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 Calatrava 5296G-010 18k WG White Gold Stick Dial Auto Men's 38mm
By Patek Philippe
Located in Miami, FL
Patek Philippe Calatrava 5296G-010 18K White Gold White Gold Stick Dial Automatic Men's Watch, 2013. Fits a wrist measuring approximately 7 inches. Includes original papers; box is n...
White Gold
Patek Philippe 18K White Gold Calatrava 33mm
By Patek Philippe
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Movement: manual wind Function: hours, minutes Case: 33mm round 18K white gold case, smooth bezel Dial: Silver Guilloche Index Dial Band: burgundy leather strap, tang buckle Serial #...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava 3468 34mm Gray Dial 18K White Gold Watch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage 1970 Patek Philippe Calatrava watch in 18K white gold, reference 3468, featuring a gray dial with a hand-wound manual movement, Caliber 23-300, on an integrated textured mesh...
White Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava Ref. 5022G, 18K White Gold, Black Guilloché Dial
By Patek Philippe
Located in Gazzaniga (BG), IT
An elegant and distinctive Patek Philippe Calatrava reference 5022G, crafted in 18-karat white gold and featuring a beautifully executed black guilloché dial. Produced during the 19...
White Gold
Patek Philippe Officers Calatrava 18k White Gold Watch with Hinged Back 5053-G (
By Patek Philippe
Located in Dallas, TX
Patek Philippe Officers Calatrava 18k White Gold Watch with Hinged Back 5053-G (or 5053G) - Automatic winding. Officers. 18k white gold case with hinged back cover that opens to view...
Patek Philippe 2592-1G Classic Calatrava made in 18K white gold 33mm Circa 1958
By Patek Philippe
Located in Santa Monica, CA
Introduction: Patek Philippe 2592-1G 18K white gold 33mm X 8mm Calatrava watch. The watch is powered with a 23-300 caliber 18-jewel manual wind movement #782195; case # 2604316. T...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe 5120J Extra Thin Automatic Calatrava, Cert of origin, Circa 2002
By Patek Philippe
Located in Santa Monica, CA
This Patek Philippe 5120J Automatic extra thin Calatrava watch is made in 18K yellow gold with a 240 caliber movement # 1203945 /#4211542. The watch is is accompanied with a Patek st...
18k Gold
Patek Philippe White Gold Manual Wind Wristwatch
By Patek Philippe
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Classic Patek Philippe unisex watch. Rectangular 18 karat white gold case 30 x 35 (without lugs) mm, Swiss automatic movement. Subsidiary second...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe Calatrava 3588-1 18K White Gold Silver Dial Automatic 35mm
By Patek Philippe
Located in New York, NY
The Retailer Stamp Of Approval The Calatrava has been the purest expression of Patek Philippe's dress watch identity since 1932. It is a design language built on restraint and perfe...
18k Gold, White Gold
Patek Philippe Annual Cal 5396G-011 18k WG Silver Index Dial Auto Men's 38mm
By Patek Philippe
Located in Miami, FL
Patek Philippe Annual Cal 5396G-011 White Gold Silver Index Dial Automatic Men's Watch, 2022. Fits a wrist measuring approximately 7 inches. Includes original papers; box is not incl...
White Gold
Cartier Tank Française Small WSTA0129 Stainless Steel Silver Dial Quartz Watch
By Cartier
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to offer this elegant Cartier Tank Française Small Model, reference WSTA0129, crafted entirely in stainless steel and featuring a sophisticated silvered sunray dial wi...
Stainless Steel
Panerai Radiomir 3 Days GMT PAM00421 47mm 18K Rose Gold Watch
By Panerai
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to offer this Panerai Radiomir 3 Days GMT Oro Rosso, reference PAM00421, a striking 47mm timepiece that combines Panerai’s historic military-inspired design with the w...
18k Gold, Rose Gold
Cartier Tank Francaise Small W51008Q3 Steel Watch Box & Papers Serviced 2384
By Cartier
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to offer this elegant 2008 Cartier Tank Française Small Model, Reference W51008Q3, beautifully crafted in stainless steel with a classic silvered dial and signature bl...
Stainless Steel
Rolex Datejust 116233 Two Tone 18k & Steel 36mm Champagne 10 Diamond Dial Minty
By Rolex
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to present this 2009 Rolex 18k Yellow Gold & Stainless Steel Datejust, reference 116233 with most of the original protective stickers still intact. This timeless class...
Diamond, 18k Gold, Steel
Cartier Panthere de Cartier Medium 18K Yellow Gold Quartz Watch Box & PaperWe ar
By Cartier
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to offer this exceptional 1987 Cartier Panthère de Cartier Medium Model, beautifully crafted in solid 18K yellow gold. An increasingly rare example of a complete origi...
18k Gold, Yellow Gold
Omega De Ville Prestige Butterfly Diamond MOP 18K Rose Gold 424.22.33.20.55.001
By Omega
Located in Newport Beach, CA
We are pleased to offer this elegant Omega De Ville Prestige Co-Axial Chronometer Butterfly, reference 424.22.33.20.55.001, featuring a 32.7mm two-tone stainless steel and 18k rose g...
Diamond, Rose Gold
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.
