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 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
Patek Philippe 4910 Twenty-4 Grey Dial Diamond Steel Ladies Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Ladies Watch featuring a sophisticated grey dial accented with genuine factory-set diamond hour markers and luminescent baton hands. The watch is powered by q...
Steel
Patek Philippe "24" Ladies Steel and Diamond Quartz Wrist Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2010 Patek Philippe "24" Reference 4900 / 10A-001 Wrist watch, 30 x 25 M.M. 2 piece Stainless Steel case with Factory set Diamonds, Sapphire Crown, Quartz movement, Gray Dial w...
Diamond, Steel
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 18 Karat White Gold Tonneau Shape Wristwatch with Carved Bezel
By Patek Philippe
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Patek Philippe, Geneve STYLE / REFERENCE: Dress Style / Ref. 3528 METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt. Solid White Gold CIRCA: 1970 DIMENSIONS: Length 38mm X Width 26mm MOVEMENT ...
White Gold
Patek Philippe Twenty~4, Ref. 7300/1200A-011
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
7300/1200A - TWENTY~4 WATCH Self-winding mechanical movement. Caliber 324 S C. Date in an aperture. Sweep seconds. WATCH Self-winding mechanical movement. Caliber 324 S C. Date ...
Diamond, Steel
Patek Philippe Twenty-4 White Gold Diamond Ladies Watch 4920G (4920)
By Patek Philippe
Located in Dallas, TX
Patek Philippe Twenty-4 White Gold Diamond Ladies Watch 4920G (4920) - Quartz. Twenty-4. 18k white gold case with diamond bezel (25mm x 30mm). Grey dial with diamond hour markers and...
Patek Philippe Gondolo 4824G White Dial Ladies Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Patek Philippe Gondolo 4824G Ladies' Watch. 22mm by 28mm 18K white gold case. White dial with black hands and Arabic numeral hour markers. Black leather strap with 18K white gold buc...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe 4973G Gondolo 18k White Gold Pave Diamond Ladies Watch In Stock
By Patek Philippe
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Patek Philippe 4973G Gondolo 18k White Gold Pave Diamond Ladies Watch Brand: Patek Philippe MPN: 4973G Model: Gondolo Case Material: 18k White Gold Bezel: Pave, Round Brilliant Cut ...
Diamond, White Gold, 18k Gold, Gold
Vintage Patek Phillipe Platinum and Diamond Ladies Wristwatch Ref. 3128
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
This vintage Patek Philippe ladies wristwatch is an exceptionally elegant and highly collectible timepiece, combining the prestige of one of the most revered names in horology with t...
Diamond, Platinum
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.
