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.
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 Twenty-4 Ladies 18k Rose Gold Watch 4908-11R
By Patek Philippe
Located in Dallas, TX
Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Ladies 18k Rose Gold Watch 4908-11R - Quartz. Twenty-4. 18k rose gold case with diamond bezel ( 22 x 25 mm ). Timeless White dial with diamond hour markers an...
Vintage Girard Perregaux 14 Karat Yellow Gold Boys Size Watch
By Girard Perregaux
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Girard Perregaux 14K Yellow Gold Boys Size Watch - Manual; Chronograph. 14K Yellow Gold (30 mm). Silver dial with Arabic numerals and subdials at 3 , 6, 9 o'clock. Black str...
Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Ladies 18k Rose Gold & Diamond Watch 4910/11R
By Patek Philippe
Located in Dallas, TX
Patek Philippe Twenty-4 Ladies 18k Rose Gold & Diamond Watch 4910/11R - Quartz. Twenty-4. 18k rose gold case set with 34 diamonds (25mm x 30mm). Silver white dial with diamond marker...
Tiffany & Co. Portfolio 34mm 14k Yellow Gold Quartz Watch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Dallas, TX
Tiffany & Co. Portfolio 34mm 14k Yellow Gold Quartz Watch - Quartz. Portfolio. 14K Yellow gold ( 30mm). White dial with black Roman numerals. Brown Tiffany & Co. leather strap with T...
Tiffany & Co. Waldan #1 Possible Prototype Rare Ladies Yellow Gold Tank Watch
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Dallas, TX
Tiffany & Co. Waldan #1 Possible Prototype Rare Ladies Yellow Gold Tank Watch - Tank. 18k yellow gold case (20mm x 38mm) unpolished; Case Signed "Waldan Creation #1. Unusual white di...
Patek Philippe Calatrava 18k Yellow Gold Automatic Watch Ref. 3998J
Located in New York, NY
The Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 3998J exemplifies the understated elegance that has defined the Calatrava collection for generations. Crafted in 18k yellow gold, this refined dress...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe 5107J Calatrava 18K Yellow Gold Ivory Dial Mens Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
This exquisite watch features an automatic self-winding movement. It is equipped with a rhodium-plated mechanism that includes fausses cotes decoration, a straight-line lever escapem...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava Manual Wind Roman Dial Yellow Gold Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Southampton, PA
18k Yellow Gold Calatrava Manual Wind Roman Dial Wristwatch by Patek Philippe. Model: Calatrava Movement Type: Manual Wind Case Size: 33mm Crystal: Anti-glare Sapphire Weight: 40.6 grams Detail: 18k yellow gold case and buckle Case: 33mm Length: 8" Band: Black Leather Patek Philippe Band Movement: Manual Wind Hallmarks: Patek Philippe Geneve Swiss Made...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196R 18K Rose Goldn Watch Box & Papers
By Patek Philippe
Located in Great Neck Plaza, NY
Patek Philippe Calatrava 5196R-001 Men's Watch. This elegant timepiece features a 37mm case made of 18K rose gold and a matching 18K rose gold bezel. The grey dial is accented with r...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe Vintage Calatrava Reference 3484 in 18 Karat Yellow Gold
By Patek Philippe
Located in Boston, MA
Aston Estate Jewelry Presents: A distinguished Patek Philippe Calatrava, model 3484. The round case is meticulously crafted from 18k yellow gold, featuring a champagne sunburst dia...
18k 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
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.
