Collector Patrick Getreide, Proprietor of the OAK Assortment

At present can be a very particular installment of The Collector’s Collection. The form of individual and watch assortment you’ll see as soon as in a lifetime… Many individuals are gathering watches, however few of them have turned watch gathering into as a lot of an artwork as Patrick Getreide. The French businessman who began gathering 4 many years in the past just isn’t pushed only for the sake of proudly owning timepieces however by ardour. We had been fortunate sufficient to fulfill him and try his assortment in Geneva a couple of days in the past. Watch collectors are notoriously secretive, and their collections are hardly ever seen by anybody outdoors the collectors’ shut circle. So it was a second of sheer indulgence for us to check out so many distinctive timepieces gathered in the identical place.

The excellent news is that Patrick Getreide has made a choice of watches and can be exhibiting them on the Design Museum in London in Might. And there’s a lot to look ahead to. The OAK assortment – which stands for One in all A Sort – contains 160 best-of-the-best classic and modern museum-quality timepieces, together with particular orders and ultra-rare restricted editions. Patrick Getreide additionally owns the biggest variety of Patek Philippe items (5 watches) as soon as owned by the celebrated collector Henry Graves Jr. 

Xavier Markl, MONOCHROME Watches – What’s your background?

Patrick Getreide – I’m Parisian, from a household of six youngsters, and I began working very early. My father was my hero. He was in poor health and will now not work, so I needed to cease my research at16. I entered skilled life with out graduating or going to college. 

My love for watches began after I was 10 after I noticed an Omega in a store in Switzerland; it was immediate love. With some assist from my dad and mom, I saved cash and purchased it. Sadly, it’s now not in my possession. I preferred watches, however not as passionately as I do at present. One other early reminiscence was my dream of shopping for a Cartier Tank. So someday, I wager on our household horse that gained a race and purchased the Tank. Then issues needed to cease as a result of I needed to deal with working and couldn’t afford to purchase watches. Nevertheless, slowly however absolutely, I began to purchase watches once more. From Cartier to Common, I purchased watches from 50 totally different manufacturers. After which someday, I got here throughout Patek Philippe. I used to be in Paris; there was this 3970 chronograph perpetual calendar. It was magnificent. I ordered it, I needed to wait, and when it got here in, I didn’t have the cash to pay for it. I made a deposit and paid for it over 18 months: however I obtained it.

It was exhausting to purchase the watches I needed in Paris. Watches had been out of inventory, otherwise you had been placed on a ready listing. Sooner or later, I met Thierry Stern within the Patek Philippe Place Vendôme boutique throughout an occasion. We had an extended dialog and I advised him in regards to the problem of shopping for watches. He advised me to return meet him in Geneva, the place I additionally met Patrick Cremers on the Geneva Boutique. Since then, we’ve got met repeatedly and established a wonderful relationship. What’s extraordinary with Patek Philippe is that they make the very best watches and the persons are implausible; this is essential. To me, it’s not nearly shopping for watches. The individuals making these watches are actually essential to me too. I genuinely love the individuals at Patek Philippe.

How was this ardour for gathering ignited?

Naturally. It’s only at present that I realise what I’ve put collectively. I used to be simply shopping for and storing the watches in a protected. Now that we’re organising this exhibition, I realise what I’ve gathered through the years. I’m very proud. I’ve been very constant in buying distinctive watches, in excellent situation, produced in very small numbers.

What are your guiding rules for getting.

As mentioned, I solely purchase uncommon watches, produced in small numbers, in wonderful situation. Then I’m guided by ardour. For instance, the Patek Philippe 96 was not initially a watch I used to be dreaming of; 31mm feels a bit small for me. However after some time, I discovered that since I’ve one of the distinctive collections of Calatravas on this planet, I needed to have this traditionally important mannequin. I obtained a platinum mannequin first, after which, by a stroke of luck, I used to be provided a pink gold one in good situation from Gobbi Milano. Then I obtained a metal one, and extra lately I purchased a yellow gold one with the Homosexual Frères bracelet. So, I’ve the 4 metals at present. To present you one other instance, I’ve two references – 2510 and 2511- for which I’ve two one-of-a-kind editions however missed out on different iterations. They’re on my listing, and if the suitable alternative arises… That is how I purchase watches. At different instances, I merely fall in love with a watch. I’m very demanding about high quality.

Do you might have a grail watch?

Not possible. There are too many I really like.

That are your favorite watches in your assortment?

That’s unattainable too. I couldn’t decide. There are too many who I actually adore. As an example, I’ve distinctive one-of-a-kind Calatravas, and I couldn’t decide a favorite. I’ve this excellent pair of 570s from the Forties, and when Thierry Stern provided me trendy remakes of those (beneath reference 5196), I used to be thrilled. 

I like chronographs and chronometers. I’ve six totally different iterations of the reference 1579, together with a one-of-a-kind. I really like this reference. There are the 1518, the 2499 or the 3970… after which there are the cloisonné enamel watches. Initially, I used to be not into these enamel watches, however Patrick Cremers taught me to like these. As you may see, training is vital.

You’ve been secretly gathering watches for years. Why do you intend to indicate them to the world?

This might not have been attainable earlier than. “A secret life is a cheerful life” has all the time been my motto. You can find little or no details about me on the web. I handed over the administration of my companies to my son. I didn’t need him to take over when he was over 50 years previous. As I’ve extra time, I realised that I had one thing really distinctive in my fingers. I contemplate watches as artwork items. I discover it very unusual that no watch collections are displayed in museums. It turned an obsession for me to showcase watches as artwork items in a museum. It’s also about sharing the fervour with individuals. There are non-public collections of work in museums however not watches. Why?

You’ve been gathering for years. What’s your notion of the evolution of the market?

I’ve lived it. What I can say is that watches are getting nicer and nicer. Fashionable watches are distinctive. I don’t know if that is true or just because I’m turning into extra educated. There are such a lot of manufacturers to purchase. I purchase rather a lot from Patek, Rolex and unbiased watchmakers, however there are such a lot of different manufacturers. However once in a while, I purchase from different manufacturers; from Vacheron Constantin and others. I really like Tudor too. They make lovely, understated watches.

You had been mentioning independents?

As soon as once more, Patrick Cremers helped me rather a lot in understanding the independents. I’ve watches from Kari Voutilainen, Rexhep Rexhepi, from F.P. Journe, from Philippe Dufour…

How do you take care of your watches?

That is important for me. My watches are all in good situation and functioning. If they aren’t operating, my watchmaker repairs them, and if this isn’t attainable, he sends these to the model for restore.

Who do you purchase watches from? Public sale homes?

I purchase from totally different sources. I purchase new watches from Patek Philippe or Rolex. There are individuals I belief from whom I purchase watches. I choose to not purchase at public sale as a result of it’s much less discreet. Nevertheless, if I see a watch I like at public sale, I purchase it. I’ve been shopping for watches from Aurel Bacs for years. There are few individuals like Aurel. He has a expertise for locating distinctive watches, and he provides me treasured recommendation. 

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