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When 8 out of the 10 most expensive watches ever sold belong to one company, you know you are talking about watchmaking royalty. And that is exactly what Patek Philippe is: a company that has established itself amongst the legendary folklores of the watchmaking world.
The journey of Patek Philippe started under the guise of another name. Polish watchmaker Antoine Norbert de Patek and Czech-Polish watchmaker François Czapek got together to start a company known as Patek, Czapek & Cie on the 1st of May, 1939. While the duo separated in 1945 and the company liquidated, Antoine Patek was soon joined by celebrated French watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe in his new company Patek & Cie. Mr. Philippe was making waves in the horological world for his invention of keyless winding. Unlike the previous effort, this partnership proved to be a lasting one with Adrien Philippe’s name being added to Patek & Cie in the year 1851 to make the official moniker Patek, Philippe & Cie.
Since then, the company has been a symbol of excellence and luxury. From Queen Victoria to Nelson Mandela, this watchmaking giant has had many patrons over its 182 year old history. Even though Patek-Philippe is still one of the last family-owned watchmakers in the world, it has no significant present connections with either the Patek family or the Philippe family. The company is currently helmed by the Stern family, who have had ownership of Patek Philippe since 1932.
Owing to its 180+ years of existence, Patek Philippe has changed their manufacturing sites quite a few times. The very first manufacturing unit was located upon the right bank of river Rhône in Geneva, with a new building being leased on the left bank shortly after.
The second significant manufacturing site was the La Jonction in Rue des Pêcheries, Geneva. This served as the company’s manufacturing unit till 1996. The year 1996 saw the relocation of both the headquarters and the manufacturing to the current site in Plan-les-Ouates in Geneva. However, the increase in the number of watches manufactured every year has led to a new production building being prepped in Geneva to be the sole manufacturing area and headquarters for a majority of the 1600-odd workforce.
The manufacturing process of Patek Philippe has an equally rich heritage, if not more. Being a pioneer of advancements in the watchmaking world, Patek Philippe prides itself on its heritage of hand-finishing every single component in the watch. From the cases and bracelets to the dial, all the components are manufactured and assembled by master watchmakers, trained professionals, and specialists.
Along with the artistry of the craftsmen and the uniqueness of their build, Patek Philippe watches are made with their famous 10 valuable mottos. They are independence, tradition, innovation, quality and fine workmanship, rarity, value, aesthetics, service, emotion, and heritage. These principles work in tandem allowing the company to produce watches that are an incredible testament to the timeless blend of impeccable craftsmanship and groundbreaking technology.
The innovations at Patek Philippe started with Adrien Philippe designing the first keyless winding system in 1842. The innovations haven’t stopped till date. Over the years, the watchmaking giant has produced one exquisite and advanced watch after the other, including the Calibre 89, considered to be the most complicated pocket watch with 33 complications. The 2015 Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175 and the 2016 Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6000, both wrist watches having 20 complications, are some of the creations that are at the zenith of the watchmaking world. A certain Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 is currently the most expensive watch in the world after it was sold for $31 million in 2019.
At present, Patek Philippe has around 164 models that are distributed over 9 categories: Grand Complications, Complications, Nautilus, Calatrava, Gondolo, Golden Eclipse, Aquanaut, Twenty~4, and a collection of Pocket Watches.
Now, almost over 100 patents and countless magical watches later, the meaning of the Patek Philippe symbol couldn’t be more relevant. Thought to be a sign of gallantry, courage, and independence, the Calatrava Cross (their protected trademark) embodies the regal beliefs of the company. Firmly rooted in this belief, the eventful past and the present of the company is forging together the legacy of luxury watchmaking in the future.