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 Calatrava 5000J 33mm Black Dial 18K Yellow Gold
By Patek Philippe
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: 5000J Year: ~1990's Model: Patek Philippe Calatrava Case Material: 18k Yellow Gold Band: Black Leather Strap Bezel: 18k Yellow Gold Dial: Black Crystal: ...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Breitling RB0510 Transocean Unitime 46mm Chronograph 18K Rose Gold Leather Strap
By Breitling
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: RB0510 Year: 2013 Model: Transocean Unitime Case Material: 18K Rose Gold Band: Leather Bezel: 18K Rose Gold Dial: Black Face: Sapphire Cry...
Vintage Patek Philippe Calatrava 3525 32mm Champagne Dial 18k Yellow Gold
By Patek Philippe
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: 3525J Model: Patek Philippe Calatrava Case Material: 18k Yellow Gold Band: 18k Yellow Gold. Wrist size 7.25 Inch. band has some wear Bezel: 18k Yello...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Rare Vintage Patek Philippe Ellipse Jumbo 3605 Blue Dial 18K White Gold
By Patek Philippe
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: 3605 (3605/2G-200) Model: Vintage Patek Philippe Jumbo Ellipse Case Material: 18K White Gold Band: 18K White Gold Bezel: 18K White Gold Dial:...
18k Gold, White Gold
Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Double Retrograde MP7018 18k Rose Gold 43mm
By Maurice Lacroix
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: MP7018 Serial: AI65*** Model: Maurice Lacroix Masterpiece Double Retrograde Case Material: 18k Rose Gold Band: Leather Bezel: 18k Rose Gold Dial:...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Cartier Ref 2848 Roadster Chronograph XL 18K Rose Gold Leather Strap Box Paper
By Cartier
Located in San Diego, CA
Style Number: Ref 2848 Year: 2019 Model: Roadster Case Material: 18K Rose Gold Band: Leather Bezel: 18K Rose Gold Dial: Brown Face: Sapphire Crystal Case Size: 47m...
Rose Gold
Patek Philippe Classic Chronograph 5070R
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
A stunning men's Classic Chronograph wristwatch, crafted in rose gold by Patek Philippe. Featuring a silver dial, applied arabic numbers with a tachymeter scale, a minute track on th...
Rose Gold
Patek Philippe 4947R Tiffany & Co Dial Annual Calendar Rose Gold Diamond Bezel
By Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co.
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Gugugugu
Patek Philippe, Beautiful 18k Rose Gold Chronograph Ref. 3970E Wristwatch, 1997
By Patek Philippe
Located in Paris, FR
Patek Philippe – Reference 3970E, Perpetual Calendar Chronograph 18K Rose Gold – Circa 1997 Among Patek Philippe’s most celebrated grand complications, the reference 3970 is a corne...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Patek Philippe Annual Calendar 5146G Cream Dial Watch & Papers
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Patek Philippe Annual Calendar 5146G-001 Men's Watch. This timepiece features a 39mm case and bezel made of 18K white gold. The cream dial is complemented by luminous white gold hand...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe 5970R Grand Complications Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
The Patek Philippe Reference 5970R showcases a 40mm rose gold case and a white dial set with rose gold baton markers and hours, minutes hand. This is a grand complications model featuring manual winding movement, chronograph, perpetual calendar complication with day, date, month, year, and moon phase. Exhibition caseback that lets you see the beautiful Caliber 27-70 Q; 24 jewels; power reserve approximately 50-60 hours; Gyromax balance; Geneva Seal; Cote de geneve...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
18k Rose Gold Patek Philippe Annual Calendar, ref# 5396R-012
By Patek Philippe
Located in Princeton, NJ
18K Rose Gold Patek Philippe Annual Calendar, Reference # 5396R-012. The watch features Moonphase, Day, Month and Date apertures. The watch is displayed on brown alligator strap with 18k Rose Gold Patek Philippe deployment buckle...
Rose 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.
