Patek Philippe - Birth of a Legend

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Patek Philippe's story
In 1839, Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek founded Patek, Czapek & C° in Geneva. At the 1844 Universal Exhibition in Paris, Antoine Norbert de Patek met Jean Adrien Philippe, inventor in 1842 of a pocket watch with stem winding and hand-setting, and offered him the post of technical director as soon as Czapek's contract ran out. In 1845, Patek Czapek & C° was dissolved, and Antoine Norbert de Patek, Jean Adrien Philippe and Vincent Gostowski founded, in Geneva, Patek & C°. In 1851, the three men changed the company's name to Patek Philippe & C°.

1868 Creation of a key-wound watch with brass bracelet.

1887 The Calatrava Cross became the company's registered logo.

1902 The Gondolo Chronometer name was registered.

1914-1930 Creation of grande complication and très grande complication watches, certain of which, with astronomical complications, were sold to James Ward Packard. These included the first two most complicated pieces by Patek Philippe: one, made in 1916, with 16 complications and another, made in 1927, with 10 complications.

1915 Creation of the first ladies' wristwatch with five-minute repeater.

1925 Creation of the first ladies' wristwatch with perpetual calendar (inspired by a pendant watch).

1933 Henry Graves Jr. purchased what was then the most complicated watch ever made by Patek Philippe. It was sold again in 1999 for $11 million.

1936 Creation of an astronomical wristwatch with perpetual calendar and retrograde date.

1940 Special order for a wristwatch with a pulsometric chronograph and world time.

1959 Creation of watches with second time zone.

1974 Creation of the Calatrava model.

1981 Launch of the Nautilus model.

1982 Creation of the Ellipse d'or model.

1989 The Calibre 89, the world's most complicated pocket watch (33 complications), was unveiled to commemorate the company's 150th anniversary.

1996 Launch of the self-winding wristwatch with annual date.

1997 Launch of the Aquanaut model.

2000 Launch of the Star Caliber 2000 (21 complications) to coincide with the third millennium.

2003 Unveiling of the 10 Day Tourbillon with COSC certification.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Patek
• Philippe
• Geneva
• Nautilus
• wrist
• watch
• montres
• horlogerie
• horlogery
• uhren
• watchmaker
• watchmaking
• swiss
• suisse

[snowstuff100]

In my opinion a man should work hard & save up, no matter what his job to earn the right to wear one of these beautiful time pieces on his wrist, new or pre owned. Its the art & craftsmanship that makes them so special not the cost. They are the best watch makers in the world & I dream of owning a patek one day.

[Danne9000]

@cirocar Ok, I'm not quite sure how to put this... But let's start with the basics, the people who buy watches such as these (i.e Patek/VC(exception: ROO), A. Lange Söhne, etc) do not purchase them because of the fact that they're 'expensive' but because they are wonderfull timepieces, something which a non-watch enthusiast will not be able to grasp. Spending 20k on a watch gives money to your government, the swiss government, several workers from different nations and their governments.

[jezza1789]

@snowstuff100 You must be on crack not evryone can afford one nomatter how long they save unless they go to extremes like refiniancing or never retiring. Im saving for a IWC Portuguese 7k, thats as far as I will go.

[noonsight2010]

@muslimhunterFTW I collect clocks and watches. Last year I was at my watchmaker, he has over 35 years experience, and somebody asked him what he thought of Rotary. His opinion was that at any price point the Rotary is about the best quality watch movement and case to be had. I have my Dad's circa 1955 rotary and it's still going strong and is a presentable watch.

[noonsight2010]

This video is remarkably similar to the one of Vostok production! The main difference being the absence of hand finishing on Vostok watches. Pateks hold each position for the top one hundred most expensive watches ever sold.

[platinumguitar]

@snowstuff100 I own 4, including the 5016 in both platinum and rose gold, the Nautilus 5980 and 5719/1. If you do one day purchase one, you'll experience the excellence of the build and the incredible finish Patek Philippe delivers. Cheers :-)

[RobertJest1]

ANTONI PATEK WAS BORN IN POLAND AND WAS POLISH. Antoine? LOL hahaha. French have no one important beside mentally retarded Napoleon so they call any valuable people french.

Same with Chopin, Same With Madame Marie Curie. ALL OF THEM WERE POLISH PEOPLE.

Biggest World War 2 PUSSIES and Thieves. Overruned now by unarmed apes from middle east. Stop Stealing our noble people chesse-eating pussies.

[NiteHuntress49]

I own a necklace with the original Calatrava cross. Its a beautiful gold and silver necklace from Italy with a wonderful meaning behind it. Every time i look at it ill remember the meaning of the four triads to keep me moving forward. The Calatrava cross is a perfect symbol im glad they used it.

[LongboardinCH]

I would love to hear about the company's viewpoint on the new 3D printer technology and how it might affect the high-end watch industry.

[WOok2a]

Looks like a good investment... could be wrong... could be right.

[mrpicky510]

Looks like a year to make a single watch and only 10 seconds for some bonehead to rob it off you