Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe is one of the most famous and exclusive brands of watches in the world. Patek Philippe is currently owned by the Stern family. Considered by many experts to be the Rolls-Royce of watchmakers, Patek Philippe labors over timepieces it claims will last for generations. Depending on the movement model and the number of complications, a Patek watch may take nine months to nine years to complete. The tag line in a recent advertising campaign smugly suggests, "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation." 

In 1868, Patek Philippe made the first wristwatch in history. They have also pioneered in perpetual calendar, chronograph and minute repeater in watches. Patek Philippe have produced quartz watches, but have never produced watches with digital displays.

It is a relentless attention to detail that sets Patek apart from other watchmakers. The firm designs and produces almost all of its watch parts (with a few exceptions, such as hands, dials and sapphire crystal) and decorates and hand-assembles each watch, some 25,000 per year. All of this is done under one roof in Plan-les-Ouates. Patek is the maker of the most complicated mechanical watch ever made, the Calibre 89, created for the 150th anniversary of the company in 1989. It holds 33 complications.

Patek Philippe makes four basic wristwatch designs, all with a variety of different features and complications. These are the Calatrava (the classic round dial); Ellipse (in the shape of an ellipse, the dial is shimmering blue); Nautilus (a metal sports watch with an octagonal case) and Gondolo (with tonneau-, rectangular- or square-shaped cases). 

Much of Patek's reputation rests on its superb mechanical movements that have been awarded the prestigious Geneva Seal. Patek Philippe may not be in the fashion business, but its watches have an unmistakable style.