Patek Philippe’s history spans longer than the luxury wristwatches they now dominate. As one of the most sought-after brands in luxury timepieces, Patek Philippe is a collector’s dream, bagging eight of the Top 10 most expensive watches ever to sell at an auction. However, its appeal goes beyond the rankings it holds -- at the core of it, collectors still love Patek Philippe because of its skillful artisanry when it comes to premium watches that stand the test of time.
Its longevity may be attributed to the stories that Patek Philippe tells with every model and collection they put out. The embodiment of a classy, elegant timepiece, Patek Philippe has graced the wrists of practically every important person who has walked the planet -- from kings and queens to celebrities in various media, sports and industry influence.
When things didn't work out between partners Antoine Norbert de Patek and Franciszek Czapek of the Geneva-based company Patek, Czapek & Cie, they went their separate ways and sought out new collaborators. Patek heard of the French watchmaker Adrienne Philippe and his invention of a keyless winding mechanism, so he invited him to come to Geneva. Their collaboration resulted in the first keyless watch presented to Queen Victoria at the Great Exhibition in London and it cemented their partnership as Patek, Philippe & Cie in 1851.
The keyless watch was not Patek & Philippe’s only invention to impress royalty. In 1868, they presented the first ever Swiss-made wristwatch to the Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, and in 1910, a minute-repeater pocket watch equipped with the Westminster chime to the Duke of Regla. Even well into the 20th century, when car magnate and huge horology collector James Packard commissioned the world’s most complicated watch, he came to Patek Philippe for its manufacturing. Interestingly, the Packard Grande Complication was only ever outdone by a super complication commissioned by Packard’s rival Henry Graves in 1933, also assembled by Patek Philippe.
As the world turned to wristwatches, both for practical reasons and prestige, Patek Philippe continued churning out innovations that eventually became the benchmark for superior timekeeping. The first Calatrava model embodied the classic, elegant design synonymous to Patek Philippe, while the Nautilus, launched in 1976, reinvigorated the brand during the quartz crisis and became one of the most beloved models by collectors the world over. Today, Patek Phillipe is worn a sophisticated, yet practical timepiece worn by top executives and celebrities alike, from musicians like John Mayer and Hollywood star Brad Pitt who are fans of the Patek Phillipe Nautilus. The President of Toyota, Aiko Toyoda has also been photographed wearing the Patek Philippe Calatrava 5199G on numerous occasions.
Combining the tradition of superior workmanship and an eye towards the future, Patek Philippe is the last independent family-owned Genevan watch manufacturer whose legacy remains uninterrupted after almost 180 years.
Perhaps one of the biggest indications that Patek Philippe creations are works of art is the fact that they are literally curated to be part of museum collections. In 2001, the luxury watch company opened the Patek Philippe museum in Geneva to house five centuries of horology and Patek Philippe’s contributions to the industry. Aside from a literal temple to watchmaking, Patek Philippe also launched several Watch Art Exhibitions: one in Dubai in 2012, London in 2015, New York in 2017, and most recently in 2019 in Singapore. The Patek Philippe Singapore exhibition is said to have been the biggest and most successful yet, a good indication that the brand is well-loved in the Southeast Asian market.
Interested to peruse our selection of Patek Philippe watches in Singapore? Browse our curated pieces at chrono95.com.
