Manufacturer
Patek Philippe
Also recorded as: Patek, Czapek & Cie · Patek Philippe & Co. · Patek Phillippe · Patek, Philippe
Geneva manufacturer known for complicated watches and the longest continuous record of grand complications.
Antoni Patek, a Polish émigré, founded Patek, Czapek & Cie in Geneva in 1839 with Franciszek Czapek. In 1845 he was joined by the French watchmaker Jean-Adrien Philippe, inventor of a keyless winding and hand-setting system, and the firm became Patek Philippe & Co. in 1851.
The company made many of the most complicated watches of the 20th century, including the Graves Supercomplication (1933) and Calibre 89 (1989). After the Depression it was acquired in 1932 by Charles and Jean Stern, whose family still owns it.
- Country
- Switzerland
- City / centre
- Geneva
- Founded
- 1839
- Status
- Active (family-owned, Stern family since 1932)
- Key people
- Antoni Patek (1812–1877); Jean-Adrien Philippe (1815–1894); Franciszek Czapek; Charles and Jean Stern
Innovations & specialities
- Keyless winding and hand setting (Philippe patent 1845)
- First known perpetual calendar wristwatch (No. 97975, 1925)
- Annual calendar (ref. 5035, 1996)
- Gyromax balance; silicon Spiromax spring (2006)
Timeline
- 1839Patek, Czapek & Cie founded
- 1845Jean-Adrien Philippe joins
- 1851Renamed Patek Philippe & Co.
- 1932Stern family acquisition
- 1933Graves Supercomplication delivered
- 1976Nautilus
- 1989Calibre 89 for the 150th anniversary
Calibres
Works by Patek Philippe in the catalogue
All 18 records →
Pocket Watches · circa 1895
Patek Philippe pocket watch, circa 1895
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Pocket Watches · circa 1900
Patek Philippe Chronometro Gondolo, circa 1900
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Movements & Components · 1901-2000
Watch movement by Patek, Philippe, Switzerland, 1901-2000
Science Museum Group, London
Pocket Watches · 1910
Pocket watch by Patek Philippe, Switzerland, 1910
German Clock Museum
Movements & Components · circa 1940-1950's
Patek Philippe watch dial, ref. 1579, circa 1940-1950's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · circa 1940's
Patek Philippe wristwatch, ref. 130, circa 1940's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · 1950, sold in May 1951
Patek Philippe wristwatch, ref. 2422, 1950, sold in May 1951
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · sold May 9th, 1953
Patek Philippe wristwatch, sold May 9th, 1953
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · circa 1960
Patek Philippe Calatrava, ref. 3484j, circa 1960
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Wristwatches · circa 1960's
Patek Philippe wristwatch, ref. 2509, circa 1960's
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Clocks · 1965-1975
Quartz master clock QM 1, with movement by Patek Phillippe, Switzerland, 1965-1975. Supplied by English Clock Systems.
Science Museum Group, London
Wristwatches · circa 2002
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, ref. 5020R, circa 2002
Antiquorum auction archive, Geneva
Linked through the Atlas maker authority list, which reconciles the spellings used by different institutions. Attributions are as stated by each holding institution or auction house.
