AWC Patek Philippe De Novo II

From the POCKET to the WRIST

In the automotive world it is not unusual to give an existing chassis with engine a completely new body. However, using the mechanical movement from a pocket watch to create an exclusive wristwatch is extremely rare. The Alexander Phillip Watch Company is an exception.

The most recent example of a new body on an existing chassis is the Speedback GT. British businessman David Brown revealed the creation, which strongly resembles a classic Aston Martin, this year: a beautiful retro car with a hand-shaped aluminium body mounted on the chassis of the Jaguar XKR; the engine comes from that same sports coupe. The price? 495,000 pounds sterling.

The Alexander Phillip Watch Company takes the same principle to the world of watchmaking; however, the big difference compared to the automotive conversion is that in the case of the watch it is not an updated mechanical heart that is used, but a classic movement.

Pocket watch movements tend to be relatively big, but they are quite plentiful and therefore not very expensive. Watchmaking studios, like the Jochen Benzinger studio in Pforzheim, often use the renowned Unitas 6498/6497 pocket watch calibre from the 1950s, which is still being produced as the ETA 6498-1. This movement is not excessively big (36.6mm diameter) and not very thick thanks to the hand winding, and various big brands (Officine Panerai, Alpina) use it in wristwatches as well. But what the Alexander Phillip Watch Company has done takes things to an entirely different level, because using precious and expensive pocket Patek Philippe watch movements to create exclusive wristwatches, that is something few others will be able to emulate.

In close collaboration with a Geneva goldsmith AWC has so far created three watches that proudly bear the name Alexander Phillip Watch Company and that of movement maker Patek Philippe.