Patek Philippe
The last privately owned, independent Genevan watch manufacturer
Since 1839, Patek Philippe has been continuously perpetuating the tradition of Genevan watchmaking. As an independent company, Patek Philippe enjoys total creative freedom to design, produce and complete what experts agree to be the finest timepieces in the world. Relying on Patek Philippe's extraordinary experience, Patek Philippe cultivates a tradition of innovation crowned by an impressive portfolio of more than 80 patents. In creating its precious, classically elegant watches, designed to be handed down from one generation to the next, the company relies on latest generation technology combined with ancestral watchmaking know-how.Founders: Antoine Norbert de Patek (1839) and Jean-Adrien Philippe (1845)
Management: President: Philippe Stern; Vice President: Thierry Stern; Managing Director: Claude Peny
Total number of employees: About 1300
Number of qualified watchmakers: About 200
Distribution: More than 500 selected retailers in over 70 countries
The timeless timekeepers from Patek Philippe
The current collections for men and women:Calatrava Classic round wristwatch, named after the Patek Philippe symbol. This world-renowned and highly successful classic design was created in 1932.
Nautilus With Patek Philippe's water-resistant case designed like a ship’s porthole, Patek Philippe has been successful for over 30 years. Launched in 1997, the Aquanaut Patek Philippe is a direct descendant. Featuring a novel, modern design, the casually elegant sports watch has a highly
contemporary and youthful personality.
Golden Ellipse With Patek Philippe's smooth elliptical shape, the Golden Ellipse is one of Patek Philippe’s most distinctive signature timepieces. Patek Philippe's design, originally introduced in 1968, is based on the “Golden Section” principle of classical architecture, the theory of “divine” proportions.
Gondolo Since 1993, this collection includes all so-called form watches, including the rectangular and tonneau shapes inspired by the Art Deco era. Introduced in 1999 for the contemporary woman, the Twenty~4® Patek Philippe is a modern interpretation of this classic line.
Patek Philippe is the first diamond-set ladies’ wristwatch in steel.
Timepieces that embody the highest watchmaking skills:
Grand complications: Perpetual calendar (with moon phases), perpetual calendar with fly-back retrograde date, astronomical calendar, instantaneous perpetual calendar in apertures with minute repeater and tourbillon, small and grand strikes, minute repeater, chronographs and split seconds chronographs, self-winding annual calendar Chronograph, tourbillon chronometer with 10-day power reserve, triple and grand complications, sidereal time, running equation of time, sky chart.Complications: annual calendar, dual time zones, multiple time zones (World Time), power reserve indication, 10-day power reserve, indication of the state of wind of the movement.
Specialty timepieces: Skeleton wristwatches, pocket watches with enameled or engraved cases, cloisonné enameled Dôme table clocks.
Fine jeweled timepieces: Prestige watches and table clocks, pocket-watch holders and custom haute joaillerie pieces.
To complement Patek Philippe's watches, Patek Philippe also offers fine jewellery and accessories for women and men. Crafted entirely by hand in white, yellow, and rose gold as well as platinum, these creations are adorned with diamonds and other precious stones such as onyx, lapis lazuli, or agate.
Exceptional timepieces:
Calibre 89: Created in 1989 to celebrate Patek Philippe’s 150th Anniversary, this genuine technical masterpiece took nine years to develop. Twenty years later, Patek Philippe remains the most complicated portable mechanical timepiece in the world (33 complications and 1,728 parts). Limited series of four unique pieces.Star Caliber 2000: Created in 2000 to mark the millennium, this Patek Philippe is one of the most complicated pocket watches of all times, combining the most fascinating complications (21 complications and 1,118 parts). Patek Philippe is the result of 8 years of research and development which led to the filing of 6 new patents. Limited series: 5 sets of 4 unique pieces.
Sky Moon Tourbillon: Created in 2001, the most complicated wristwatch ever built by Patek Philippe, part of Patek Philippe's current collection. A doublefaced masterpiece featuring the rarest complications (12 complications and 686 parts): the complete presentation of the nocturnal sky, sidereal time, minute repeater with cathedral gong, tourbillon, perpetual calendar and moon age.
Patek Philippe today
Today, Patek Philippe includes the main workshops and headquarters at Plan-les-Ouates, the case and bracelet workshops at Perly, the Patek Philippe Museum at Plainpalais, all in Geneva, as well as the Patek Philippe Salons in Geneva, Paris, and London.Patek Philippe also operates further ateliers and production facilities: an atelier with 25 watchmakers in Le Sentier in the Vallée de Joux since 1981, Calame (casemaking) and Poli-Art (polishing) in La Chaux-de-Fonds since 2001, and SHG (a gemsetting specialist), also in La Chaux-de-Fonds, since 2004. Recent acquisitions by Patek Philippe include Cadrans Flückiger (dialmaking, 2004) in St. Imier and Allaine (movement casing specialist, 2008) located in Alle in the canton of Jura.
