Patrick Getreide has spent nearly four decades building one of the world’s most enviable watch collections — the OAK (One-of-a-Kind). With over 600 pieces, it is a horological treasure comprising made of limited editions, a mix of old and new — and all in perfect working condition.
The French businessman got hooked when he was just 10-years-old. “My love [for watches] started when I saw an Omega in a shop in Switzerland. I saved up and, with some help from my parents, I bought it,” he recalls fondly. Over the years, Getreide, 66, grew his collection with pieces from noted brands Patek Philippe, Rolex, F.P. Journe, and Cartier, and also lesser known ones such as Briston.
Wrist talk
Getreide lost his first Omega, unfortunately, but his next buy was equally important — a 1980 Cartier Tank
LC. Incidentally, it is the first piece guests saw at the London exhibition. “I wanted to acquire it for a long time, but I didn’t have the money. So, I bet on the family horse to win a race [which it did],” he shares.
Another story revolves around a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar 3970. “In Paris I saw a fantastic 3970, but it was for 360,000 Francs. I paid the sales assistant a partial amount to reserve it, and requested him to let me pay it in instalments [it took him months].” Much later, at a cocktail party in Paris, Getreide met Thierry Stern, the CEO of Patek Philippe, who invited him to visit their boutique in Geneva. It was the beginning of a long relationship between the brand and Getreide. Today, 121 Patek Philippes are part of the OAK collection.
The collector takes great care of his timepieces. He has a watchmaker who checks each piece and repairs are done every month. If any need extra attention, they are sent to the brand’s workshops.
