Patek Philippe
Template:Short description Template:Infobox company Patek Philippe SA (Template:IPA) is a Swiss luxury watchmaker and clock manufacturer, located in the Canton of Geneva and the Vallée de Joux.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Established in 1839, it is named after two of its founders, Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe. Since 1932, the company has been owned by the Stern family in Switzerland<ref name="Bloomberg-2018b" /> and remains the last family-owned independent watch manufacturer in Geneva.<ref name=":Rudells">Template:Cite web</ref> Patek Philippe is one of the oldest watch manufacturers in the world with an uninterrupted watchmaking history since its founding.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It designs and manufactures timepieces as well as movements, including some of the most complicated mechanical watches. The company maintains over 400 retail locations globally and over a dozen distribution centers across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. In 2001, it opened the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Patek Philippe is widely considered to be one of the most prestigious watch manufacturers in the world.<ref name="Korda2004">Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Clymer-2013">Template:Cite web</ref> As of July 2023, among the world's top ten most expensive watches ever sold at auctions, nine were Patek Philippe watches. In particular, Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 currently holds the title of the most expensive watch (and wristwatch) ever sold at auction (US$31 million/27 million CHF), while the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication, the world's most complicated mechanical watch until 1989,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> currently holds the title of the most expensive pocket watch ever sold at auction (US$24 million/21 million CHF).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Reddinger-2019">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
Early history
The company traces its origins to the mid-19th century, when Polish watchmaker Antoni Patek and his Czech-born Polish business partner Franciszek Czapek formed Patek, Czapek & Cie in Geneva on 1 May 1839 and started manufacturing pocket watches.<ref name="Patek.com-1">Template:Cite web</ref> The two eventually separated due to disagreements, and the company was liquidated on 18 April 1845.<ref name="Patek-6">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Official Watches-2019" /> At that point, Czapek founded Czapek & Cie on 1 May 1845 with a new partner, Juliusz Gruzewski.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Subsequently, Patek was joined by French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, the inventor of the keyless winding mechanism (although this had been discovered previously by Abraham Louis Breguet but not patented by him), and continued the watchmaking business with a new company, Patek & Cie, beginning on 15 May 1845.<ref name="Official Watches-2019">Template:Cite web</ref>
On 1 January 1851, the company's name was officially changed to Patek, Philippe & Cie.<ref name="Patek.com-1" /> In the same year, Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom acquired a keyless pendant watch at the Great Exhibition in London.<ref name="Patek.com-1" /> The watch was embellished with rose-cut diamonds set in the pattern of a bouquet of flowers.<ref name="Patek-6" /> The Queen had another exclusive Patek Philippe timepiece, to be worn pinned to clothing. This watch was suspended from a diamond and enamel brooch.<ref name="PPHOMEPAGETIMELINE">Cf. Patek Philippe website official history timeline Template:Webarchive</ref><ref name="PPROYALTY2005">Timepieces for Royalty – 1850-1910 by Patek Philippe Template:Webarchive, Geneva : Patek Philippe Museum, 2005.</ref> In 1868, Patek Philippe created the first Swiss wristwatch for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary.<ref name="Patek.com-1" />
In 1875, Adrien Philippe commissioned a watch that he later gave to his daughter Louise as a wedding present, which is known as the only wristwatch dating back to be owned by either Patek or Philippe. This historical watch is known as “The Watchmaker’s Daughter” and was auctioned in 2023 by the descendants of Adrien Philippe. The watch was purchased most probably by the Patek Philippe Museum though this is not confirmed and may be owned by a private collector.<ref name="Sothebys-2023" /> The wedding between Louise Philippe and Joseph Antoine Bénassy where the watch was presented is noted as the wedding that helped Patek Philippe survive the founding generation by providing the company with a successor to Antoni Patek.<ref name="Pragnell-2019" />
In March 1877, Antoni Patek died at the age of 65, but his only son, Léon Mecyslas Vincent Patek, did not join the business.<ref name="Patek-6" /><ref name="Pragnell-2019">Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, Joseph Antoine Bénassy-Philippe, one of Adrien Philippe's sons-in-law, succeeded to Antoni Patek's position.<ref name="Pragnell-2019" /> In 1887, the cross of one of the four Military Orders of Spain, the Order of Calatrava, became the registered company logo of Patek Philippe as a sympathetic allusion to the still-extant order of Catholic knights that fought the Muslims in the Crusades.<ref name="Haute horlogerie-2019">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1891, the 76-year-old Adrien Philippe handed over his position in the business to his youngest son, Joseph Emile Philippe, together with François Antoine Conty.<ref name="Pragnell-2019" /><ref name="Brittons-2019">Template:Cite web</ref> Adrien Philippe died in January 1894.<ref name="Brittons-2019" />
Company restructuring
1901 saw the transformation of Patek Philippe into a joint-stock company, Ancienne Manufacture d'horlogerie Patek, Philippe & Cie, Société Anonyme, initiated by J. A. Bénassy-Philippe and Joseph E. Philippe.<ref name="Pragnell-2019" /><ref name="Brittons-2019" /><ref name="Truefacet-2015">Template:Cite web</ref> Still being run as a family business, Patek Philippe then had seven shareholders, five of whom formed the board of directors with J. A. Bénassy-Philippe being the chairman.<ref name="Truefacet-2015" /> Joseph E. Philippe's son later joined the company, and he was the last offspring of the founders in the business.<ref name="Pragnell-2019" /> In 1915, Albert Einstein ordered a gold pocket watch from Patek Philippe; in that year, he completed his Theory of General Relativity.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The Stern family of Switzerland has owned Patek Philippe since 1932, when Charles Stern and Jean Stern acquired the company during the Great Depression.<ref name="Bloomberg-2018b">Template:Cite news</ref> The Stern brothers' company, Fabrique de Cadrans Sterns Frères, had been a business partner of Patek Philippe as its supplier of watch dials. In 1935, Patek Philippe was brought to American markets by New York-based Henri Stern Watch Agency, where it was sold as a sister brand alongside Universal Genève.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
In 1958, Henri Stern, the son of Charles Stern, became the president of Patek Philippe.<ref name="Bloomberg-2018b" /><ref name="Patek Philippe SA-2018">Template:Cite web</ref> Alan Banbery, who previously designed Universal's "Compax" movements and worked as a horologist for London's Garrard & Co, would take on the position of Director of Sales in 1965 and later authored official reference books on vintage Patek Philippe pocket watches and chronographs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Recent developments
In 1993, Philippe Stern, the son of Henri Stern, became the president of the company.<ref name="Bloomberg-2018b" /><ref name="Patek Philippe SA-2018" /> He initiated the publication of the twice-a-year Patek Philippe Magazine in 1996, which is reserved for the watch owners and has received contributions from various prominent writers including Nobel Laureates Gao Xingjian and José Saramago.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2009, Philippe Stern's son, Thierry Stern, took over the reins from his father.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2010, the company produced 40,000 timepieces and, according to Thierry Stern, it produced 58,000 pieces in 2017.<ref name="KPMG">KPMG, "Standing the Test of Time", pp.16-18, in Consumer Currents, Issue 5, 2008, KPMG International</ref><ref name="Haute horlogerie-2018">Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, the number went up to 62,000, and in order to maintain quality and exclusivity, Patek Philippe would only slowly increase the number of timepieces produced each year (by 1-3 percent per year) but with a ceiling.<ref name="Reuters">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> CurrentlyTemplate:When, the company is an active member of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Since the 2000s, Patek Philippe timepieces have repeatedly fetched high prices in auctions worldwide. As of 2023, among the world's top ten most expensive watches ever sold at auctions, nine were Patek Philippe watches. Among the top 58 most expensive watches sold at auction (over 2 million US dollars), 46 are Patek Philippe watches. A small part of the demand for auction pieces is driven by Patek Philippe themselves, as they are purchasing in the auction market to add to the collection of the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva.<ref name="PPWSJ2010">Clerizo, Michael, "Watch Auctions: Time-Honored: With their mystique, brands like Patek Philippe can command hundreds of thousands of dollars at watch auctions", The Wall Street Journal, April 29, 2010</ref><ref name="PPWSJ2007">Frank, Robert, "All That Glitters May Not Be Gold", The Wall Street Journal, October 8, 2007</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Motto and slogan
One of Patek Philippe's company slogans is "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation." The slogan was introduced when the company launched its "Generations" campaign in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Watch manufacturing
Patek Philippe manufactures its own watch components.<ref name="Fortune-2018">Template:Cite web</ref> Like other Swiss manufacturers, the company produces mostly mechanical movements with automatic or manual winding mechanism, but has also been producing quartz watches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In fact, Patek Philippe was one of the twenty Swiss watch companies that founded the Centre Electronique Horloger and collaboratively developed the first Swiss quartz movements, such as the Beta 21 movement (1969) which was used by several manufacturers in their watches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1950s, the company even produced a prototype for a mechanical digital wristwatch, Ref. 3414.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Patek Philippe popularized complications such as perpetual calendar, split-seconds hand, chronograph, and minute repeater in mechanical watches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, the company announced that all of its future mechanical timepieces would be imprinted with the Patek Philippe Seal which requires a precision of -3/+2 seconds per day for diameters no less than 20 mm and -5/+4 seconds per day for diameters less than 20 mm, surpassing the highest industry standard of watch manufacturing and thus abandoning the Geneva Seal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In December 2018, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) released a report assigning environmental ratings for 15 major watch manufacturers and jewelers in Switzerland.<ref name="WWF-2018">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Swissinfo-2019">Template:Cite web</ref> Patek Philippe was given the lowest environmental rating as "Latecomers/Non-transparent", suggesting the manufacturer has taken few actions addressing the impact of its manufacturing activities on the environment and climate change.<ref name="WWF-2018" /><ref name="Swissinfo-2019" />
Notable inventions and patents
Patek Philippe has invented over 20 basic calibres and has received over 100 patents.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following are some of the important contributions from Patek Philippe to the watchmaking industry.
- In 1845, patented keyless winding and hand-setting system, which received a bronze medal at the 1844 Industrial Exposition in Paris.<ref name="Patek.com-1" />
- In 1868, created the first Swiss wristwatch.<ref name="Patek.com-1" />
- In 1881, patented its precision regulator.<ref name="Patek.com-2">Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 1889, patented perpetual calendar mechanism for pocket watches.<ref name="Patek.com-2" />
- In 1902, patented double chronograph.<ref name="Patek.com-2" />
- In 1916, produced the world's first lady’s wristwatch with complication (No. 174 603, a five-minute repeater).<ref name="Patek.com-2" />
- In 1923, launched the world's first split-second chronograph wristwatch (No. 124 8244).<ref name="Patek.com-2" />
- In 1925, created the world's first perpetual calendar wristwatch (No. 97 975), with a compact movement for pendant watches created in 1898.<ref name="Patek.com-2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 1933, created the Henry Graves Supercomplication, the most complicated mechanical watch in the world (24 complications) until 1989.<ref name="Patek-3" />
- In 1941, launched the first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph the Ref. 1518<ref name="hodinkee.com">Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 1949, patented the Gyromax balance.<ref name="Patek-3">Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 1956, created the world's first all-electronic clock which, in 1958, received the "Award for Miniaturization” in New York.<ref name="Watch Collecting Lifestyle-2019">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Patek-4">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Deployant-2017">Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 1962, a tourbillon movement achieved the world's still-unbeaten timekeeping precision record for mechanical watches at Geneva Observatory.<ref name="Patek-4" /><ref name="Deployant-2017" />
- In 1986, patented the secular perpetual calendar with retrograde date indication.<ref name="Patek-4" />
- In 1989, created the Calibre 89, the most complicated mechanical watch in the world (33 complications) until 2015.<ref name="Patek-5" />
- In 1996, patented annual calendar mechanism and introduced the first annual calendar model Ref. 5035.<ref name="Patek-5">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 2003/05, launched the annual calendar Ref. 5250, being the world's first watch with silicon-based (the Silinvar alloy) escapement wheel.<ref name="Patek-5" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- In 2006, introduced the silicon-based Spiromax balance spring.<ref name="Patek-5" />
- In 2008, introduced the Pulsomax silicon-based escapement.<ref name="Patek-5" />
- In 2011, introduced the Oscillomax ensemble, combining the Spiromax balance spring, the Pulsomax escapement, and the GyromaxSi balance.<ref name="Patek-5" />
- In 2014, created the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175, one of the world's most complicated wristwatches (20 complications).<ref name="Patek-5" /><ref name="Bloomberg-2018a">Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable models
Most expensive pieces
- On November 28, 2012, the Patek Philippe Star Calibre 2000 Ref. 990/1 was sold at Christie's in Hong Kong for a final price of US$3.28 million (HKD 25,300,000), becoming the most expensive timepiece ever auctioned in Asia at the time.<ref name="Christies-2018b">Template:Cite web</ref> The timepiece boasts 21 complications, including Westminster Chimes, minute repeating, lunar orbit and so on, and was made in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On November 11, 2014, the Henry Graves Supercomplication was sold at Sotheby's Geneva Auction for a record-breaking US$23.98 million (CHF 23,237,000), becoming the most expensive watch ever sold at auction and held the title until November 9, 2019.<ref name="Sothebys-Graves">Template:Cite web</ref> The Supercomplication was made in 1933 for the prominent banker Henry Graves Jr. The ultra-complicated pocket watch (having 24 complications) was the result of Graves' friendly horological competition with James Ward Packard. After Graves' death, the watch was held by his daughter, and then by his grandson until 1969, when it was sold to Seth G. Atwood who kept the watch in his renowned "Time Museum" in Rockford, Illinois until 1999.<ref name="Sothebys-Graves" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The watch was auctioned for the first time at Sotheby's in December 1999 for a record-breaking US$11 million to Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani of the Qatari royal family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On November 12, 2016, a Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in steel took the title as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction (until October 2017). Sold through Phillips' Geneva auction house, the watch fetched a final price of US$11.14 million (CHF 11,002,000).<ref name="Twentytwoten">"Most Expensive Wrist Watch Ever Sold? Patek Philippe Ref. 1518", Twentytwoten.com, News, 12 Nov 2016</ref> This was the first time that a steel-case Ref. 1518 (only four were made in steel) went for auction; in fact, this piece was the first of the four steel Ref. 1518 manufactured, which features a chronograph and perpetual calendar.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- On November 9, 2019, Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 became the most expensive watch ever sold at auction, fetching US$31 million (CHF 31,000,000) in Christie's Geneva auction.<ref name="Christies">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Reddinger-2019" />
- On December 11, 2021, Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711 with Tiffany blue dial set a new world record for any wristwatch sold online, realizing US$6.5 million in Phillips New York auction.<ref name="Timeandwatches">Template:Cite web</ref>
- On April 25, 2022, a likely unique Patek Philippe Ref. 2499 – featuring a rare pink-gold case, and even rarer signature on its center subdial from Gobbi, the Milan watch dealer – sold at Sotheby's in Hong Kong for $7.68 million (HKD 60,265,000), setting a new record as the most expensive Ref. 2499 ever sold at auction.<ref name="Sothebys-3">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Over the weekend of November 9–10, 2025, a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Reference 1518, made in 1943, one of only four known to be have been made in stainless steel, was sold for 14.19 million Swiss francs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> It had once held the title as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at an auction for 11 million Swiss francs in 2016.<ref name="Twentytwoten" />
Calatrava wristwatch
Template:MainIn 1932, Patek Philippe launched the first Calatrava model Ref. 96, which was designed by English horologist David Penney who was influenced by the Bauhaus art movement in Germany.<ref name="Patek.com-1" /><ref name="Watchfinder-2019">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Truefacet-2018">Template:Cite web</ref> Originally, the Stern brothers, soon after they acquired Patek Philippe in 1932, introduced the Calatrava to help the company pass through the Great Depression smoothly.<ref name="Watchfinder-2019" /><ref name="Lim-2017">Template:Cite web</ref>
The original Calatrava Ref. 96 was in production for more than 40 years, and its successor models include Ref. 2526, Ref. 3520, Ref. 5196 and so on.<ref name="Truefacet-2018" /><ref name="Clymer-2016b">Template:Cite web</ref> Known for its simple and elegant design, the Calatrava wristwatch has been a flagship model of Patek Philippe since its introduction.<ref name="Lim-2017" /><ref name="Clymer-2016b" /> Notably, the Calatrava Cross has been company's logo since 1887.<ref name="Haute horlogerie-2019" />
World Time wristwatch
Patek Philippe World Time (Heures Universelles) collection was introduced in 1939, with Ref.1415 being the first model.<ref name="Forster-2017">Template:Cite web</ref> The "World Time" complication is able to show the time for all 24 time zones on the same watch and was invented by Swiss watchmaker Louis Cottier in 1931.<ref name="Forster-2017" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Cottier's invention attracted several watchmaking companies, while Patek Philippe was the first company to introduce a series of World Time wristwatches after forging a partnership with Mr. Cottier.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The successors to Ref. 1415 include Ref. 2523, Ref. 5230, Ref. 5531 (with minute repeater), and so on.<ref name="Forster-2017" />
As of 2018, Patek Philippe World Time collection (Ref. 1415, Ref. 2523) holds 6 spots among the 58 world's most expensive watches sold at auction (over 2 million US dollars), with the world record being 4.027 million US dollars (6,603,500 CHF) made at Antiquorum's Geneva auction on April 13, 2002.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Nautilus wristwatch
In 1976, Patek Philippe introduced the Nautilus collection after deciding it was time to produce an exclusive sport watch with finishes of the highest quality.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Christies-2019">Template:Cite web</ref> The first model was Ref. 3700 and was made of steel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was designed by Swiss watchmaker Gérald Genta, who previously designed the Royal Oak collection for Audemars Piguet, and was released by Patek Philippe during the quartz crisis in the hope that it would help re-attract people's attention to high-end Swiss mechanical watches.<ref name="Christies-2019" />
The Nautilus collection played a key role in Patek Philippe's overall marketing strategy as it had to refresh the brand image while perpetuating tradition. The target was represented by dynamic business managers of the new generations.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> The Nautilus wristwatch has become one of the most popular collections from Patek Philippe, and the Ref. 5711 & 5712 models, which the company introduced in 2006 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the collection, are among the most popular models.<ref name="Christies-2019" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Perpetual calendar chronograph
Patek Philippe introduced the first serially produced perpetual calendar chronograph in 1941, with Ref. 1518 being the first model.<ref name="Christies-2018a" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Ref. 1518 was in production from 1941-1954 with 281 pieces produced, mostly in yellow gold, approximately 55 pieces in rose gold and 4 pieces in steel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Ref. 1518 is considered to be iconic and a masterpiece at 35mm in diameter with the original price in 1944 being 2,800 Swiss Francs.<ref name="hodinkee.com"/> As Ben Clymer, founder of Hodinkee wrote in 2014 "...what the 1518 does have that no other Patek perpetual chronograph has to this day is a few examples in what many believe to be the ultimate metal for a Patek Philippe, and that's stainless steel."<ref name="hodinkee.com"/> On November 8, 2025 in "Geneva, a stainless-steel Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 (case number 508'473, movement 863'193, widely believed to be the very first steel 1518 ever made) sold at Phillips for CHF 12 million (CHF 14.2 million or $17.6 million USD),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> making it the most expensive vintage Patek Philippe wristwatch ever sold at auction. The sale took place during Phillips (auctioneers) Geneva Watch Auction, held in association with Bacs & Russo, and marks a significant moment not only for Patek collecting, but for the broader watch market."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This auction broke the prior record set on November 12, 2016, when a Ref. 1518 in steel became the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction (until October 2017), fetching a record-breaking US$11.14 million (11,002,000 CHF) in Geneva (through Phillips' auction house).<ref name="Twentytwoten" />
As the successor, Ref. 2499 is widely considered to be one of the greatest watch models in the world at 37.5mm in diameter.<ref name="Christies-2018a">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Sothebys-2">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Historically, only 349 pieces of Ref. 2499 were made from 1950 to 1985 in yellow, white and rose gold with two pieces in platinum - around 9 pieces each year.<ref name="Christies-2018a" /><ref name="Sothebys-2" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over the course of 35 years, four series of Ref. 2499 were introduced, exerting a strong influence on the watch designs of many other renowned watchmakers.<ref name="Christies-2018a" /> As of June 2019, Ref. 2499 holds eleven spots among the 59 world's most expensive watches sold at auction (over 2 million US dollars) and at least 18 pieces of Ref. 2499 have been auctioned for more than 1.5 million US dollars, with the world record being 3.880 million US dollars (3,915,000 CHF) made at Sotheby's Geneva auction on November 13, 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The rare platinum 2499 was owned by Patek Philippe collector, Eric Clapton. While it was known within the watch collecting world that Clapton owned the watch, it came up for auction in November 2012 and sold for $3.63 million.<ref name="hodinkee.com"/> The most famous Patek Ref 2499 was owned by The Beatles' John Lennon, an engraved piece gifted by Yoko Ono for his 40th birthday in 1980.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The which was stolen years ago but recently returned to her estate after a legal battle. The watch is now back in Yoko Ono's possession following a Swiss court ruling that the Italian buyer who found it at an auction was not the rightful owner.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The successors to Ref. 2499 include, in chronological order, Ref. 3970 (1985 - 2004, 4,200 produced in 3 series,36mm diameter), Ref. 5970 (2004 - 2010, 2,800 produced, 40 mm diameter) and Ref. 5270 (2011–present, 41mm diameter).<ref name="Christies-2018a" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Ref. 5270 was the first Patek perpetual calendar chronograph to be powered by an in-house movement, the CH 29-535 PS Q.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sky Moon Tourbillon
Patek Philippe Sky Moon Tourbillon wristwatch was introduced in 2001, with Ref. 5002 being the first model.<ref name="Sothebys-2014">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Doerr-2019">Template:Cite web</ref> The wristwatch has two dials and contains 12 complications including tourbillon, minute repeater, sky chart, and moon phase & orbit. In 2013, the company introduced the second model of Sky Moon Tourbillon, Ref. 6002, also with 12 complications.<ref name="Sothebys-2014" /> The new model took 7 years of research and development, while the engraving on each piece alone took more than 100 hours.<ref name="Frank-2013">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Revolution-2013">Template:Cite web</ref>
Sky Moon Tourbillon was the most complicated wristwatch from Patek Philippe until 2014.<ref name="Sothebys-2014" /><ref name="Doerr-2019" /> It is estimated that only 3 - 5 pieces are made each year, and the price for each piece is over US$1.2 million.<ref name="Doerr-2019" /> However, every purchase of the piece requires an application from the buyer and has to be approved by Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern.<ref name="Frank-2013" /><ref name="Revolution-2013" /> On October 2, 2018, a Sky Moon Tourbillon 6002G was auctioned by Poly Auction in Hong Kong, fetching US$2.707 million (HKD 21,240,000), making it one of the most expensive watches ever sold in auction.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
150th anniversary edition
Template:Main In 1989, Patek Philippe created Calibre 89, then the most complicated mechanical watch ever made, for its 150th anniversary.<ref name="Forster-2016" /> Calibre 89 holds 33 complications, including the date of Easter, time of sunrise, equation of time, sidereal time, and many other indicators. 1,728 unique parts allow sidereal time, a 2,800 star chart, and more.<ref name="Antiquorum-2018a" /><ref name="Antiquorum-2018b" /> In addition, Calibre 89 is able to add a day to February for leap years while leaving out the extra day for every 100 year interval.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Only four pieces of Calibre 89 were ever manufactured by Patek Philippe, with one in white gold, one in yellow gold, one in rose gold, and one in platinum.<ref name="Forster-2016">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The yellow-gold and the white-gold Calibre 89 were sold at auctions by Antiquorum in 2009 and 2004, respectively, and both watches currently rank among the top ten most expensive watches ever sold at auction, with final prices over 5 million US dollars.<ref name="Antiquorum-2018a">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Antiquorum-2018b">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
175th anniversary edition
In 2014, Patek Philippe introduced the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175, the most complicated wristwatch ever built by the manufacturer (with 20 complications, but no tourbillon), to celebrate its 175th anniversary.<ref name="Bloomberg-2018a" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Only seven pieces of Ref. 5175 were created, with one permanently residing in the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. The sale price for each of the other six pieces was 2.5 million CHF (2.6 million US dollars).<ref name="Bloomberg-2018a" /><ref name="Wright-2014">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2016, Patek Philippe introduced the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300, succeeding the Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Clymer-2016a">Template:Cite web</ref> Ref. 6300 also has 20 complications, including grande sonnerie, minute repeater, and alarm with time strike (but without tourbillon), with the sale price over 2.2 million US dollars.<ref name="Clymer-2016a" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The purchase of each piece requires an application from the buyer and has to be approved by Patek Philippe President Thierry Stern.<ref name="Wright-2014" />
Cubitus wristwatch
In 2024, Patek Philippe introduces a new collection called Cubitus, presenting an exclusive interpretation of the “casual chic” style.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- Boule de Genève
- List of watch manufacturers
- Manufacture d'horlogerie
- Patek Philippe Calibre 89
- Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication
Notes
References
Further reading
- Library of reference books on Patek Philippe watches and company Template:Webarchive - Patek Philippe website
- Kepa, Marek, "Watches for Royalty", Culture.pl, July 27, 2015
- Liu, Ming, "At Patek Philippe, 'the D.N.A. Comes In'", The New York Times, March 17, 2016
- Thompson, Joe, "Family Values: Patek Philippe’s Thierry and Philippe Stern", WatchTime Magazine, August 8, 2012
- Walston, Oliver. "David and Goliath", Lusso magazine, August 8, 2009.
- Mazzardo, Alessandro. "History of the Patek Philippe Nautilus", Time and Watches, Dec 16, 2021.
External links
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