Patek Philippe is one of the most prestigious watch brands in the world. The company manufactures fine Haute horology timepieces with impressive attention to detail and with great craftsmanship.

Unlike Other Swiss brands such as Omega, Tag Heuer, Rolex, you can’t really use the word ”mass-produced” for Patek Philippe watches. All Pateks are finished and assembled by hand, whereas the mentioned manufacturers have automated many steps of the process.

This way of manufacturing timepieces naturally limits the ability to mass-produce timepieces at a large scale. In fact, it takes a lot of time to manufacture a Patek Philippe timepiece.

This leads us to the question:  How many watches does Patek Philippe make annually?

In 2018, Patek Philippe made 62,000 timepieces. To make this possible, the company employs more than 2000 employees. Note, however, that far from everyone works with the manufacturing part.

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Is a Patek Philippe waterproof?

It may feel very distant to want to come in contact with water with a 10K, 20, or 30K dollar wristwatch. But the fact of the matter is that many of the watches in this price range are built to be waterproof and be able to withstand water. But what about Patek Philippe?

The first thing people think about when thinking about Patek Philippe is perhaps not exactly sporty tool watches made to endure deep saturation dives. 

So the question is, are Patek Philippe watches waterproof and what advice do Patek Philippe themselves give regarding their watches and water?

Are Patek Philippe watches waterproof?

Patek Philippe states that ”The water-resistance of watches is assured with seals that protect them against the ingress of moisture and dust. We recommend having the water resistance of your watch checked once a year by an authorized Service Center or a Quick Service dealer. The check takes only a few minutes.”

Furthermore, they highlight that leather straps can age prematurely if they are in contact with water or when exposed to excessive sunlight. They advise that leather straps should be allowed to breathe during the night and also that leather straps are not covered under the terms of the warranty due to their wear and tear nature.

A large part of Patek Philippe’s watches are offered with leather straps, and this is perhaps the reason why their watches are not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when talking about watches and water.

Also, Patek strongly advises that you refrain from using functions such as actuating pushers or correction push-pieces or setting the time with the crown, while the watch is underwater or still wet. When these functions are operated, the watch case may leak in. But with that said, since Patek Philippe mentions that you shouldn’t use these functions when underwater or wet, it means that most Patek Philippe watches are indeed waterproof and can be in contact with water.

After the watch has been in contact with water, make sure that you rinse the watch so that any residue of saltwater or chlorinated pool water is washed away. Otherwise, it can cause oxidization or corrosion.

However, bear in mind that the majority of Patek Philippe’s watches are not sports watches. A dress watch is not built to be in regular contact with water, however, as demonstrated above, Patek Philippe watches will be able to manage splashes of water, but it is not recommended to go diving or swimming with Patek Philippe watches (especially leather band versions), unless for the exception of two collections. In fact, it is generally not advisable to go swimming or similar with any dress watch.

Patek Philippe has two ”sport watch” collections. The Aquanaut and the nautilus. These are the only watches from Patek Philippe that are not a bad idea to go swimming with.

Both the Aquanaut and Nautilus are water-resistant to 120m. Now, this is not a lot compared to some of its competitors but bear in mind that these watches are not meant to be sporty tool watches for professionals. Instead, they are meant to be elegant and sporty watches that can handle everyday wear and activities. This may, of course, involve swimming.

As shared from a watch forum, an individual asked Patek about the water resistance of the Nautilus, and they wrote that swimming and bathing are okay but not jumping from 3m or above.

With that said, you can swim and bathe with an Aquanaut or Nautilus without any issue, but make sure you do not operate any functions whilst doing that. Additionally, ensure that the crown is properly secured before entering the water.

Pressure test your watch

If your Patek Philippe timepiece is in regular contact with water, it is advised that you pressure test your watch every year. This is to ensure that it is perfectly sealed and won’t leak in any water.

The story of Patek Philippe’s first waterproof wristwatch

On a side note, let’s look into the first waterproof Patek Philippe wristwatch.

The Borgel company filed a patent for a waterproof case in 1892. Borgel was later acquired in 1924 by Tabert & Fils. Following this, the company became a leader in the making of waterproof watch cases.

Patek Philippe worked with the company and had them manufacture cases for them. In the beginning, Patek Philippe designed the cases. But in 1935, the first case entirely designed by Taubert & Fils for Patek Philippe was released.

The first Patek Philippe case made by Taubert was used for reference 438 and is 28mm.

Patek Philippe released an important watch in 1938, reference 565. The importance of this watch lies in the watch case. In fact, this reference uses a two-body case made by Taubert & Fils. This case has a decagonal screw back as well as a dust cap. The case is 35mm. This case structure made the reference the first waterproof wristwatch by Patek

Conclusion

To conclude this question, yes, the vast majority of Patek Philippe watches can handle water. Most Pateks are recommended to not be in more contact with water than the splash from a sink when washing your hands, but with the Aquanaut and Nautilus models, it is completely fine to go swimming. 

Patek Philippe has never been known to make robust tool watches that can be submerged to hundreds of meters, simply because that is not the company’s ambition.

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All luxury watches have serial numbers. This also includes Patek Philippe. The serial number can be found in different places on the watch, and it can have different formats depending on the manufacturer. Some watchmakers have moved to random serial numbers in recent times, but back in the day, it was common with serial numbers that were sequential.

This means that it was both possible to understand how many watches the manufacturer made, and also possible to identify when a watch was made.

Moving to random serial numbers gives the manufacturer more privacy and allows them to be more secretive.

The serial number on a Patek Philippe watch can be found in different places, but it is always engraved somewhere on the case back. If it has a see-through case back, it may be engraved on the movement or on the side of the case back.

Patek Philippe Serial Numbers

Patek Philippe is a company that keeps extensive records of its watches and their serial numbers. This is something that the company has done in great detail for a very long time now. To get detailed information about your watch, you can order an extract from the archives directly from Patek Philippe.

”An “Extract from our Archives” states the meticulously kept, up-to-date information registered in the Patek Philippe Archives since 1839. It can be ordered for any Patek Philippe timepiece older than five years.”

Below, we will look closer at Patek Philippe’s production dates through serial numbers.

Patek Phillipe Serial Numbers production dates

The Patek Philippe serial numbers below should help you identify the year of your vintage Patek timepiece. If you find that your watch’s serial number is within a span of numbers, as seen below, it should mean that it dates around this production period.

• 1840. Serial number: 100
• 1845. Serial number: 1120
• 1850. Serial number: 3740
• 1855. Serial number: 7825
• 1860. Serial number: 14,500
• 1865. Serial number: 22,800
• 1870 Serial number: 36,130
• 1875 Serial number: 47,610
• 1880 Serial number: 55,770
• 1885 Serial number: 72,640
• 1890 Serial number: 85,365
• 1895 Serial number: 101,230
• 1900 Serial number: 111,800
• 1905 Serial number: 124,475
• 1910 Serial number: 153,940
• 1815 Serial number: 174,240
• 1920 Serial number: 193,780
• 1925 Serial number: 202,195
• 1937 Serial number: 880,000
• 1940 Serial number: 880,958
• 1945 Serial number: 881,855
• 1950 Serial number: 882,335
• 1955 Serial number: 882,553
• 1960 Serial number: 882,621
• 1965 Serial number: 882,723
• 1969 Serial number: 893,310
• 1970s. Serial number:  1250000
• 1975 Serial number: 1350000
• 1980. Serial number: 1450000
• 1985. Serial number: 160000
• 1990s. Serial number: 1850000

Patek Philippe serial numbers

Please note that this list of Patek Philippe serial numbers is not complete or extensive. Only Patek Philippe has access to detailed records regarding their serial numbers and production numbers. We are not affiliated with Patek Philippe in any way and this list is for educational purposes only.

Note that just because your Patek Philippe timepiece has a serial number doesn’t mean that it is authentic. The production years listed above may or may not be correct, but should help you get some kind of indication of when your watch was made. If you are looking to date your watch, you can also look at the certificate paper, if you still have it. On this paper, the date of sale is written. This will give some kind of indication of the watch’s age.

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A common question that people have is how long it takes to make a Patek Philippe. Let’s look closer at how long it takes to make a Patek.

The answer to this question is that it depends. There are many factors that come into play here, but two factors stand out. Firstly, it is obviously depending on which model is to be made. There is a huge difference between a standard three-hand Calatrava and a grand complication or a minute repeater. Secondly, it depends on how you calculate.

In an interview by phillymag.com, Thierry Stern, the President of Patek Philippe said that the minimum time for a simple movement is a minimum of four years of work before you can present the new watch. A complicated Patek takes about six years, and a highly complicated watch such as a minute repeater can take up to eight years.

Now, it’s clear that a lot of people are confused by these numbers, believing that it takes, for example, eight years to make one watch. This is obviously not the case.

The production time stated above is the time it takes from an idea to actually presenting a brand new watch with a new movement inside. This is because there are many steps that the brand needs to go through in presenting a model. This includes research and development, making a brand new movement and ensuring that it operates flawlessly for years to come, designing the watch, testing it, and so on. Taking all of this into consideration, the time it takes to make a Patek Philippe watch seems perfectly reasonable. But don’t be deceived that this is the time it takes to make one watch once the watch has been developed.

Once a new reference has been developed, the timeframes for actually making an Haute horology watch (movement assembly, production of parts, finishing, assembly, etc.) is somewhere around a few weeks to a few months. Again, depending on things like how complicated the movement is. Of course, Patek Philippe does make some highly complicated movements that only a few skilled watchmakers can work on. And the production time for these is naturally longer. Here, we are talking months in many cases, but again, it varies. According to Christie’s, the production of the most basic Patek Philippe watch takes nine months. For some of the more complicated watches, it can take more than two years to make them.

At the end of the day, only Patek Philippe knows exactly how long it takes to make a watch once it has been developed, but bear in mind that it also depends on how you count. Only the assembly part is one thing, but if you factor in the sourcing of the materials, the making of the parts, and so on, the production time will naturally be a lot longer.

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Patek Philippe is today one of the most well-respected and prestigious watch companies in the world. The brand is known for pushing boundaries when it comes to fine mechanical watchmaking with advanced complications and has made several world-first mechanical complications in timepieces.

Like all other watch brands, Patek Philippe uses reference numbers for its watches. The reference number is the same as the model number and helps identify a particular watch without having to write the whole model name. 

Different watch companies have different reference number formats that they use. But most manufacturers have a logical use of reference numbers, where each digit and each position means something. Just like Patek Philippe.

You regularly hear people use Patek Philippe reference numbers, such as 5711 or 7018. And with so many models from Patek, it may seem impossible to learn all of them. But as a matter of fact, when you understand how the reference numbers and digits are used to identify a model, it becomes a whole lot easier to learn a larger number of Patek references.

Patek Philippe uses a clearly defined reference number system, and in this article, you will learn just how it is built up.

Patek Philippe reference numbers

Beginning of the reference

All Patek Philippe reference numbers start with either a  3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. This is a great starting point.

The references that start with either 3, 5, or 6 indicate that the watch is from the men’s collection.

And of course, the references that start with 4 and 7 indicate that it is part of the ladies collection.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they are few. Follow this rule and you will get it right almost all the time.

The full format of a Patek Philippe reference number is xxxx/xxxxX-xxx but most commonly, you hear people use the first four digits when referring to a Patek model.

Patek last three digits

The three digits that follow are not as clearly defined as the first digit, but they still have some rules.

Most collections have the same first two digits. So, for example, the Nautilus has 57XX and the Aquanaut has 51XX. The first digit indicates that it is a men’s watch, and the second digit, in this case, indicates that it is an Aquanaut or Nautilus.

Good to know about Patek Philippe’s reference numbers

In addition, there are a few more tips that relate to Patek Philippe reference numbers. These are just general rules that are worth having in mind but are not necessarily always correct.

• References that end with 96 is normally a Calatrava with a flat bezel
• References that end with 30 is normally a Worldtimer
• References that end with 500 is an engraved case
• References that end with 1 indicates the watch comes on a metal bracelet
• References that end with 600 indicate that the watch has a lacquered or enameled case
• References that end with 400 indicate that it is a gem-set case.
• References that end with 300 indicate that the case is set with baguette-cut gems
• References that end with 50 indicate that the watch has a decorated dial in some way, for example, gem-set dial, enamel dial, or engraved dial
• References that end with 300 indicate a gem-set case with brilliant-cut gems
• References that en with 700 indicates that the case uses either gold or gemstones
• References that end with 900 indicate that the watch combines some of the above, for example, engraving and gems.

Now, here comes the complicated part. The above numbers do not have to be complete and alone in the reference number. In fact, the numbers are combined, which gives more detailed information about the watch. For example, a watch with a metal bracelet can also have a gem-set case. Or a watch with an engraved case can also have an enamel dial, and so on.

Last three digits in Patek Philippe’s reference number

The full Patek Philippe reference number format is, as mentioned xxxx/xxxxX-xxx. The last three digits are often neglected when mentioning a Patek Philippe reference number. 

The last three digits refer to the dial of the watch. Patek Philippe has a different way of referring to the dial in the reference number which is unlike what we have discussed above. Since Patek can make different dial iterations of the same model,  they use ”001” for the first dial version, ”010”,  ”011”, and ”012” for the third iteration.

Patek Philippe reference number letterings

Apart from the digits in the reference number, you can also see Patek using letters after its reference numbers. Of course, the letters are there for a reason, and they refer to the material of which the case is made. Here is what they mean:

 T – The letter T in the Patek reference number stands for ”Titanium”. As you may know, Patek makes no titanium watches, except for a few one-off pieces. 

J – Jaune means yellow in French. This refers to the case material yellow gold.

R– The letter R refers to Rose gold.

G– The letter G refers to the word Gris and means ”gray”. In Patek’s language, that is white gold.

A – The letter A refers to the word ”Acier”, which is French for steel. This letter is used for stainless steel watches.

P – The letter P refers to platinum.

Conclusion

Unlike many other watch manufacturers, Patek does not have a reference number system where each digit and each position give information about the type of part, as well as the material. Breitling, for example, has a very clear system for identifying its watches through their reference number. Each digit refers to a material or type of part, and each position in the reference number refers to the part of the watch, for example, the bracelet or case.

Whilst the reference numbers become very long and rather unmemorable when you learn the positions and what the digits mean, it makes it very easy to identify which watch it is.

As demonstrated above, Patek Philippe does use this to some extent, as demonstrated above,  but far from the same extent as other manufacturers.

Note that for various reasons, the rules for the Patek Philippe reference numbers can have exceptions. This can include, for example, unique models, special pieces, or one-off watches.

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Patek Philippe is one of the most prestigious watch brands in the world. The company makes timepieces that not only have an impressive level of hand-finish and craftsmanship but it is also known for making extremely complicated calibers and complications. This includes grand complications and watches such as the grand chime with a staggering 20 complications.

 The fine craftsmanship and hate Horlogerie that Patek Philippe has also come with a price tag that reflects that. And when buying an expensive luxury watch, it’s always comforting to know that if you have any issues with it, you are backed by a warranty. So how long is the Patek Philippe warranty, how does it work, and what does it cover?

In this guide, we are looking closer at Patek Philippe’s international warranty.

How long is the Patek Philippe warranty?

The Patek Philippe warranty is two years (24 months) from the original date of purchase. In context, many people have complained that the warranty that the company offers is lagging behind and is not up to par with its competitors. Brands like Audemars Piguet, Rolex, and Tudor all have a five-year warranty, but considering Patek Philippe is sitting at a tier higher both in terms of craftsmanship and price, customers expect a longer warranty period from Patek Philippe.

Like most watch warranties, the warranty covers the manufacturer’s defects and issues. This means that it does not cover issues and defects caused by neglect or improper handling of the watch.

Patek Philippe warranty

In recent years, more and more watch manufacturers have increased the length of their warranty in order to compete on the market and to show that their timepieces are reliable and high-quality. Whilst the industry-standard warranty is two years, many manufacturers now offer five years of warranty, some eight, and some even longer.

Worth noting is that unlike what rumors have stated online, the Patek Philippe warranty follows the watch and not the owner. Rumors have stated that if you are not the owner which is stated on the warranty paper (bought secondhand), the warranty is void. However, this is not the case. What can void the warranty is if the Certificate of Ownership is modified or impaired. In these cases, Patek Philippe can, at their discretion refuse a warranty.

Also bear in mind that leather straps are not covered under Patek Philippe’s warranty.

Patek Philippe service advice

Patek Philippe recommends that you have your watch serviced every three to five years. Furthermore, quartz watches need to have the batteries replaced every two to three years. This is recommended to be performed by an authorized Service Center or retailer.

 This is to ensure that your watch is running perfectly and is in great condition mechanically. The recommended service intervals will always vary depending on who you ask, but the above is the recommendation from Patek Philippe themselves. If you are not experiencing any issues with your watch and it is running perfectly, you can absolutely let your service intervals be longer.

 In servicing your watch, Patek recommends that you send it to an Authorized Patek Philippe Retailer or an Authorized Service Center. This ensures that your watch is in good hands by a trained and skilled watchmaker.

When you send your watch for service, the whole movement will be disassembled, inspected, and lubricated prior to reassembly. To ensure the watch is functioning properly, each function and complication will also be tested. Furthermore, Patek will keep your watch for two weeks to monitor its accuracy.

The servicing of a Patek Philippe timepiece can take up to several weeks and sometimes months. This is because of all the steps that the watch goes through during a service.

If necessary, Patek replaces the following parts during a service:

• Crown
• Mainspring barrel or electronic circuit
• Handset
• Seals
• The above is included in the service cost.
• Other components will be invoiced by Patek Philippe, which includes things like crystal, leather strap, etc.

The service of your Patek Philippe warranty gives you an additional two years of warranty within their service network. The warranty is, just like the original, international and valid at any authorized service center.

Do note that the Patek Philippe warranty will expire if the watch is tampered with in any way by ”unauthorized third parties”. This includes both the service warranty and the original warranty.

Patek Philippe’s care advice

Patek Philippe gives advice on how you should care for your watch to ensure it is long-lasting and continues to be in great condition.

• Begin by reading the instructions manual carefully
• Avoid subjecting your watch to severe shocks
• Avoid subjecting your watch to frequent vibrations
• Avoid wearing a bracelet or jewelry next to your watch
• Avoid using functions such as the pushers while the watch is wet or underwater.
• Rinse your watch after every time your watch has been in contact with chlorinated or saltwater.
• Avoid extreme temperature fluctuations
• Screw down the crown, if possible, and ensure the crown and pushers are returned to their home positions.
• Adjust your bracelet properly so that it is not subject to premature wear
• Avoid exposing your mechanical watch to magnetic fields
• Furthermore, Patek also recommends that you perform a water test every year. For watches with a leather strap, it is advised that you do not come in direct contact with water.

As leather straps can age prematurely, it is advised that you avoid contact with water or exposure to excessive sunlight. You should also take it off during the night in order to allow the leather to breathe.

It is recommended that you wind your manually wound watch every morning. Doing so ”optimizes the flawless function of the movement and reduces its susceptibility to shocks and positional variations.”

Lastly, if you have a self-winding watch that has stopped running, you can manually wind it with a few gentle turns of the crown until it starts.

Conclusion

The Patek Philippe manufacturer’s warranty is valid for a two-year period from the original purchase date stated on the Certificate of Ownership. The warranty follows the watch and not the original owner, which is a myth that has circulated online. After service, your watch will get an additional two-year service warranty. The Patek warranty is subject to their terms and conditions. You can read the full terms and conditions in the manual that follows your Patek watch.

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Patek Philippe is one of the most recognized and iconic luxury watch brands in the world. Patek is considered a top-tier watch brand that manufactures absolutely impressive pieces of craftsmanship with an astonishing level of detail, and impressive mechanical technical movements.

Today, Patek Philippe makes two of the most iconic watch designs in the world – the Nautilus and the Aquanaut. But the fact is that these models have been around for many decades, and have been revised and refined throughout the years. As we are going to look at vintage Patek Philippe advertisements, we will be able to see how the brand promoted these watches back in the day, in order to understand how they strived to position them.

By looking at the vintage Patek Philippe advertisements, we can get a better understanding of the brand Patek was trying to build at that time, and how they wanted to be perceived by the general public. By then looking at modern Patek Philippe advertisements, you’ll be able to see how this has changed over the course of its history.

But regardless, it’s safe to say that Patek Philippe is one of the most reputable watch companies in the Swiss watchmaking industry. Flawless finish and advanced complications such as annual calendars,  minute repeaters, and grand complications are not uncommon to see from the brand. Patek Philippe truly is the top tier of Haute horology.

But whilst watchmaking and design are important, there are many different factors that make watch brands successful. And advertising is certainly one of them. Whilst it is crucial to make high-quality products and appealing designs, clever marketing can take you a long way.

To take a trip down memory lane and explore Patek Philippe’s past, we have collected some of Patek Philippe’s advertisements throughout the decades. It’s relatively easy to see which are old and which are never based on how they are designed and which watches they advertise. This makes it interesting as you can clearly see that the way Patek promotes itself changes over time.

Some of the vintage Patek Philippe advertisements in this article, you may be able to recognize since they’ve become icons and seen huge success.

In this article, we will look closer at Patek Philippe’s vintage advertisements. These advertisements can give us an idea of how the company wanted to position itself in the industry back in the day. Comparing these advertisements with Patek Philippe’s modern ads is really interesting as it will show just how much Patek as a brand has changed through the decades. Both its products, but also the image it is looking to establish. 

Vintage Patek Philippe advertisements

All credit goes to their respective owners and Patek Philippe. Most images were taken from Pinterest and Tumblr. Contact us for any credit.

The post Vintage Patek Philippe Advertisements Huge List appeared first on Millenary Watches.

Patek Philippe is known as one of the most exclusive and luxurious watchmakers in the world. Its watches are considered state-of-the-art, and to be truly the epitome of watchmaking. The watches of Patek Philippe are rare by nature, and for some models, you have to wait many years to get your hands on one.

Patek Philippe isn’t like most other luxury watch brands. Patek Philippe is known for exceptional craftsmanship with immense attention to detail and with a rich heritage of nothing but perfection. Due to their limited nature and restricted numbers, the demand for Patek watches is higher than ever, and collectors are prepared to pay hefty sums to get their ahold of them. The cost of Patek watches has skyrocketed, especially in recent years, and in this article, we share the top 37 most interesting facts about Patek Philippe that will help us better understand the heritage and history behind the immense success of Patek Philippe.

Top 37 facts about Patek Philippe

1. Patek Philippe supplied watches to Queen Victoria

Patek received the honorable task of delivering watches to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1851. This also included her consort.

Patek Philippe delivered a key-wound Patek Philippe timepiece in November 1851 during the Great Exhibition of London.

She didn’t just own one watch, but a second one which was more exclusive, suspended from a diamond and enamel brooch.

2. Patek Philippe has had an exclusive clientele

Patek Philippe resembles true watchmaking perfection, and as such, you can expect the brand to have some of the most exclusive clientele among all watch brands.

Patek Philippe has delivered watches to Christian IX, Princess Louise of Denmark,  Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, Hussein Kamel, and many more.

3. Patek Philippe created one of the most complicated mechanical watches ever made in 1989

This timepiece was made for the 150th anniversary of Patek Philippe. The watch has 39 complications, including the date of Easter, time of sunrise, the equation of time, sidereal time, and many other functions.

4. Patek Philippe introduced the silicon escapement wheel to the watchmaking industry in 2005

In 2005, the company introduced the silicon escapement wheel to the industry.

The silicon escapement wheel was first integrated into the ‘Patek Philippe Advanced Research’ Annual Calendar Ref. 5250. This watch came in a limited series of 100 watches.

5. Patek Philippe was founded on May 1st, 1851

6. Patek Philipe has always been privately owned

The company has been owned by the Stern family since 1932, and, as of the late 2000s, the company has been led by Philippe Stern and his son Thierry Stern. Thierry Stern took over the leadership of the company from his father in 2010.

7. The official name of Patek Philippe is Patek Philippe et Cie

Patek Philippe and co, in other words.

9. Patek is based in Vallée de Joux in Switzerland

10. The company was founded by Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek

Franciszek Czapek was a Czech-born watchmaker and Antoni Patek was a Polish watchmaker. These two founded Patek, Czapek & Cie in 1839 in Geneva.

After this, they started making pocket watches but separated in 1844.

11. Patek joined with the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe in 1845

After having separated from Czapek, Patek joined with the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe, the individual responsible for inventing the keyless winding mechanism.

12. Patek Philippe was brought to the American market in 1935

Through the New York-based Henri Stern Watch Agency, Patek was brought to the USA market.

13. Patek Philippe sought a buyer in 1932

Due to the global economic crisis in 1932, Patek Philippe became financially distressed and sought a buyer. Patek, just like most other Swiss watch companies struggled as a result of the stock crash in 1929, and Philippe & Cie especially struggled since customers defaulted on payment obligations. 

14. Patek didn’t want to be acquired by a competitor

The directors of Patek contacted the brothers Charles and Jean Stern of the company ‘Cadrans Stern Frères with which the Patek brand has cooperated earlier since they produced top-quality dials and were one of Patek’s best suppliers. Since the brothers wanted to preserve the Swiss watchmaking tradition, the Stern brothers helped Patek Philippe, as well as took a stake in the company in 1932. Within a year, the brothers had acquired the whole Patek Philippe company.

15. In 1932, Patek released the Ref. 96 timepiece

This watch is what has gone down in history as the prototype of the iconic and legendary Calatrava collection.

16. Charles Stern was approved chairman of the board of directors in 1934

The son Henri Stern also joined the company to assist him.

17. The first Patek minute repeater was made for a woman in 1916

In 1916, Patek made an Art Deco-styled five-minute repeater in a platinum case with a chainlink bracelet for Mrs. D.O. Wickham. 

18. It has been reported that Patek Philippe has made less than 1 million watches since 1839

This goes to show how exclusive this Swiss watch manufacturer Patek Philippe is. This is a number that is lower than the total yearly watch production of some of the major luxury watch companies. Since Patek Philippe is very restricted with their production numbers, however, this number is an estimate.

19. It takes nine months to make the most basic watches of Patek Philippe

This is just for the most basic watches in the collection of Patek Philippe. Their most advanced watches take considerably longer time to manufacture.

In fact, the more complicated timepieces take more than two years to make.

20. All repeaters are tested by the brand president, Thierry Stern

Believe it or not, this just goes to show the meticulous attention to detail and mindset that Patek has of only satisfying with perfection.

Before any repeaters leave the factory, they are carefully tested by the brand’s very own president Thierry Stern.

21. Only selected individuals are allowed to purchase the Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300G

Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300G was released in 2016 and features 20 complications:  five chiming functions — Grande and Petite Sonnerie, minute and date repeaters, and alarm

In order to have a chance at owning one, you need to apply to purchase it. People who have applied will then be carefully selected by the Stern family, the family which now owns the brand. The reason for this is that Patek wants to ensure that the watches go only to collectors who “genuinely appreciate and value them”. This process can take up to two years.

22. Patek Philippe introduced its iconic Nautilus collection in 1976

After deciding to set their aim on producing an exclusive sports watch of the highest quality on the market, Patek Philippe released their Nautilus model in 1976.

Today, the Nautilus is the most iconic and most popular model of Patek Philippe.

23. Patek Philippe has produced quartz timepieces and still does

24. Patek manufactures all its watch components in-house

This goes to show the immense attention to detail that goes into making their watches.

25. It was the first brand to use Chronifer M-15 X steel in its watches

This was a new material that had been specially designed for the watchmaking industry by L. Klein SA.

26. The company produced 40,000 watches in 2010

According to Thierry Stern, in 2012, they produced 50,000.

27. In 1933, the  Henry Graves Supercomplication was made

The model was made for the banker Henry Graves, Jr.The watch was an ultra-complicated pocket watch with 24 functions.

The watch was made for Henry Graves due to his personal and friendly horological competition with James Ward Packard about the most advanced timepieces.

When Graves passed away, the watch was auctioned off in 1999. The price? US$11 million. The watch was sold to Sheikh Saud Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani of the Qatari royal family, 

When it was sold, it took the title of the most expensive timepiece ever sold. The watch came to action again in 2014, and on November 11th, it sold for a staggering and record-breaking US$24 million at Sotheby’s Geneva Auction.

28. The cases of the watches are often forged from solid pieces of gold or platinum

29. Every single part of the Patek timepiece is finished by hand

Each and every single detail of a Patek Philippe watch is finished by hand. Some mean that it’s unnecessary since many times, only the watchmaker can appreciate it, however, when you’re striving for perfection, you can never compromise.

30. Patek released its Grandmaster Chime Ref. 5175R in October 2014

Patek Philippe launched its mythicalGrandmaster Chime Ref. 5175R in 2014. This is the most complicated and expensive Patek Philippe wristwatch in Patek’s history.

31. Patek launched its Aquanaut collection in 1997

With this launch was the debut of the Ref. 5065A in stainless steel. Today, the Aquanaut is one of the most iconic watches of Patek Philippe, and among the most iconic luxury swiss sport watches in the world.

32. In 2001, the Patek Philippe Museum was inaugurated

The museum was opened in 2001 in the Plainpalais district of Geneva. The Patek Philippe museum has more than 2000 timepieces. It is one of the most well-regarded museums, if not the most well-regarded museums about watchmaking and watches in the world.

Patek Philippe buys some watches at auction to add to the collection of the Patek Philippe Museum.

33. The Ref. 5002P Sky Moon Tourbillon took the record as the most expensive modern wristwatch in 2008

A Patek Philippe watch took the record as the most expensive modern wristwatch sold at Hong KongSotheby’s for HK$11.75 million. The watch was a Ref. 5002P Sky Moon Tourbillon in platinum with a tourbillon.

This broke the previous record of the most expensive wristwatch previously owned by Vacheron Constantin’s Tour de l’Ile wristwatch, which sold for US$1.4 million in 2005.

34. A Patek Philippe watch became the most expensive to be sold at auction in 2010

In 2010, just two years after the previous record, another Patek broke the record and became the most expensive to be sold at auction. The watch was purchased by a Swiss museum and was sold by Christie’s in Geneva on May 10th, 2010. The watch sold for 6.26 million Swiss francs and was a chronograph wristwatch made of yellow gold and featuring a perpetual calendar as well as a moon phase display.

The watch was made in 1943.

35. A Patek wristwatch became the most expensive to be sold online at auction in 2013

Three years later, in 2013, a Patek Philippe watch became the most expensive wristwatch to be sold online at auction. The timepiece was bought by a California collector.

The watch was sold on June 7th, 2013, and the watch sold for 471,000 euros.

36. The Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in steel took the title as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction in 2016

In 2016, another Patek Philippe watch would take the record as the most expensive wristwatch ever sold at auction. The watch was auctioned out on November 12th, 2016, and the watch was a Patek Philippe Ref. 1518 in steel.

The watch sold for a staggering 9,600,000 CHF. This was also the first time this watch, only of which four exist, went for auction.

The watch features a chronograph and a perpetual calendar.

37. Patek released the Calibre 89 pocket watch for the 150th anniversary of Patek Philippe

 In celebration of the 150th anniversary of Patek Philippe, the Calibre 89 pocket watch with 33 complications was launched.

Facts about Patek Philippe: Bonus fact:

Patek uses traditional case-making techniques

The case-making techniques stretch far back to the 1800s, and these are techniques that have been preserved by a select few watchmakers.

Conclusion

Patek Philippe is unarguably one of the most iconic watch companies of this era when it comes to highly exclusive timepieces crafted to perfection. Patek Philippe is every watch lover’s dream, as the watches showcase state-of-the-art craftsmanship, but also have plenty of tradition and history.

Which of these facts about Patek Philippe did you find the most interesting?

The post Top Facts about Patek Philippe: 37 Interesting Things you Must Know! appeared first on Millenary Watches.

Patek Philippe is one of the most prestigious and luxurious watch brands in the world. It is also one of the largest luxury Swiss watch brands.

Oftentimes, getting in contact with these giant corporations, especially when we are talking about Swiss watch manufacturers, can be rather difficult.

Since many watch brands like Patek Philippe, Rolex, and others, do not primarily work direct-to-consumer but instead have official retailers, they often refer you to contact the retailers.

But what if you want to get in context with Patek Philippe directly? This may be more difficult but it is certainly not impossible. Here we have compiled an extensive list of contact details and information for Patek Philippe. The list includes many different ways you can get in contact with Patek Philippe. If one method doesn’t work, you can just try a different method.

Patek Philippe Contact information

Patek Philippe Mailing address

It is possible to send letters directly to Patek Philippe. They do not accept unannounced guests.

Patek Philippe Geneva Head office

Chemin du Pont-du-Centenaire 141
1228 Plan-les-Ouates
P.O. Box 2654, 1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland.

Patek Philippe contact form

Patek Philippe has a contact form on their website that you can use. This gets you in direct contact with Patek Philippe representatives. You can find the Patek contact form here.

Patek Philippe email address

Patek Philippe has several different email addresses. Whilst they encourage people to contact them via the contact form on their website, you can also try directly via their email addresses.

Customer service: web@patek.com

owners@patek.com
flavia.ramelli@patek.com
Museum director: peter.friess@patek.com
sylvie.dricourt@patek.com
ingrid.weinstoerffer@patek.com
visit@patek.com
emploi@patek.com
Support: contact@patek.com
General inquiries: info@patek.com

Call Patek Philippe

You can contact Patek Philippe by phone.

The telephone number to Patek Philippe (customer service): Tel.: +41 22 884 20 20

Contact Patek Philippe by Fax

Patek Philippe also uses fax.

Fax: +41 22 884 20 40.

Patek Philippe salons

Whilst most of the retail outlets for Patek Philippe are individually-owned businesses and are not run by Patek Philippe, they do have three so-called “salons” which are owned and run by Patek. If you want to get in contact with Patek, this may be an easier way than contacting  Patek’s main office directly. However, the salons may or may not be able to get as detailed information as you would directly from Patek. However, it depends on the nature of your query and also the person you talk to.

Patek Philippe Paris salon

Address: 10, place Vendôme, 75001 Paris, France.

Tel.: +33 1 42 44 17 77

Fax: +33 1 42 44 17 87

Email contact form to Patek Philippe Salons Paris here.

Email address to Patek Salon Paris: rendezvousparis@patek.com

Patek Philippe London Salon

Email: appointmentlondon@patek.com

Address: 16 New Bond Street, London W1S 3SU, United Kingdom.

Telephone: +44 207 493 88 66.

Patek Philippe Geneva Salon

Address: 41, rue du Rhône, 1204 Geneva, Switzerland.

Telephone: +41 22 707 30 50.
Contact form.

Patek Philippe USA Office/headquarters

Patek has a US office/headquarters in New York. This works as their service & repair center.

Address: 

Patek Philippe Service Center USA

The Henri Stern Watch Agency, Inc
45 Rockefeller Plaza
Suite 401
New York, NY 10111
USA

Contact Patek Philippe via social media

Patek Philippe is active on a number of different social media platforms. These social platforms allow you to contact them directly, for example via comments or private messages. Note, however, that the social media profiles of Patek are not intended as customer support channels, so don’t expect to receive a response. Still, it is worth a shot and see if you can get in contact with them.

Patek Instagram

You can try sending a Direct message to Patek or leaving a comment on one of their posts.

Patek Philippe Facebook

You can leave a comment on one of their posts or send a private message.

Patek Philippe Wechat

“Patek Philippe expand its online presence by launching an official WeChat account on 19th September 2020! This will be Patek Phillipe’s second official social media platform after launching an official Instagram account in March 2018.”

“WeChat is an important social media platform in China and often draws a global audience. Patek Philippe hopes to offer a unique and rich brand content experience in the Chinese market by sharing the latest information with watch enthusiasts and Patek Philippe fans.”

Patek Philippe YouTube

Patek Philippe also has a YouTube channel. You can try leaving a comment on one of their videos, however, don’t expect a response.

About Patek Philippe

Patek Philippe is one of the most luxurious and prestigious luxury watch brands in the world. The company is based in the Canton of Geneva and the Vallée de Joux.

Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 and is named after its founders, Antoni Patek and Adrien Philippe. Patek is the last family-owned independent watch manufacturer in Geneva and has been owned and run by the Stern family since 1932. Patek Philippe is also one of the oldest watch manufacturers in the world. And unlike many other watch brands, Patek’s manufacturing has been uninterrupted whilst other brands have gone bankrupt sometimes multiple times throughout their history.

The post How to Contact Patek Philippe – Patek Contact details appeared first on Millenary Watches.

Patek Philippe is regarded as one of the most exclusive and best watch brands in the world, paying great attention to detail and quality, and having produced some of the most advanced wristwatches through history.

The prestigious reputation of Patek Philippe continues to shine through in every timepiece they make, and in many people’s eyes, Patek is the epitome of fine watchmaking.

Patek is the reflection of the consistent pursuit of perfection, with a mindset of only satisfying with the best. The great skills that the watchmakers of Patek Philippe have are rare for watchmakers, and handling a Patek as a watchmaker demands great skill and many years of watchmaking experience. 

The watches of Patek Philippe aren’t made to be used and forgotten. They are made to continue to tick generation after generation. Patek Philippe’s cotton ”You never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation” reflects the idea that Patek Philippe timepieces are made to be passed down the generations. Patek Philippe continues its motto with ”Begin your own tradition”, which refers to the passing on of watches, as the Patek Philippe watches will last generation after generation.

Due to the extreme craftsmanship and exclusivity, Patek Philippe watches are very limited, and finding certain models can be a challenge.

Patek Philippe Retail Prices

Retail prices of Patek Philippe watches change on a regular basis for various reasons, such as price adjustments, currency rates, and other external factors. Therefore, to see the up-to-date retail prices of Patek Philippe watches, it is best to look at the official website of the brand and the list of their respective models.

For a complete updated list of Patek Philippe Retail prices, visit Patek.com.

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