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.
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 Yellow Gold 18K Wristwatch 1960S
By Patek Philippe
Located in Geneva, CH
Patek Philippe Wristwatch ref. 3503/5 in 18K Gold. CIRCA: 1967 CASE NUMBER: 2650836 MOVEMENT NUMBER: 1137844 REF.: 3503 CASE MATERIAL: 18K y...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
$11,245
W 1.07 in L 1.46 in
1940's Patek Philippe Vintage Mens 18K Gold Watch - Very Fine & Rare with Warran
By Patek Philippe
Located in Suwanee, GA
NAMED ONE OF WATCHPRO MAGAZINE’S “HOT 100” - THE TOP 100 INFLUENCERS OF THE U.S. WATCH INDUSTRY. HOW CAN WE SERVE YOU? We’re new to offering our carefully curated collection on 1stD...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe 3322 Ladies Yellow Gold Mechanical Wrist Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970s Patek Philippe Reference 3322 Wrist Watch. 16 x 20 M.M. 18k Yellow Gold 2 piece case with hand Texturing, 20 Jewel Mechanical, manual wind Nickle lever movement, Patek Ph...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Gondolo, Automatic, Ref. 3942, 18 Karat Gold, Full Set
By Patek Philippe
Located in Berlin, DE
This Patek Philippe watch is a prime example of the luxury and precision one would expect from one of the world's leading watch manufacturers. The watch is a true masterpiece of watc...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Genève Vintage Square 18K Gold Wristwatch, Circa 1940s
By Patek Philippe
Located in Wailea, HI
Patek Philippe Genève Vintage Square 18K Gold Wristwatch, Circa 1940s Exquisite Patek Philippe Reference 2444 "Carré" in 18K Yellow Gold This exceptional Patek Philippe Reference 244...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe 3998 Caltrava Yellow Gold Automatic Wrist Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 2000 Patek Philippe Wrist Watch 18k Yellow Gold 34 M.M. 3 piece Water Resistant case, Automatic self-winding movement. Rhodium-plated, fausses cotes decoration, straight-line lever escapement, mono-metallic balance adjusted to heat, cold, isochronism and 5 positions shock absorber, self-compensating flat balance spring, index regulator, 21K gold rotor. Silver Satin Dial with Raised Gold Markers, Gold Hands and a Sweep Seconds hand, Calendar window at the 3 position. Original Patek Philippe Black...
18k Gold
Vintage Patek Philippe 18K Gold Dress Watch with Integrated Mesh, 26 mm
By Patek Philippe
Located in Tysons, VA
This mid-century Patek Philippe reference 3503/2 features a 26 mm square case in 18K yellow gold with a crisp white dial set with applied baton markers and pencil hands. The case flo...
18k Gold
Very Rare Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Ellipse Watch Ref. 4831
By Patek Philippe
Located in Dallas, TX
Very Rare Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Ellipse Watch Ref. 4831 - Quartz. Ellipse. Yellow Gold with Diamond bezel and articulated lugs ( 35 mm ). White Roman Dial. Black Patek Philippe ...
Patek Philippe "Grand Ellipse" Large Yellow Gold Self Winding Wrist watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1970s Patek Philippe "Grand Ellipse" Wrist Watch 36 x 33 M.M. 18k Yellow Gold 3 piece case. Caliber 28-255 Automatic Self winding movement. Gold Satin Dial with Black Roman num...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe 18 Karat Gold Men's Bracelet Watch with Gold Dial, from 1973
By Patek Philippe
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Patek Philippe & Cie. STYLE / REFERENCE: Men's Oval Bracelet Watch METAL / MATERIAL: 18kt Yellow Gold CIRCA: 1973 DIMENSIONS: Length 35mm X Diameter 30mm MOVEMENT / ...
Patek Philippe 18Kt Solid Yellow Gold Dress Watch circa 1980's
By Patek Philippe
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Patek Philippe Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Dress Style / Reference 3490-2 METAL / MATERIAL: 18Kt Solid Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1980's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 26mm X 26mm ...
18k Gold
Tiffany & Co. Yellow and White Gold Art Deco Handmade Manual Watch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Tiffany and Company by Concord Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco METAL / MATERIAL: 18kt Yellow and White Gold DIMENSIONS: Length 37mm X Width 21mm CIRCA: ...
Wittnaur Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Watch
By Wittnauer
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Wittnauer STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Round METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1050's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 33mm "Lug Tip to Lug Tip" X Diamet...
Gold-filled
Ollendorff Yellow Gold Filled Art Deco Watch From 1930's with Original Dial
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Ollendorff Watch Company STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tank Style METAL / MATERIAL: Yellow Gold Filled CIRCA / YEAR: 1930's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: Length 39mm "Lug Tip t...
Gold-filled
Knapp & Co. 14Kt Yellow Gold Art Deco Watch 1940's High Grade Hand Made
Located in Long Beach, CA
FACTORY / HOUSE: Knapp & Co. STYLE / REFERENCE: Art Deco / Tank Style METAL / MATERIAL: 14Kt Yellow Gold CIRCA / YEAR: 1940's DIMENSIONS / SIZE: 32mm Length X 26mm Width MOVEMENT / CALIBER: Manual Winding / 15 Jewels DIAL / HANDS: Silvered with Art Deco Arabic...
Yellow 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.
