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 18ct Rose Gold Gondolo Pocket Watch 1903
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
Patek Philippe. An 18ct Rose Gold, Keyless Lever Gondolo Open Face Pocket Watch, C1903 Dial: The unusual white enamel dial with heavy Roman numerals, outer minute track with Arabic ...
Gold, 18k Gold, Rose Gold
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Dallas, TX
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Pocket Watch - Manual winding . 18K Yellow Gold Case, monogrammed. Signed Patek Philippe & Co. ( 45 mm ) with bla...
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Vintage Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1920s Patek Philippe Pocket Watch, 45 M.M. X 9 M.M. thick 18K Yellow Gold 3 piece hinged case with Gold inside Dust cover. 18 Jewel mechanical, Manua...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe XIX Century Open-Face 18k Gold Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Neguri, Vizcaya
Patek Philippe XIX Century Open-Face Gold Pocket Watch dated January 13 1891 Serial number 96510 and contrast number 213206 Expressly made for JJ Freman Toledo, O Beautiful 43m/1.69 in 18k gold case external lid. Internal lid is plain. Gold sphere, rubys. Protecting cover and front opening. Roman numerals. Porcelaine of sphere is scratched on right down side condition, Working condition t 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 Geneva last November, in case anyone’s wondering). 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. 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...
Ruby, Gold, 18k Gold
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold and Enamel Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1913 Patek Philippe Pocket Watch for Retailer Spaulding and Company , 45 M.M. 18k Yellow Gold 4 piece case including the Yellow Gold Cuvette (Dust Cover) Greek Key Pattern Blue...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold, Enamel
Patek Philippe Yellow Gold Antique Chronograph Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1909 Patek Philippe Open Face Chronograph Pocket Watch, 50 mm diameter 18k Yellow Gold 3 piece case with inside dust cover, White Porcel...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe. A Gold Elegant Pocket Watch & Chain 1960
By Patek Philippe
Located in Mayfair, London, London
Patek Philippe. An 18ct Yellow Gold Elegant Pocket Watch & Matching Gold Chain (13.43grams) C1960. Dial: A beautiful silver opaline dial signed Patek Philippe Genève with batons for...
Gold, 18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Patek Philippe Ladies Multi Color Gold Pocket Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Chicago, IL
Circa 1880s Patek Philippe for M. Schooler New Orleans Pocket Watch. 38 M.M. 14K Multi Color, applied decorations Hunting case with inside Gold Dust cover Cuvette. 18 Jewel Mechanical, manual wind Nickle lever movement, matching movement and case serial numbers. Porcelain dial with Black Roman Numerals and a sub seconds hand, the dial is printed with the name of M. Scooler a fine retailer jewelry store in new Orleans that opened in the 1840s and closed around 1900 Patek Philippe...
Gold, 14k Gold
H 2.56 in W 1.91 in
Antique Patek Philippe Pocket Watch with Arabic Numerals in 18k Gold
By Patek Philippe
Located in Miami, FL
Antique Patek Philippe Ref. 258729 white face pocket watch in 18K yellow gold. Featuring a mechanical hand winding movement, Arabic numeral hour...
18k Gold
Original Vulcain Pocket Watch in 18ct Yellow Gold
By Vulcain
Located in London, GB
18ct Yellow Gold Original Vulcain Pocket Watch, In Perfect Condition Additional Information: Serial Number 1900497 Total Weight: 64.9g Number of Jewels:16 Diameter of Watch without...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
HERMES H 18CT GOLD & DIAMOND EXTRA LARGE BELT BUCKLE ON REVERSIBLE LEATHER BELt
By Hermès
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite vintage solid 18ct gold fully stamped Hermes Paris Diamond encrusted belt bucket with brand new reversable Hermes brown...
Diamond, Gold, 18k Gold
ORIGINAL ANTIQUE ART DECO TIFFANY & CO GOLD & STEEL WRIST WATCH WiTH CROC STRAP
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super elegant original Tiffany & Co Gold & Steel with Croc leather strap Art Deco style wrist watch Th...
Gold, Steel
18 Carat Gold with Platinum Mounts 3 Stones Diamond Ring One-Stone Swaped
Located in GB
Wimbledon - Furniture are delighted to offer for sale this lovely vintage 18ct gold with platinum mounts three stone diamond ring A lovely piece in excellent vintage condition throughout, the size is L 1/2 and it is easily sizable The first stone is 0.20-carat the middle stone is 0.24-carat the third-stone has been replaced and I can't get a reading out of the diamond tester so I think this is just a paste stone, however the tester doesn't give me any...
Diamond, Gold, Platinum
ViNTAGE CITIZEN ECO DRIVE LADIES WRIST WATCH IN THE ORIGINAL BOX WR 50 MODEL
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this vintage Citizen Eco Drive Ladies Wrist watch in the original box WR 50 model These are very cool colle...
Stainless Steel
RRP £4, 650 TIFFANY & CO PLATINUM 0.56 CT DIAMOND SOLITAIRE STUD EARRINGS PAiR
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of Tiffany & Co Platinum and 0.56ct Diamond Solitaire stud earrings complete with all the original paperwork RR...
Diamond, Platinum
Rrp £11, 500 Tiffany & Co Platinum 1.06 Ct Diamond Solitaire Stud Earrings Pair
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in GB
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of Tiffany & Co Platinum and 1.06ct Diamond Solitaire stud earrings complete with all the...
Diamond, Platinum
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.
