Patek Philippe

The introduction of the first of its kind, and thus groundbreaking solar-powered Pendulette Dôme clock dates back to a patent application by Patek Philippe in 1951 for a clock with photovoltaic energy storage — an invention that today would be aptly described as hybrid technology. The advent of quartz technology on the mass market in the 1970s could have put an end to this Patek Philippe invention, but it did not, and today the Pendulette Dôme series is considered one of the pinnacles of the Geneva-based brand’s craftsmanship and ingenuity, coupled with an early advance in green technology. 

The Pendulette Dôme, which was launched around 1957, is based on a hybrid system of solar panel and battery coupled to an electric motor that periodically winds a 17-line mechanical caliber — with minimal technical changes, the same caliber that has been used in Patek Philippe pocket watches for decades. A special feature of this clock is the fully enclosed caliber, which is inaccessible to the owner and thus represents a mechanical treasure hidden in an artistic marvel. 

The second special feature that can be admired on the dome clock are the decorative works of art, which are mainly produced using the traditional and very complex technique of cloisonné enameling. The art of enameling occupies a place of honor in Patek Philippe’s palette of decorative techniques, which is only logical given the Geneva watchmaking tradition, which has been closely linked to the art of enameling from the very beginning. Cloisonné enameling, which is mainly used to decorate Pendulette Dôme clocks, produces magnificent multicolored paintings that retain their richness and luminosity for a very long time. The motifs are drawn with fine gold wire and the resulting cells are filled with several layers of enamel. 

The Pendulette Dôme, which has been in production for almost seven decades, has gone through four generations. The first series, produced from its introduction in the mid-1950s to the early 1970s, is usually identified as Ref. 7xx and is visually characterized by a round solar cell with a “crosshair” pattern. The second series was produced from the 1970s to the 1980s and is characterized by two vertically aligned solar cell columns and bears Ref. 11xx. The third series, with Ref. 13xx, produced from the 1980s to the early 2000s, is distinguished by a single horizontal row of solar cells (as in this clock). The fourth series, which came onto the market in the 2000s, is characterized by a round solar cell; the clocks are usually marked with Ref. 16xx and 200xx. 

Like all of Patek Philippe’s experiences with traditional decorative techniques, these timepieces are of great importance to connoisseurs of the art of watchmaking. The dome clocks form a continuous timeline from the 1950s to the present day and consist of examples with often unique designs in which enamel work is skillfully executed by hand on a very large surface compared to a pocket watch and especially to a wristwatch.

Patek Philippe created this Pendulette Dôme Ref. 1373 “700th Anniversaire de la Confédération” Piece Unique in 1991 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of the historic event that is considered the founding of Switzerland. This is a rare example of a commemorative model, while Pendulette Dôme clocks typically depict motifs of landscapes, still lifes, figurative and abstract miniatures, historical and fantastical scenes. Enamel painting, particularly cloisonné enamelling, where an image is created using enamel and gold wire, is an incredibly challenging craft for an artist to master and all its secrets, intricacies and tricks take years of trial and error. Enamelling artists such as Luce Chappaz are rightly among the best in the world and their services are sought after by the major watch brands. As the enamelling technique is very labor-intensive, especially for the large painted surface of the Pendulette Dôme, and is carried out entirely by hand, only a small number of pieces have been produced, many of which, like this timepiece, are unique.