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The Timelessness of Patek Philippe
By Alfie J. Watkinson
The company now known as Patek Phillipe watches was founded in Geneva in 1839, by an exiled Polish nobleman named Count Antoine Norbert de Patek. The watches were originally signed "Patek, Czapek, and Co.", because one of Patek's early partners was named Francois Czapek. Czapek subsequently left the company in 1845 to pursue other interests. A few short years later, Patek was joined by an esteemed French watchmaker named Jean Adrien Philippe. Philippe was the master craftsman that invented their famous stem-winding and hand setting mechanism, which is still a very popular design today.
Patek Philippe became an extremely successful company in the years following, and earned a reputation for unparalleled craftsmanship. By the middle of the 19th century, Patek Philippe had assumed a leading role in the Swiss watch making industry. They did this by continually raising the quality standards of precision watch making, and by introducing brilliant innovations such as the "free mainspring" and the "sweep seconds hand".
Many famous historical figures have been drawn to their wonderful timepieces, including Queen Victoria of England, Albert Einstein, Charlotte Bronte, and Tchaikovsky. Two of the most complicated watches ever designed were created by Patek Philippe. The first was sold to a fellow named Henry Graves Jr., of New York, in the early part of the 19th century. The second and more complicated was completed in 1989, and it was named the "Caliber 89" to mark the company's 150th anniversary. The company continued to thrive in the years that followed. As with the continuing passage of time, all things must pass. Antoine Norbert de Patek passed away in the year 1877. He was joined by Jean Adrien Philippe in 1894.
The company was held in trust for many years, until it was sold in 1932 to Charles and Jean Stern. Even to this day, the third generation of this same family owns and manages Patek Philippe. It is currently owned by company president Henry Stern, and his vice president and son Philippe Stern. Patek Philippe has played a significant role in creating and maintaining the quality, prestige, and reputation of Swiss watch making. It is the timepiece that all other timepieces ought to be measured by. They are utterly timeless!
About the Author
Alfie J. Watkinson is currently shopping for a new watch in Geneva. He has a stellar timepiece collection, and he likes to boast that they were all gifts except for one. When he is not obsessing over his antique Patek Philippe pocket watch, he might write the odd article for luxurywatches101.com – a website dedicated to the finest timepieces in the world, with information about Aquaswiss watches, Oris watches, Ventura watches and more.
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