The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 is Patek’s Philippe flagship line of feminine watches. An epitome of timeless elegance, this timepiece collection includes Quartz & Automatic Watches with simple yet elegant designs. The Twenty~4 line was created by Patek Philippe in 1999 and is the first exclusively feminine collection made by the company.
Often marketed as the “stylish companion for modern, active women,” Twenty~4 has grown to become one of Patek’s best-selling watch collections. It comes in rose gold or stainless steel versions, typically diamond set to give it a feminine charm.
The versatility of the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 is quite renowned. The simple design of this timepiece means it is considered a dress watch, but it is also casual enough to be worn as an everyday timepiece. It is a prestigious ladies' watch built for every moment of her life.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 collection was launched in 1999. It was the brand’s first line of exclusively feminine watches. Despite being about 169 years old when the Twenty~4 was created, Patek Philippe’s line of watches was missing a strong collection of ladies' watches with a unique identity and recognizable designs like the Rolex Oyster or Cartier Tank.
This was not to say that Patek Phillippe didn’t make watches for women. In fact, the brand has always placed great importance on its ladies' timepieces. Its most notable inventions, like the first known Swiss wristwatch and the first-minute repeater wristwatch, were created specifically for women. However, the available watches in this niche were primarily extensions of the existing men’s collection of watches, usually with a smaller case size. This was the usual practice for many watchmakers.
In the late 1990s, Philippe Stern announced the company’s plan to commit more time and energy towards creating an exclusive line of female watches. This was the first timepiece by the watchmaker designed to resonate with women from the start rather than modifying an existing line of men’s watches to suit feminine tastes. The collection would be different, tailored to the needs of its target audience, but would still embody the company’s DNA at its core. To achieve this, extensive research was conducted to discover what women want in a timepiece.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 was the result of that process. It debuted at the Basel watch fair in 1999, worn by four female Patek Philippe company staff members to showcase the unique timepiece throughout the event.
The original Patek Philippe Twenty-4 watch (the ref. 4910/10) featured a manchette or cuff design inspired by the company’s Gondolo collection with an art-deco theme. The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 ref. 4910/10 came in a diamond-set steel casing. This was an unusual combination for Patek Philippe but a deliberate one designed to achieve a practical but modern aesthetic while keeping the price down.
Patek wanted to create a relatively affordable timepiece, something a woman could easily buy for herself if she wanted to. In addition to the steel casing, the watch was powered by an E 15 quartz movement, which further helped keep the price point low. The movement also needed no winding, making it attractive for women. The retail price for the original Twenty~4 model was $7,800, causing a significant frenzy in the watch world at the time for its price.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 currently consists of 10 references, all characterized by a rich and timeless elegance that has made them the favorite of ladies worldwide.
The instant success of Patek Philippe Twenty~4 ref. 4910 led to a rapid expansion in the line. By the turn of the new millennium, the watchmaker introduced the ref. 4910/11R, with an 18K rose gold casing and a Chocolate Dream dial. It instantly earned the nickname “Chocolate Dream'' thanks to its remarkable dial color.
The first two models were large compared to other ladies' Patek Philippe and Patek Philippe watches at the time, with a 25.1 mm x 30 mm case size. In 2001, Patek introduced the ref. 4908 with a slightly smaller 22 mm x 26.3 mm case. It came in both 18K rose and white gold.
Patek would expand the collection further in 2003 with the introduction of the ref 4910. It was the first watch in the collection with a satin strap. The ref 4911 was launched the same year, this time with an uber-luxury design with a gem-set dial paved with rose cut or baguette diamonds.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Twenty~4 in 2009, Patek released the first 18K yellow gold version of this watch known as the ref. 4907/1. It was about the same size as previous models but came in three dial options: timeless white, night glow, and autumn gold.
In 2018, nearly two decades after the original Twenty~4 line was born, Patek redesigned the timepiece to reflect more modern market demands. While earlier ladies' timepieces were typically time-only pieces, there is now a growing interest in now a growing interest in complicated timepieces produced exclusively for women. In response to this, Patek Philippe introduced the first mechanical version of the Twenty~4 collection, the Patek Philippe Twenty 4 7300
While the Twenty~4 Automatic still preserved the original design ethos of this collection (especially the instantly recognizable bracelet), it ditched the original rectangular profile for a more familiar rounded case. The ref. 7300 came in a rounded 36mm casing and is powered by the caliber 324 SC movement.
The new timepiece is available in 18K rose gold and steel variants and has a date window on the dial. Patek went for Arabic numerals to update the dial further instead of the original Roman numerals. Patek also increased the number of diamonds in the bezel to 160. New variations were also introduced with diamonds on their lugs, crowns, and bracelets.
While the new model was a reinvention of the original, it still stayed true to the original design principles of the collection, preserving its elegantly refined and feminine aesthetics. Many believe the introduction of automatic models powered by self-winding mechanical movement now completes the existing range of Twenty~4 watches.
The latest timepiece in the collection is the ref 4910/1200, launched in 2020. This new timepiece is a throwback to the original Twenty~4 timepiece from 1999, with a rectangular manchette casing. However, it features a more contemporary dial updated with fully-lumed hands and markers.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 has a strong and remarkable identity that helps it stand out from the ladies' watches available today. Even after 24 years and 10 unique references, the Twenty~4 collection maintains a timeless feminine elegance that will impress anyone who sees it. Here are some of the most impressive features of the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 collection.
The original Patek Philippe Twenty 4 watches were based on the Art Deco design philosophy that was quite popular in the 20th century. This design ethos is characterized by strong lines and geometric lines, as evidenced by the manchette design of the first models in the collection.
The design direction was deliberate. Patek wanted to create a piece of jewelry that was practical and comfortable but still stood out. To achieve this, the brand worked on creating a timepiece with a memorable case design.
Most models in the collection also feature colorless brilliant cut diamonds on the bezel or more sophisticated full diamond pavé settings. As everyone knows, diamonds are a lady's best friend, and a perfect number of these diamonds add a feminine sparkle to an already impressive design.
The first Patek Philippe Twenty~4 model came in a 25.1 mm x 30 mm case. While this was smaller than the typical size for male watches, it was still larger than other ladies' watch models that were popular in the 1990s. The large size gave the timepiece a bold and distinctive presence, but it was still a delicate and well-proportioned watch that could sit comfortably on a lady's wrist.
With time, Patek Introduced even smaller case sizes, starting with the 22 mm x 26.3 mm case for the models released in 2001. The round version of this watch has a 36mm diameter. One of the reasons for making the case round was to allow it to house the ultra-slim and accurate caliber 324 SC. The smaller case size of this watch complements a dressy style and makes it easier to integrate this timepiece with any outfit.
The bracelet is one of the signature elements of the Twenty~4 collection. Even in the contemporary ref. 7300 with an updated case design, Patek still retained the original wide, cuff-like design of the bracelet. The bracelet seamlessly flows from the case, creating a unified and elegant aesthetic that has become the most basic part of the watch collection’s identity.
Commenting on why the bracelet design was retained, Patek President Thierry Stern believes it is an essential part of the Twenty~4 collection’s DNA. In addition to being elegant, the Patek Philippe Twenty~4’s bracelet design also makes the timepiece quite comfortable to wear. This bracelet's smooth and rounded profile feels gentle against a lady’s delicate skin. The bracelet is secured by an efficient folding clasp mechanism that ensures it stays firmly on the wrist without digging into it.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 comes in a variety of impressive dial colors. In fact, the dial is one of the most remarkable attributes of a typical Twenty~4 timepiece. Many models in the collection have earned unique nicknames due to their dial color and design.
The original model had three dial options – Forever Black, Eternal Gray, and Timeless White. Over time, the brand has introduced more contemporary dial colors like chocolate brown, olive green, and blue. These dials typically feature a sunburst finish that adds a subtle touch of depth and texture to their appearance.
Until more recent models with Arabic numerals were introduced, Roman numerals were the standard index marker on Twenty~4 watches. The straight lines and serified edges of Roman numeral markers complemented the geometric aesthetic of the Art-deco casing of these watches. With the rounded models, Patek Philippe went for Arabic numerals because it promoted legibility while creating a sense of balance and proportion.
Some models incorporate sparkling pave diamond designs on their dial surfaces, in addition to the ones on the lugs and bracelets. The diamonds added a touch of luxury to these watches. It also demonstrated the feminine side of the Twenty~4 watches despite being technical.
Original models of the Patek Philippe Twenty~4 were powered by reliable and accurate Swiss Quartz movement. One major motivation for utilizing quartz movement instead of making it a mechanical timepiece from the onset was to keep costs low.
Patek wanted its first feminine watches to be as affordable as possible, and the best way to achieve this was to power them with quartz. The design also made them less technically sophisticated so the women wouldn’t have to bother winding the watches. The Twenty~4 Automatic was later introduced in 2018 with a self-winding mechanical movement.
Most of the models in this collection delivered basic time-only functionality. They featured central hours, minutes, and sweep seconds hands. However, the ref 7300 featured a date complication, with a discreet window added to the 6 o'clock position for added functionality.
The Patek Philippe Twenty~4 collection has some of the most elegant watches of the modern era. Few other timepiece collections embody feminine elegance as much as this collection does. The success and legacy of this unique line of Patek Watch can be attributed to years of deliberate research to discover what women really want and encapsulate it in the best way possible. Dedicated to the young, active, modern woman, this prestigious watch collection is the perfect fashionable accessory for every occasion.