The luxury watchmaker Patek Philippe celebrated 175 years this year. From supplying Queen Victoria’s court to the most expensive watch ever sold at auction, Patek Philippe is one of the most sought after watch and timepiece brands the world has to offer.
So, Polish watchmaker Anthoni Patek making started watches in 1839 with assistant Franciszek Czapek. They separated in 1844. The same year, at the Paris Exhibition of the Products of Industry, watchmaker Adriene Philippe presented his latest invention, the first keyless winding and setting system that would stand up to industrial production. Until then timepieces had to be wound and set with a separate key, which could be lost or used incorrrectly.
Patek was one of the only other watchmakers interested in this invention, and in 1945 Patek joined with French watchmaker Philippe. After six years of working together, Patek agreed to change the name of the company to Patek Philippe.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were supplied with Patek Philippe watches, including a key wound pendant style watch and a watch suspended from a diamond and enamel brooch.
In the 1920s, the wristwatch became more fashionable, and Patek Philippe produced their first perpetual calendar wristwatch in 1925. It indicates the day, date and month, taking into account the number of days in the month, as well as leap years, it displays the ages and phases of the moon.
Patek Philippe watches and timepieces have recorded some of the highest prices in auctions. The Henry Graves Supercomplication timepiece, for example, is one of the most expensive watches ever sold. In November 2014, it was sold for 23.2 million Swiss francs or $24 million, a new world record for a timepiece sold at auction. Originally, it took three years to design, and five to manufacture and was eventually sold to Henry Graves in 1933 for 60,000 Swiss francs on it, which equals $15,000. It was the most advanced technical watch of its time.
To celebrate 175 years of Patek Philippe, the company have released a range of limited edition commemorative watches. The main piece, the Grandmaster Chime watch, has 20 complications, making it the most complicated Patek Philippe watch they have ever made. They have even invented a couple of new complications: a date repeater that chimes the date on demand, and an alarm that strikes minute repeater style.
From reinventing heritage styles like ladies’ Twenty-4 to limited edition commemorative 175th anniversary watches, the brand continues to produce the world’s most coveted watches today.
