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.
G & G Appleby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Enamel Double Giraffe Ring
Located in Santa Monica, CA
G & G Appleby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Enamel Double Giraffe Ring Gregory A. Appleby born in Van Nuys, Ca. He partnered with Gayle Bright and began sculp...
Yellow Gold, Enamel
G & G Appleby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Enamel Double Giraffe Ring
By G & G Appleby
Located in Santa Monica, CA
G & G Appleby 18 Karat Yellow Gold Enamel Double Giraffe Ring Gregory A. Appleby born in Van Nuys, Ca. He partnered with Gayle Bright and began sculpting precious metal jewelry. Th...
Vintage Horse Wrap Around Ring of 14k Gold, Circa 1970
Located in Lewisburg, PA
This golden horse ring is sure to gallop into any heart with its bold presence and finely crafted detail. Made of 14k gold (hallmarked), the ring showcases a beautifully sculpted hor...
Gold, 14k Gold
Estate Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold Giraffe Ring Size 8.75 - VHK#988
By Roberto Coin
Located in Hicksville, NY
Estate Roberto Coin 18K Yellow Gold Giraffe Ring Size 8.75 - VHK#988 Item Details: Year: 2000s Ring Size: 8.75 (Sizable) Metal Type: 18K Yellow Gold [Hallmarked, and Tested] Weight:...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Gilbert Albert 18K Gold ring for Omega
By Gilbert Albert
Located in Paris, FR
Gilbert Albert was a Swiss jeweller who was born in 1930 in Geneva. He started young and was spotted by Patek Philippe when he was 25. He went on to become head of the workshop and c...
18k Gold
Hammerman Brothers Vintage Yellow Gold and Enamel Horse Ring
By Hammerman Brothers
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970s Hammerman Brothers 18k Yellow Gold Horse Ring, the Horse head measures 3/4 x 3/8 inch, very finely detailed with lifelike features. Finished in a Brown Guilloche Enamel. ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
$13,600Sale Price|20% Off
Cartier 18K Yellow Gold Size 7.5 Panthere Vintage Ring
By Cartier
Located in New York, NY
Cartier vintage Panthère ring crafted in solid 18K yellow gold, designed as a sculptural panther poised gracefully across the finger. The feline form is rendered with smooth, flowing...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Diamond Horse Head Ring Animal 14K Gold Band Vintage
By Estate Jewelry
Located in East Brunswick, NJ
This terrific estate ring crafted in highly desirable solid 14K yellow gold. This piece is so finely detailed! One white and fiery .03ct diamond in the eye is SI1 clarity and G color...
Diamond, 14k Gold, Yellow Gold
Giraffe Rings, a Zorab Creation
By Zorab Creation
Located in San Diego, CA
Two of a kind, and one in the same. The Giraffe rings, a Zorab Creation, are meticulously designed to capture the stellar grace of the long necked creatu...
Blue Diamond, Yellow Diamond, Brown Diamond, Spinel, 18k Gold, Rose Gold...
Roberto Coin Diamond Tiger's Eye 18K Yellow Gold Animallier Giraffe Band Ring
By Roberto Coin
Located in Miami, FL
A fabulous Roberto Coin ring from the iconic Animallier Collection, featuring the distinctive Giraffe motif that creates a striking contrast between radiant gold and richly patterned...
Diamond, Tiger's Eye, Yellow Gold
Stuart Crystal Ring, Sterling Silver and 18k Gold, 8.5, Museum-Quality
Located in Northampton, MA
This rare and magnificent Stuart crystal ring is an exceptional surviving example of 17th–century memorial and political jewelry, crafted in sterling silver and 18k gold and set with...
Crystal, 18k Gold
Authentic Georgian 18K Gold & Paste Citrine Ring — Rare Large-Scale Size 9
Located in Northampton, MA
An exceptionally beautiful Georgian-era ring (circa 1780–1820), crafted in rich 18k gold and set with its original hand-faceted paste “citrine” of remarkable brilliance. This is a mu...
Citrine, 18k Gold
GIA Certified 1.08 Carat Padparadscha Sapphire Ring in 18K Yellow Gold — Rare
Located in Northampton, MA
This striking and elegant ring features one of the most elusive and collectible gemstones in the world: a GIA certified, natural and untreated Padparadscha sapphire weighing 1.08 car...
Sapphire, Padparadscha Sapphire , 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
18K Ring Intaglio Engraved Sardonyx Depicting Horse, English, Circa 1850
Located in Northampton, MA
This late Georgian / early Victorian 18K rose gold ring holds a rectangular-cut deep brown sardonyx gemstone that has been artfully carved -or etched, rather- to depict a horse trott...
Agate, 18k Gold
Georgian Ruby & Diamond Cocktail Ring Dazzling & Rare
Located in Northampton, MA
This Georgian-era (circa 1830) ruby and table-cut diamond ring was created entirely by hand over two-hundred years ago, though the shank itself is more recent (though still antique)...
Diamond, Sapphire, Ruby, 15k Gold, Silver
Precious Topaz Ring Antique Certified Untreated Brazil Origin Size 8.5
Located in Northampton, MA
This is a genuinely impressive and rather spectacular ring. It features a large, cushion-cut reddish-orange precious topaz that has been certified natural, untreated and with a Brazi...
Topaz, Imperial Topaz, 15k 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.
