{"product_id":"patek-philippe-sterling-silver-medal-plan-les-ouates-1997","title":"Patek Philippe Sterling Silver Medal, Plan-les-Ouates, 1997","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA sterling silver commemorative medal struck for Patek Philippe in 1997, marking the inauguration of the new manufacture at Plan-les-Ouates. 40mm, 36.7g, by Huguenin Frères of Le Locle.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn 1997 Patek Philippe moved its watchmaking under one roof for the first time, opening a purpose-built manufacture at Plan-les-Ouates on the edge of Geneva. It was the largest single step the firm had taken since the Stern family bought it in 1932, and the family marked it the way a Geneva house marks such things: with a medal in silver, struck by a specialist and given by hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is one of those medals. It was commissioned from Huguenin Frères of Le Locle, the firm Patek Philippe had already trusted with its 150th anniversary bronze in 1989, and it is struck in sterling silver at 40mm and 36.7g, with the 925 fineness mark and the HF punch at the base of the obverse. The inscription is in the first person and in French, from Henri Stern and Philippe Stern to all their friends, on the occasion of the opening of the new manufacture. The reverse shows the building itself in relief, with the founding date and the Calatrava cross beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe medal went to two groups. The first were the guests at the inauguration: retailers, press, collectors and friends of the house. The second were the buyers of the Pagoda, the limited edition of 2,750 watches Patek Philippe issued to celebrate the same occasion, each of which was delivered with one of these medals in its box. That is where most of them still are, which is why an example on its own is not often seen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis one has kept its relief crisp on both faces and its edge clean, with the even grey patina silver takes when it has been put away rather than handled. The hallmarks are sharply struck and every line of the inscription reads. It comes as the medal alone, without box or papers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe story of the medal, and of the two men whose names it carries, is told in the rooms below; the condition and the particulars are set out beneath them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Patek Philippe","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54927402271059,"sku":"CI-0027","price":0.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1080\/3121\/3907\/files\/patek-philippe-sterling-silver-curiosity-item-1.jpg?v=1789253451","url":"https:\/\/estatecollection.nl\/products\/patek-philippe-sterling-silver-medal-plan-les-ouates-1997","provider":"The Estate Collection","version":"1.0","type":"link"}