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 Calatrava Pilot Travel Time 37.5mm Mid-Size 7234R-001
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A discontinued 37.5mm mid-size Complications Calatrava Pilot Travel Time reference 7234R-001, crafted in rose gold by Patek Philippe. Features a brown sunburst black gradated dial wi...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Retrograde 5059J-001
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Retrograde Reference 5059J-001, featuring a sophisticated perpetual calendar complication, which includes a retrograde date display between 8 and ...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph NOS 5990/1A-001
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A now discontinued model, this Nautilus Travel Time in stainless steel by Patek Philippe is in unworn NOS condition. Featuring a black gradated horizontally embossed dial that featur...
Stainless Steel
Vintage Patek Philippe Hour Glass 2468 Silver Dial Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
This 22 mm vintage Patek Philippe Hour Glass in yellow gold is in fine condition. Features a silvered dial with a small seconds display at 6 ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe. A Rare Gold Hunter Chronograph 1908
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
Patek Philippe. A Rare 18ct Yellow Gold Keyless Lever Hunter Chronograph Pocket Watch C1900. Dial: The excellent white enamel dial fully signed Patek Philippe & Cie Geneve with blac...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Gold
Patek Philippe Complications Annual Calendar White Gold 5146/1G-001
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A Complications Annual Calendar in white gold by Patek Philippe reference 5146/1G-001. Featuring a cream lacquered dial with a typical annual calendar display. The dial also features...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe, Beautiful 18k Rose Gold Chronograph Ref. 3970E Wristwatch, 1997
By Patek Philippe
Located in Paris, FR
Patek Philippe – Reference 3970E, Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 18K Rose Gold – Circa 1997 Among Patek Philippe’s most celebrated grand complications, the reference 3970 is a corne...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph 5960R-010 18K Rose Gold Box Paper
By Patek Philippe
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: 5960R-010 Year: 2013 Model: Patek Philippe Annual Calendar Chronograph Case Material: 18K Rose Gold Band: Leather Bezel: 18K Rose Gold Dial:...
Patek Philippe 5970R Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
The Patek Philippe Reference 5970R showcases a 40mm rose gold case and a white dial set with rose gold baton markers and hours, minutes hand. This is a grand complications model featuring manual winding movement, chronograph, perpetual calendar complication with day, date, month, year, and moon phase. Exhibition caseback that lets you see the beautiful Caliber 27-70 Q; 24 jewels; power reserve approximately 50-60 hours; Gyromax balance; Geneva Seal; Cote de geneve...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Patek Philippe 4947R Tiffany & Co Dial Annual Calendar Rose Gold Diamond Bezel
By Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Gugugugu
Patek Philippe, Elegant & Rare 18k YGold Chronograph "Ref. 130" Wristwatch, 1947
By Patek Philippe
Located in Paris, FR
Patek Philippe’s reference 130 is one of the firm’s best-known vintage chronograph models and chronographs of the 20th. Few Patek Philippe references enjoy such an iconic status amongst scholars and collectors as reference 130 does. The present watch features an extremely appealing two tone silver dial with tachymeter, featuring Roman numerals at 12 and 6, and Gold batons indexes for the remaining hours. The case is in excellent condition and original hallmarks are still partly visible, which is rare for a 1947 watch...
18k Gold
Rare Patek Philippe 5050R 18K Pink Gold Retrograde Perpetual Calendar Wristwatch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Switzerland, CH
Beautiful Patek Philippe 5050R Retrograde Perpetual Calendar 18K rose gold case with an 18K rose gold tang buckle Case in excellent condition with clear and bold hallmarks Baton Nume...
Rose Gold, 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.
