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.
Patek Philippe White Gold Manual Wind Wristwatch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Classic Patek Philippe unisex watch. Rectangular 18 karat white gold case 30 x 35 (without lugs) mm, Swiss automatic movement. Subsidiary second...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe 3506/3G 18K White Gold Silver Dial Vintage Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
The Patek Philippe Reference 3506/2 features a case size of 30mm by 27mm from lug to lug, enhancing its vintage charm and making it a comfortable fit on a 6.75-inch wrist. This compa...
Diamond, 18k Gold
Ladies Patek Philippe Twenty 4 in White Gold with Diamonds
By Patek Philippe
Located in Palm Beach, FL
This crisp, ladies 18K white gold Patek Philippe Twenty 4 wristwatch is a fashionable and impressive timepiece. This is model 4910/G20-010 with factory diamonds and Patek Philippe o...
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava 3588-1 18K White Gold Silver Dial Automatic 35mm
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
The Retailer Stamp Of Approval The Calatrava has been the purest expression of Patek Philippe's dress watch identity since 1932. It is a design language built on restraint and perfe...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe Ref. 4173/2 – Rare Diamond-Set 18K White Gold Bracelet Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Antwerp, BE
Patek Philippe Ref. 4173/2 – Rare Diamond-Set 18K White Gold Bracelet Watch Blue Sunburst Dial Circa 1983 Strap Length : 15,5 mm ( can be made longer on demand by our goldsmith) Patek Philippe Ref. 4173/2 – Rare Diamond-Set 18K White Gold Bracelet Watch Blue Sunburst Dial Circa 1983 An elegant and highly collectible Patek Philippe Ref. 4173/2, crafted in 18-karat white gold and distinguished by its refined integrated bracelet design and brilliant diamond-set bezel. Produced in 1983, this rare ladies' timepiece beautifully embodies the sophisticated jewelry-watch creations for which Patek Philippe became renowned during the late twentieth century. The watch features a striking sunburst cobalt blue dial with applied baton hour markers, framed by a bezel set with approximately 32 brilliant-cut diamonds. The finely executed integrated white gold bracelet, composed of distinctive openwork oval links, creates a seamless and luxurious appearance on the wrist. Powered by a high-quality manual-winding Patek Philippe movement, the watch combines discreet elegance with exceptional Geneva craftsmanship. The harmonious contrast between the vibrant blue dial, sparkling diamonds, and sculptural bracelet makes this reference one of the most attractive and wearable vintage Patek Philippe jewelry...
Diamond, 18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe Annual Calendar White Gold 5396G-011
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A classic Patek Philippe Annual Calendar wristwatch crafted in white gold. Featuring a silver dial with a 24-hour display, a moon phase indicator, and a date as well as a day apertur...
White Gold
Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse 3583 / 1 White Gold Gents Wrist Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1980 Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse Reference 3583 / 1 Wrist Watch, 34 x 26 M.M. 18k White Gold 3 piece case, 18 jewel mechanical, manual wind nickle lever movement , original W...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe 5107J Calatrava 18K Yellow Gold Ivory Dial Mens Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
This exquisite watch features an automatic self-winding movement. It is equipped with a rhodium-plated mechanism that includes fausses cotes decoration, a straight-line lever escapem...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava Travel Time 5134P Platinum Watch W/Archives
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
The Patek Philippe Calatrava Travel Time 5134P-001 is an exquisite luxury watch that exemplifies classic elegance and sophisticated functionality. Its 37mm platinum case exudes opule...
Patek Philippe 4920G Twenty-4 Stainless Steel Diamond Bezel Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Patek Philippe 4920G Twenty-4 Stainless Steel Diamond Bezel Watch Brand: Patek Philippe Model: 4920G Twenty-4 Reference 4920G Serial: Scrambled Serial Case Material: Stainless Steel...
Diamond, Steel, Stainless Steel
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.
