the artistry of Porchet’s steady hand as she brings the macaw to life with such detail and mastery. For the Patek Philippe collector, a miniature enamel is a trophy of one’s collection. Anita Porchet enamel watches seem to transcend all other modern horological offerings in terms of their artistry and the ability to showcase the preservation of the traditional art of miniature enameling. Preserved in as-new condition, this example is destined to become part of a collection that will last generations, preserving the secrets of craftsmanship within each brush stroke, and at the same time, loudly showcasing that the art of enameling is still very much alive.

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