It shouldn’t be surprising that a Patek Philippe holds the world auction record for a watch ($31.2 million for a Patek Grandmaster Chime, sold at Christie’s). Known for impeccable craftsmanship and some of the most complicated timepieces ever created, the brand is considered by many to be the height of fine watchmaking. Collectors simply love Patek Philippe watches.
The house was founded in Geneva in 1839 by Polish expats Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek. Czapek left the firm, and in 1845, Patek partnered with French watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Catering to the glitterati of Europe, the pair counted among their clients Tolstoy, Pope Pius IX and Queen Victoria, as well as Countess Koscowicz of Hungary, for whom they created the first Swiss-made wristwatch in 1868. They also had their eye on the American market and in 1851 entered an arrangement with Tiffany & Co. still in effect today.
During the Great Depression, brothers Jean and Charles Stern, who had previously supplied Patek Philippe with watch dials, bought the company, and it continues to be run by the Stern family today.
Under the Sterns, the house has developed some of its most famous models, including the Calatrava, an elegantly minimal dress watch introduced in 1932 and named for the Calatrava Cross (the company’s logo since 1887), and the Nautilus, the brand’s first sports watch, conceived by legendary designer Gérald Genta in 1976.
Despite the house’s longevity, it’s rumored that it has manufactured fewer than a million Patek watches, making each one all the more coveted. (The brand's pieces are understandably attractive to counterfeiters — make sure you know how to spot a fake Patek Philippe watch.)
Find authentic Patek Philippe watches, cufflinks, bracelets and more on 1stDibs today.
1930s Shreve and Company Art Deco Desk Clock
By Shreve & Co.
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Shreve and Company San Francisco STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco Glass, Gilt and Nickel METAL / MATERIAL: CIRCA / YEAR: D...
Gilt Metal, Mixed Metal
$1,900
H 11.5 in W 4 in D 2 in
Mid-Century Swiss Modern Golden Brass 8-Days Movement Desk Clock by LeCoultre
By LeCoultre & Cie 1, Jaeger-LeCoultre
Located in North Miami, FL
Mid-20th Century Modern golden brass 8-days movement desk clock by Jaeger-LeCoultre, Switzerland By: Jaeger-LeCoultre Material: brass, copper, zinc, metal, glass, crystal Technique:...
Crystal, Metal, Brass, Copper, Zinc
Atmos Jaeger LeCoultre Clock Gold Plated 287992 1960s
By Jaeger-LeCoultre
Located in Miami, FL
An Atmos clock by Jaeger-LeCoultre. Gold plated and glass frame. In very clean condition.
Brass
$1,540Sale Price|30% Off
H 7 in W 6.688 in D 2.25 in
Vintage Imhof for Saks Fifth Avenue Circular Brass Desk Clock Switzerland, 1960s
By Saks Fifth Avenue, Arthur Imhof
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Stately, two-handed, Swiss 15 jewel, 8 day winding desk clock manufactured by Imhof for Saks Fifth Avenue- early 1960s. Polished brass, splayed cir...
Brass
Vintage 20thC Hermès Gilt Brass Swiss Made Desk Clock c.1960
By Hermès
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A vintage 20th Century Hermès Paris desk clock with a finely engraved gilt brass case decorated in an intricate crosshatched pattern. The square architectural form is raised on a ste...
Brass
$3,286
H 3.15 in W 2.96 in D 1.19 in
Vintage 20th Century Hermès Gilt Brass Swiss Made Desk Clock c.1960
By Hermès
Located in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent
A vintage 20th Century Hermès Paris desk clock with a finely engraved gilt brass case decorated in an intricate crosshatched pattern. The square architectural form is raised on a ste...
Brass
Tiffany & Co. Art Deco French Made Hammered Brass and Gilt Desk Clock, 1930s
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Tiffany & Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: Gilt Brass CIRCA / YEAR: 1930's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 16" wide X Diameter 11" tall MOVEMENT / CAL...
Brass, Gilt Metal
Mid-Century Swiss Gilt Brass & Lapis Lazuli Swiza 8 Day Alarm Clock, 1960s
By Swiza
Located in Roma, IT
Fabulous Mid-Century Swiza with 8-day movement and original 1960s alarm clock in a stunning combination of gilt brass and real lapis lazuli. This amazing piece was designed in Switze...
Lapis Lazuli, Metal, Gold Plate
1950s Cartier Vintage Gold Eight Day Desk Clock
By Cartier
Located in Miami, FL
This aesthetically captivating authentic circa 1950 Cartier eight-day desk clock is made with a solid 14K yellow gold case. It is rendered in artfully textured gold, adding a glitter...
14k Gold, Gold
Cartier European Watch & Clock Co. Gilded Art Deco Chiming Desk Clock 1930's
By Cartier
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: European Clock & Watch Co. / Cartier STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco Chiming Clock METAL / MATERIAL: Gilt Brass and Bronze with Beve...
Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. Lady's Platinum Wristwatch
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
Platinum Patek Philippe & Cie, Genève, for Tiffany & Co, circa 1924, is a fine Art Déco, platinum, diamonds and onyx rectangular,women's wristwatch with platinum and diamond mesh ba...
Diamond, Onyx, Platinum
Tiffany Gold Wristwatch, Circa 2000
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Elegant 18K white gold Tiffany quartz wristwatch, circa 2000, has a 28mm x 39mm case with snapback, stylized corrugated bezel, with matching Tif...
18k Gold
Earl Pardon Modernist Brooch
By Earl Pardon
Located in New York, NY
Earl Pardon (1931-1991) is considered one of the foundational artists of the Modernist jewelry movement. Trained as painter and sculptor, he found his niche in precious metal. The br...
14k Gold, Sterling Silver
Tiffany & Co. Cufflinks
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in New York, NY
Antique Tiffany & Co black onyx cufflinks, circa 1915, set round slightly concave onyx in platinum and 14K gold. The cufflinks measure 1/2" in diamete...
Onyx, 14k Gold, Platinum
Earl Pardon Modernist Brooch
By Earl Pardon
Located in New York, NY
Earl Pardon (1931-1991) is considered one of the foundational artists of the Modernist jewelry movement. Trained as painter and sculptor, he found his niche in precious metal. The br...
Amethyst, Ruby, Tourmaline, 14k Gold, Sterling Silver, Copper
Ruby Diamond Brooch
Located in New York, NY
18K yellow gold stylized leaf pin features two serrated tropical-style leaves, set with rubies and mixed cut old European, modern and rose-cut diamonds set on the stems and veins of ...
Diamond, Ruby, 18k Gold
Launched in 1932, the model has become emblematic of quality craftsmanship and timeless design.
A true icon of the much-coveted category of World Time watches, this rare model represents an important milestone in the history of one of the brand's signature complications.
