Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and Francois Czpek and the company’s history is a major part of the Swiss watch tradition. Starting in 1845, Antoine Norbert de Patek invite Jean Adrien Philippe to Geneva Switzerland, where the two men begin working together to make the world’s finest timepieces. This collaboration between these two innovators led to the first watch with key-less stem-winding and hand setting mechanism. In 1851 during the Great Exhibition of Works of all Nations in London England, Patek & Cie gained Queen Elizabeth as a client when she acquired a Patek Philippe pendant watch. The watch case is decorated with rose-cut diamonds set in a pattern of a bouquet of flowers, on a sky blue enamel background. During that same year, the company was renamed Patek Philippe and also established it’s first US customer: Tiffany & Co.
An Ultimate Guide To Patek Philippe
In 1855 Patek Philippe was awarded a gold medal at the Exposition Universelles des Products de L’Agriculture. In 1863, Patek Philippe created it’s first pocket watch with a tourbillion regulator. During 1867, Patek Philippe was awarded a gold medal at the World’s fair, the Exposition Universelle d’art et d’intdustrie, in Paris. Then in 1868 Patek Philippe created the first Swiss wristwatch for Countess Kosowicz of Hungry. In 1872, the relationship between Patek Philippe and Gondola & Labouriau of Rio de Janeiro Brazil was established. The term Gondola would later be adopted as the name of a collection for Patek’s rectangular, tonneau and square case watches. As the years passed Patek Philippe would gain many famous clients and continue to create new and fascinating movements and timepieces. In 1886 Patek Philippe watches began bearing the Geneva Seal, given to only the finest Swiss watch movements. In 1887, Patek Philippe trademarks the iconic Calatrava Cross emblem as the companies logo. In 1889, Patek received a patent for the Perpetual Calendar mechanism. Later, between 1895 and 1897, Patek Philippe demonstrated complicated pocket watches, which gained the company a huge clientele of some of the wealthiest aficionados of haute horolgerie. 1902 has Patek Philippe being awarded a patent for it’s double chronograph. In 1923 Patek Philippe creates the first split-seconds chronograph wristwatch.
From 1927 to 1933 Mr. Henry Graves Jr. became one of Patek Philippe’s most important customers. The “Graves” Super complication watch was the world’s most import complicated timepiece at the time, up until 1989 when Patek Philippe builds the Calibre 89.
In 1932 Patek Philippe introduces it’s first Calatrava wrist watch.
Between 1900 and 1939 Patek Philippe wins 764 timekeeping prizes.
In 1932, the Patek Philippe company was sold to Charles and Jean Stern and today, the third generation of the Stern family owns and manages the company. In the 1950s, Patek Philippe filed numerous patents, and won many awards and honors. Patek Philippe is given credit for creating the two most complicated watches of all time. The first was for Mr. Henry Graves Jr. which was completed at the beginning of the century. The second, the Caliber 89, was completed in 1989 to commemorate the company’s 150th anniversary. The Caliber 89 featured 33 complications, including a thermometer, time of sunrise, and equation of time. The timepiece showcased a total of 1,728 individual parts.
Patek Philippe Innovation
Patek Philippe is famous for its leadership in the manufacture of mechanical horology, holding over 80 patents, many of which hold great historical importance to the art of fine watch making. It’s vintage watches regularly top auction house results including the Henry Graves Jr. timepiece, which sold for $11 million dollars. Watch aficionados the world over prefer Patek more than any other fine watch brand. Patek Philippe is also recognized for it’s highly accurate master-clocks that are installed in power stations, hospitals, airports and other public buildings throughout Switzerland. Most of the firm’s current production is wristwatches, but Patek Philippe continues to produce high quality pocket watches and specialty clocks with highly complicated movements, often featuring enameled miniature paintings and engravings. The company has produced approximately 500,000 watches total, which is surprisingly few for a company as well known as Patek Philippe. However, this exclusivity has contributed to making it one of the most expensive and highly sought brands on the market today. Patek Philippe watches have been worn by a host of famous clients, including notable figures throughout history. This clientele includes royalty, distinguished scientists, artists, authors and musicians. Patek Philippe watches have been worn by Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Tchaikovsky, Walt Disney, Duke Ellington, John F. Kennedy, Pablo Picasso, Elizabeth Taylor and Paul McCartney.
Patek Philippe Collections
Our ultimate guide to Patek Philippe will show you that Patek Philippe’s are considered by many to be the finest timepiece in the world. You can choose from Patek Philippe watch collections for both men and women. Popular men’s models include the Calatrava, the Gondolo, the Aquanaut, and the Nautilus. Popular women’s models include the Patek Philippe Twenty-4, the Gondolo, and the Calatrava.
Patek Philippe: The World’s Finest Swiss Timepiece
Swiss watches have come to be the hallmark of quality worldwide, and Patek Philippe is largely responsible for this stellar reputation. Patek Philippe watches have represented innovation and technical superiority ever since the first Patek Philippe watch was created in 1868.
Each Patek Philippe watch now bears the Patek Philippe Seal; a Patek Philippe watch is one of the most recognized brands on the market and the epitome of quality watches in the world today. No other watch is subject to as much scrutiny and quality control than a Patek Philippe watch, and every movement is put through 600 hours of quality testing before being made available for purchase. The exclusivity of a Patek Philippe watch is heightened by Patek’s extreme attention to detail and limited production. Patek Philippe produces only 30,000 watches a year and the individual models are produced in small and limited editions. The rarity of these watches allows the Patek watchmakers and designers to explore a wide variety of artistic innovations and contributes to the lasting value of a Patek Philippe watch.
The finest luxury watch brands have the best resale value. No other luxury watch brand can boast better resale value than Patek Philippe. This is just one of several reasons Patek Philippe watches dominate auction results year after year. If the time comes when your interested in selling your Patek Philippe watch, Harold Freeman Jewelers is the best place to sell Patek Philippe watches.
Patek Philippe’s Enduring Style
In our Ultimate guide to Patek Philippe, you’ll find that the small production runs of Patek Philippe watches make it possible to produce various styles in different materials that complement the unique personality of each owner. The incredible innovation exhibited in a Patek Philippe watch has always been the hallmark of this company, which has produced some of the most unique timepieces ever made. The Sky Moon Tourbillon Reference 5002, for instance, is the most complex wristwatch produced by Patek Philippe and has two working sides, with the reverse showing sidereal time and the phase and orbit of the moon. The instantly-recognizable Ellipse model is well-balanced and understated in its elegance and beauty while the art deco designs of the Gondolo feature the beautiful lines of a bygone historic era. Ladies Patek Philippe watches showcase innovations like the Twenty-4 with diamonds, the Calatrava with diamonds, and the sporty yet elegant Nautilus and Aquanaut models.
Patek Philippe Complicated Watches
In addition to Patek Philippe’s fine line of wristwatches, the company also produces a small series of highly complicated watches. These timepieces, like all Patek Philippe timepieces, reflect the highest standards of quality, but takes things a step further. A Patek Philippe Complicated watch is the highest example of the fine art of watchmaking and Patek Philippe is the undisputed leader. Popular examples of a Patek Philippe Complicated timepiece are Chronographs, World Time watches, Annual Calendars, Perpetual Calendars, Tourbillons and of-course Minute Repeaters.
Pre-Owned Patek Philippe Watches
All Patek Philippe watches are designed to last for generations. These are valuable watches that can be passed on as an heirloom and will always retains their value. Because of the rarity, extremely fine quality and splendid designs, pre-owned Patek Philippe watches are often passed down within the family. That said, a secondary market does exist, and it is possible to acquire a used Patek Philippe watch through Swiss timepiece experts such as Harold Freeman Jewelers. Vintage Patek Philippe watches allow a buyer to explore the vast history of Patek Philippe and provide an opportunity to purchase unusual and distinctive timepiece that are no longer being produced. A vintage Patek Philippe watch, due to it being such a treasured possession, is always highly sought after and can make a great purchase and an interesting story.
Patek Philippe’s are more than just instruments for telling time. Among connoisseurs of the fine art of watch making, there is a consensus that these timepieces represent the incarnation of horological perfection. They are unquestionably the pinnacle of the watchmaker’s art. Patek Philippe is among the very few watchmaking companies in Switzerland that master all manufacturing steps from development to final assembly, including the in-house production of movements, cases and bracelets. This passion for perfection is what separates Patek Philippe from all other watch companies in the world.
Patek Philippe Cufflinks and Jewelry
The freedom afforded to Patek Philippe watchmakers and fellow designers has created some of the finest watches in the market. The beauty and craftsmanship of a Patek Philippe watch is now complimented by a new collection of men’s and women’s jewelry created by Patek Philippe. Patek Philippe cufflinks are offered to match most any Patek timepiece. Popular Patek Philippe cufflinks include the Calatrava and Nautilus collections. Patek Philippe Jewelry offers matching Ladies Twenty~4 rings and earrings. Ladies Patek Philippe Calatrava rings look beautiful next to a fine Patek Philippe timepiece.
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