This page contains affiliate links. When you click a link and purchase an item, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Read our full disclosure for details.
Patek Philippe is the most prestigious watchmaker in the world.
If only one luxury watch brand had to be chosen amongst the rest, it would be Patek Philippe.
Well worthy of this title, Patek Philippe currently holds the record for the most, most expensive watch sales.
Including the sale of the most expensive watch ever to date, the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010, which sold for approximately $31.19 million dollars at a Christie’s auction.
While it may not be the most recognized watch brand, it is the most esteemed.
“You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”
A History of Patek Philippe
1839
On May 1, 1839, Patek, Czapek & Cie was founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek and Francois Czapek.
After 5 years of making pocket watches, the partners decided to end their business relationship and each went on to find new partners and found new separate companies.
1845
In 1845 Patek joined with watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe, known for his keyless winding and hand-setting system, and together formed Patek & Cie, which would then officially be renamed Patek, Philippe & Cie in 1851.
1868
Over the next 25 years the timepieces created by these two would become world famous and even sought after by royalty.
Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom was known to have a keyless pendant watch and another timepiece worn as a brooch.
And in 1868, Patek Phillipe created the first Swiss wristwatch for the Countess Koscowicz of Hungary.
1881
Patek Philippe continued to celebrate achievements in watchmaking and received three patents over the next 21 years.
A patent for a precision regulator in 1881, for a perpetual calendar mechanism in a pocket watch in 1889 and for the first double chronograph in 1902.
Patek Philippe will go on to be awarded over more than 100 patents, successfully helping develop and shape the watchmaking industry.
1915
Through the years Patek Philippe has been known to be worn by many artists and intellectuals.
Including physicist and chemist Marie Curie, Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, Russian composer Tchaikovsky and Russian writer Leo Tolstoy to name a few.
It is also said that in the year Albert Einstein completed his Theory of General Relativity, he had ordered a gold pocket watch from Philippe Patek.
1916
In 1916 Patek Philippe introduced the first complicated ladies’ wristwatch with a five-minute repeater and its first split-seconds chronograph wristwatch in 1923, with many more firsts to follow.
1932
Patek Philippe had traditionally been a family owned company within the Patek and Philippe family lines.
It was not until 1932, that the company saw a switch in ownership to the Stern family.
Patek Philippe had already been working in partnership with the Stern family, who supplied watch dials to the company.
Nothing was lost with this transition. Patek Philippe remains the last independent, family owned Genevan manufacture and has continued to flourish under the Stern family with many new watch innovations and collection launches, all while enduring as the top luxury watch company for generations.
Today
‘You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.’ was the now infamous campaign slogan launched in 1996.
This slogan rings true and prevails today as it still aligns with the 10 Values Patek Philippe continues to maintain today.
- Independence – Creative freedom and control of your destiny.
- Tradition – Timeless innovative artisan craftsmanship with technological advancement.
- Innovation – Constantly pioneering new frontiers with continuous quality, progress and reliability.
- Quality – The finest workmanship, performance and accuracy of timepieces in the world.
- Rarity – Exclusive creations with the highest quality of standard for the appreciated true watch enthusiast.
- Value – Hold as strong investments for collectors, achieve record sales prices at auction and exist as invaluable unequaled family heirlooms.
- Aesthetics – Timeless allure, fashion and beauty with flawless mechanical perfection.
- Service – Loyal commitment to assistance for generations.
- Emotion – Lasting possession of intimate memories, stories and experiences.
- Heritage – Building a legacy to bridge generations in a unique tradition.
You cannot go wrong when buying a Patek Philippe.
All Patek Philippe watches are of remarkable quality, and are assembled and finished by hand, by the finest watchmakers in the world.
It is an honor to wear such a brand.
Although many do not even recognize this luxury brand name, it can easily be acknowledged as the most luxurious of them all.
Consider yourself in the know, if you know Patek Philippe.
- Grand Complications
- Complications
- Calatrava
- Gondolo
- Golden Ellipse
- Nautilus
- Aquanaut
- Twenty~4
- Pocket Watches
Patek Philippe Official Site: www.patek.com
Omega
Breitling
IWC Schaffhausen
Montblanc
A. Lange & Sohne
Vacheron Constantin
Jaeger Lecoultre
Cartier
Tag Heuer
Bell & Ross
Tudor
Seiko
Longines
Bulova
Watch Brand List A – Z