Question 1

Who is Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

Patek Philippe is the name of a leading Swiss watchmaker (it’s a company, not a person). 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. Patek Philippe began operating under its current name on January 1, 1851. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Patek Philippe watches.

Question 2

Who is the designer of Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

Who the designer of Patek Philippe is has varied over the years. Early in the Swiss luxury watchmaker's history, its founders, Antoni Patek and Jean Adrien Philippe, served as its designers. After Patek and Philippe, the most notable designer who worked for the company was Gérald Genta, the creator of the iconic Nautilus. Other notable Patek Philippe designers include Eric Giroud, Jean-Pascal Poinçot and Gilbert Albert. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Patek Philippe watches.

Question 3

Is Patek Philippe overpriced?

Accepted Answer

Whether or not Patek Philippe is overpriced is a matter of opinion. However, many collectors believe the Swiss watchmaker's timepieces are well worth the money due to their fine materials, expert craftsmanship and precision timekeeping. It's rumored that Patek Philippe has manufactured fewer than a million watches over its more than 175-year history. The limited supply of the company's watches, compared to their high demand, contributes to the price. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Patek Philippe watches.

Question 4

Where is Patek Philippe made?

Accepted Answer

Patek Philippe watches are made in Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland. The family-owned company maintains a completely independent manufacturing process, including research, design, production and assembly. Shop a collection of vintage and contemporary Patek Philippe watches from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Question 5

What is special about Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

What is so special about Patek Philippe comes down mostly to the quality of the timepieces that the watchmaker produces. Skilled artisans make each watch entirely by hand, with a process that can take nine months for a very basic timepiece or up to two years for highly complex watches. The Swiss watchmaker also uses fine materials like precious metals and has a reputation for engineering very precise movements for timekeeping. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Patek Philippe watches.

Question 6

What is the cheapest Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

Some of the less expensive Patek Philippe watches are priced between $19,000 and $30,000 USD. Within this price range, buyers can choose from Calatrava, Nautilus and Aquanaut. There are plenty of Patek Philippe watches to choose from on 1stDibs.

Question 7

How do you pronounce Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

Patek Philippe is pronounced PA-tek FEE-leep. The brand name comes from the surnames of two of its founders: the Polish watchmaker Antoni Patek and the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe. Patek Philippe began operating under its current name on January 1, 1851. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Patek Philippe watches.

Question 8

Is Patek Philippe a Rolex?

Accepted Answer

No, Patek Philippe is not a Rolex. They are actually two different luxury watchmakers from Geneva, Switzerland. Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis founded Rolex in 1905, while Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe established Patek Philippe in 1839. On 1stDibs, find a large collection of watches from some of the world's top dealers.

Question 9

How is a Patek Philippe made?

Accepted Answer

A Patek Philippe watch is made entirely by hand. More than 250 parts go into each timepiece, and the brand produces all of them in-house. Skilled artisans carefully assemble the pieces at individual workstations, and every watch goes through a rigorous quality control inspection. It usually takes the company one year to make each watch. Shop a collection of Patek Philippe watches on 1stDibs.

Question 10

In what country is Patek Philippe made?

Accepted Answer

The country in which Patek Philippe is made is Switzerland. The house was founded in Geneva in 1839 by Polish expats Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek. Czapek later left the firm, and in 1845, Patek partnered with French watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe. Shop a large selection of Patek Philippe watches on 1stDibs.

Question 11

What was the old name for Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

The old name for Patek Philippe was Patek, Czapek & Cie. It was founded in Geneva in 1839 by Polish expats Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek. After Czapek exited the firm and Patek partnered with French watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe, the company was renamed Patek, Philippe & Cie in 1851. Eventually, the Cie name was dropped altogether. Shop a diverse assortment of Patek Philippe watches on 1stDibs.

Question 12

Is AP more expensive than Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

Whether or not AP is more expensive than Patek Philippe varies, as both watchmakers offer a wide range of timepieces. In terms of price points for entry-level timepieces, Audemars Piguet timepieces are often slightly less costly than those produced by Patek Philippe. The most expensive limited edition Patek Philippe watches are also often priced higher than those crafted by AP. On 1stDibs, shop a collection of Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet watches.

Question 13

What made Patek Philippe famous?

Accepted Answer

What made Patek Philippe famous was the Swiss luxury watchmaker's incredible innovation. In 1876, Patek Philippe introduced the first-minute repeater, and in 1923, it unveiled one of the first-ever chronograph timepieces. Another significant achievement of the watchmaker was the first perpetual calendar, which debuted on a Patek Philippe watch in 1925. Shop a large collection of Patek Philippe watches on 1stDibs.

Question 14

Are Patek Philippe watches waterproof?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Patek Philippe watches are waterproof — some more than others. In 1979, Patek Philippe devised a watch that was fully waterproof down to 120 meters, which was astonishing for the times. However, Patek Philippe dress watches aren’t designed to be in water regularly, but two of its sport watches, the Aquanaut and the Nautilus, are designed for wearing in the water, and they’re water-resistant down to 120 meters. Shop a collection of vintage and new Patek Philippe pieces from some of the world’s top boutiques on 1stDibs.

Question 15

How do I set a Patek Philippe watch?

Accepted Answer

To set a Patek Philippe watch, pull the crown out to its farthest setting when the second hand hits the 12:00 mark. The second hand will stop, and you can set the time by turning the crown until the watch shows the right time. Then, push the crown back in, and the watch is set. On 1stDibs, find vintage and modern Patek Philippe from top sellers worldwide.

Question 16

How long will a Patek Philippe last?

Accepted Answer

A Patek Philippe watch can last anywhere from four to eight years, depending on the complexity of the movement of the watch. But as long as the watch is serviced and properly cared for, any luxury watch will last a lifetime. On 1stDibs, find vintage and modern Patek Philippe pieces.

Question 17

How do I manually wind a Patek Philippe?

Accepted Answer

To manually wind your Patek Philippe watch, locate the crown and rotate it clockwise 30 to 40 times. Stop as soon as you feel resistance to avoid overwinding — this is important, as overwinding can potentially damage your watch. Find an assortment of vintage manual Patek Philippe watches on 1stDibs.

Question 18

Is Patek Philippe made of gold?

Accepted Answer

Yes, many Patek Philippe watches are made of gold. The Swiss luxury watchmaker uses white gold, rose gold and yellow gold to craft cases. In addition, you can find stainless steel and platinum timepieces in its collection. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of Patek Philippe watches from some of the world's top dealers.

Question 19

Is Patek Philippe older than Rolex?

Accepted Answer

Yes, Patek Philippe is older than Rolex. The Swiss luxury watchmaker opened in Geneva in 1839. Rolex was founded 66 years later in 1905 in London, UK. In 1908, Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf trademarked the name Rolex, and by 1920, he had moved the company to Geneva and redubbed it as Montres Rolex S.A. On 1stDibs, shop a range of vintage Patek Philippe watches and Rolex watches from some of the world’s top sellers.

Question 20

Can I get a Patek Philippe Aquanaut?

Accepted Answer

Whether or not you can get a Patek Philippe Aquanaut depends on availability. The luxury Swiss watchmaker produces only a limited quantity, and the watch is very popular. As a result, authorized Patek Philippe retailers may sell out quickly. Alternatively, you can shop various reputable online platforms for the timepiece. You'll find a variety of Patek Philippe Aquanaut watches on 1stDibs.

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