A watch like a racing car with a maximally lightened body.
The company Artisans de Genève, specializing in luxury watch customization, has unveiled its latest project. The new creation, simply named 'The 66g', is based on the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5167 model.
As the name suggests, the watch weighs only 66 grams, meaning the main task for the customizers was to remove all excess to make this model as light as possible. This was the goal of Artisans de Genève's client - a Franco-Italian with the initials M. V.A. In the 1970s, he worked on European racing tracks, and his job was to prepare the car for racing, making it as light and maneuverable as possible.
The case of the new model is made of grade 5 titanium, treated with Titalyt® coating. Titalyt® is an electrochemical oxidation process that gives the metal a matte gray color and enhanced wear resistance.
The dial is open, revealing individual wheels made of yellow gold. This creates a visual contrast with the rhodium-plated surfaces, reminiscent of 1970s cars. The same story is told by the Rubber B strap, made of natural yellow rubber. The chosen shade is a clear nod to the vibrant car bodies of the 1970s.
The model is powered by the caliber 26-330®, which has been extensively skeletonized, leaving only what is necessary. Against the backdrop of the mechanism, the pink gold hands with hand-beveled edges stand out. For optimal readability, the hands and white-yellow hour markers are treated with luminescent material. The luminescent compound on the hour markers glows green.
The cost of customization services (excluding the cost of the watch itself) was CHF 69,520.