Patek Philippe’s ‘Concours Bienfacture & Précision’: A Celebration of Excellence and Renewal
Patek Philippe recently held the 14th edition of its prestigious ‘Concours Bienfacture & Précision,’ an event dedicated to encouraging young talents in the field of watchmaking. Established in 2010, this competition aims to nurture the next generation of horologists by offering students from Swiss watchmaking schools the opportunity to demonstrate their skills. This year, participants worked with the new caliber 30-255, first introduced in 2021.
A New Leadership and Renewed Commitment
This edition marked the arrival of the new president of the competition, Mr. Patrick Conus, a Master Watchmaker and Head of Complications at HAH. The event underscores Patek Philippe’s ongoing commitment to preserving and stimulating the skills required to create high-end timepieces, ensuring that these abilities are passed down through generations.
The Competition
On March 21 and 22, 2024, Patek Philippe hosted 18 students selected from six Swiss watchmaking schools (Geneva, Le Sentier, Porrentruy, Le Locle, Grenchen, and Bienne) at its manufacture in Plan-les-Ouates. Each school sent three students accompanied by a teacher. Participants toured the manufacture, visiting workshops dedicated to spirals, regulation, customer service, and haute horlogerie. While students engaged in practical exercises, their teachers explored various departments such as Archives, Art, and Components, and attended a session on the caliber 26-330.
The second day focused on the competition itself. Each student was assigned a movement to assemble and regulate, which included identifying and correcting a concealed fault. The students then set the movement in motion and regulated it across six positions, adhering to Patek Philippe’s stringent standards.
Judging and Awards
The students’ work was evaluated by an internal jury of Patek Philippe specialists, including a master watchmaker. They were assessed primarily on precision and craftsmanship, key criteria for the Patek Philippe Seal, and adherence to industry practice standards such as workbench organization and tool arrangement. The competition highlighted the high quality of education provided by Swiss watchmaking schools.
Prize Ceremony
The prize ceremony took place on May 4 at the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, attended by Thierry Stern, the president of the manufacture. All participants received a certificate signed by Thierry Stern and a book on the Grandmaster Chime model. The top five winners received a Bergeon voucher for watchmaking tools and internships at Patek Philippe. The first prize winner, Joscha Zaugg from the BBZ Zeitzentrum Uhrmacherschule in Grenchen, and the second prize winner, Marie Rais from the CEJEF Ecole des métiers Techniques in Porrentruy, were awarded internships at the Patek Philippe service center in Munich.
The trophy, a reproduction of a balance spring, is kept by the winner’s school and contested again the following year. Over 14 years, Patek Philippe has benefited 248 students with this educational initiative, offering 87 weeks of internships, including 16 weeks abroad. The company plans to continue the ‘Concours Bienfacture & Précision’ in spring 2025, ensuring the transfer of expertise to future generations of watchmakers.
The Winners of the 2024 ‘Concours Bienfacture & Précision’
- Joscha Zaugg, BBZ Zeitzentrum Uhrmacherschule, Grenchen
- Marie Rais, CEJEF Ecole des métiers Techniques, Porrentruy
- Gabrijela Jeremic, BBZ Zeitzentrum Uhrmacherschule, Grenchen
- Camille Jeanguenat, CEJEF Ecole des métiers Techniques, Porrentruy
- Hamlet Khachatryan, CFPT Ecole d’Horlogerie, Geneva
Participating Schools
- CFPT – Ecole d’Horlogerie de Genève (Geneva)
- ETVJ – Ecole technique de la Vallée de Joux (Vallée de Joux)
- CEJEF – Ecole des Métiers Techniques de Porrentruy (Porrentruy)
- CIFOM – Ecole Technique du Locle (Le Locle)
- BBZ – Zeitzentrum Uhrmacherschule, Grenchen (Grenchen)
- CFP – Lycée Technique de Bienne (Bienne)
Jury Members
- Patrick Conus (Head of Complications HAH)
- Vincent Lemmelet (Head of International Technical Training)
- Luc Vallet (Training Coordinator)
- Jérémy Chevalier (Head of Chronos 28-520)
The ‘Concours Bienfacture & Précision’ continues to play a vital role in upholding Patek Philippe’s tradition of excellence, fostering a new generation of skilled watchmakers dedicated to the art of horology.
