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About Time
Discover the rich history of Patek Philippe, told in a series of regularly updated thematic episodes, which present the life and products of the manufacture, from its creation in 1839 to today.
Modern Vintage Style
In 2022, in a major technical debut, Patek Philippe extended its range of useful complications by combining the Annual Calendar and the Travel Time function in the new Ref. 5326G. At the same time, the latest addition to the Calatrava collection, Ref. 5226G was presented. Both watches are perfect illustrations of Manufacture’s quest for excellence. They feature a new Calatrava case whose sides are decorated with the ‘Clous de Paris’ hobnail pattern and both feature an original vintage-style dial, reminiscent of the appearance of antique camera cases.
Exceptional Clocks
The Patek Philippe Museum houses one of today’s most extraordinary horological collections, showcasing five centuries of watchmaking heritage. On display are some of the marvels and masterpieces of the world of watches, and we are proud to present a selection in this episode.
Style & Substance Always
Throughout their history, women’s watches have complemented clothes, setting off a dress with intriguing shapes, delicate designs, and masterful decoration, but it’s the pioneering ingenuity required to fit complex feats of horological engineering into a dainty space that truly defines these pieces. The watch with Jean-Adrien Philippe innovative keyless winding and setting system patented in 1845 was presented to the queen at London’s Great Exhibition of 1851.
Traveling through Time
Based on a technology developed by Geneva-based watchmaker Louis Cottier in the early 1930s, Patek Philippe worked with Cottier to create its very own World Time mechanism and released Reference 1415 in 1939 – its first ‘Heure Universelle’ wristwatch.
A Tribute to Artisanal Skills
Complementing the rich array of topics of the 2022 Rare Handcrafts collection, are several objects directly related to Geneva, the domicile of Patek Philippe. As the legatee and guardian of grand Genevan traditions, Patek Philippe always placed great emphasis on craftsmanship.
Twelve New Wonders
For the first time, Patek Philippe combines its patented Annual Calendar (that requires a manual correction only once a year) and the Travel Time system for the display of a second time zone.
Variations of Blue
One of the most iconic models at Patek Philippe to consistently showcase blue on its dial, the Golden Ellipse has evolved into one of the most distinguished watches in the collection. It serves as a reminder of the Manufacture’s heritage and savoir faire, with a signature blue color dial that was created from 18k Blue Gold.
Pioneering Innovation
Since 2005, the Patek Philippe ‘Advanced Research’ department has been pushing the limits of watchmaking artistry and moving at the forefront of technical innovation and development within the watchmaking industry.
Perpetual Time
The art of the Perpetual Calendar, a watch set for eternity, has long been mastered by Patek Philippe.
Precious Time – Haute Joaillerie Watches
Patek Philippe brings together the pursuit of technical excellence and the delicate art of gemsetting in its ‘Haute Joaillerie’ models.
A true passion for horology
Contrary to what its name might lead you to believe, the Patek Philippe Museum is much more than somewhere dedicated solely to the Manufacture’s collections.
Time Measured
The chronograph has always played a leading role amid the vast repertoire of Patek Philippe complicated watches. The current collection offers more than 20 variations of chronograph calibers – to which three new, resolutely contemporary interpretations have now been added. Patek Philippe introduces the Ref. 5204 – a split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar, Ref. 5905 – a self-winding flyback chronograph with Annual Calendar, and Ref. 5930 self-winding World Time flyback chronograph. Each illustrate the manufacture's expertise in the field of complications, particularly in the measurement of short times.
Calatrava A new Icon of Style
With its pure lines, the Calatrava collection has embodied simplicity and timeless elegance since 1932. It is one of the finest symbols of the Patek Philippe style that continuously charms new generations of watch lovers.
In April 2021, Patek Philippe introduced a new design and movement to one of its most iconic models, launching the Calatrava “Clous de Paris” Ref. 6119.
It is now time to explore these legendary models...
Watchmaking Artistry
Patek Philippe has always considered its watches to be works of art. The quest for excellence and harmony comes to the fore in understated, elegant, and timeless designs. It is further emphasized by quality in craftsmanship and the manually executed finissage. With the same passion, Patek Philippe cultivates all techniques used to decorate timepieces, assuring that these skills are handed down from one generation to the next.
Aquanaut Luce Summer Light
With its modern, unexpected design and a character all its own, the Aquanaut created a sensation since its launch in 1997.
Virtuosity at the highest level
Introducing a taster of the Patek Philippe 2020-2021 Rare Handcrafts collection. An astounding array of 70 unique and limited edition pieces, including wristwatches, pocket-watches, dome and table clocks.
A New Chapter in Calendar Timepieces
The new Ref. 5236 opens up a new chapter in the storied history of Patek Philippe calendar timepieces.
A bouquet of technical and aesthetic debuts
Patek Philippe is enriching its collections with a bouquet of technical and aesthetic novelties.
Building for the Future
In this episode, we visit Patek Philippe’s new manufacture building at Plan-les-Ouates. We find out its significance in the strategic direction of the company, and take a look at the important work that will be undertaken here.
A Passion for Complications
Patek Philippe is a driving force in offering a range of ‘complicated’ watches for ladies, which are the most distinctive and valuable timepieces a woman can own.
The Travel of Antoine Norbert de Patek
In November 1854 Antoine Norbert de Patek, cofounder of Patek Philippe, bid his wife and colleagues farewell
The Grand Master of Chimes
Only an enduring family passion can deliver the purest of chimes. From 1839 to today, Patek Philippe has a long history and passion for chiming watches.
The Grande Sonnerie
Since its inception in 1839, Patek Philippe has nurtured a long, rich history with chiming watches - all the time ensuring this unparalleled passion and knowledge is safely passed from one generation to the next.
The Twenty~4
Launched in 1999, the Twenty~4 is Patek Philippe’s first exclusively feminine watch collection. Its name is its calling: a stylish companion for the life of modern, active women, at any time of day or night.
The Annual Calendar
The patented Annual Calendar was launched in 1996 and has been a great success story for the Manufacture for almost 25 years.
Commitment to Service
Patek Philippe’s commitment to International Customer Service is best expressed by our pledge to service, repair, or restore any Patek Philippe timepiece regardless of its age.
Grand Complications
Grand Complications represent the very pinnacle of watchmaking. So, for Patek Philippe to create such an extensive collection - in regular production - of these most complex of timepieces is testament to the Manufacture’s unparalleled watchmaking expertise.
The Origins of the Manufacture
In this episode, we trace the history and development of the Patek Philippe Manufacture and its historical buildings - from the earliest days in 1839 through to today, and the opening of the new production facility in Geneva.
Pilot-style
Today, Pilot-style watches are an essential component of the Patek Philippe collections. The range, which includes limited editions and grand complications, was inspired by the pilot and military watches created by the Manufacture in the years leading up to World War II.
The Grandmaster Chime
The Grandmaster Chime is the most complicated Patek Philippe wristwatch ever made. It boasts twenty complications, a reversible case, two independent dials and six patented innovations.
The Gondolo - An Extraordinary Heritage
This episode traces the extraordinary heritage of the Gondolo; from its Brazilian origins in the late 1800s right through to today’s Art Deco-inspired collection.
Artistry without Limit
Since 1839, Patek Philippe has been committed to preserving traditional skills gathered under the denomination "Rare Handcrafts", which have long served in the detailed and refined decoration of timepieces.
A Passion for Chronographs
Perhaps the most classic of complications, and one of the most appreciated by aficionados, the chronograph function is an additional mechanism within a mechanical watch that allows the measurement of elapsed time.
Watch Art Grand Exhibition
The Patek Philippe Watch Art Grand Exhibition was held in Singapore – for the very first time - at the Marina Bay Sands Theater, from September 28 to October 13, 2019.
Celebrating Generations
“You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation.”
Weekly Calendar
In 2019, Patek Philippe proudly introduces a new function for calendar watches: the weekly calendar.
Patek Philippe: The Authorized Biography
We are delighted to announce the launch of new, international editions of Patek Philippe: The Authorized Biography.
Twenty~4 20 years of Timeless design
At the turn of the century, Patek Philippe introduced the Twenty~4, a diamond set steel timepiece created to suit every moment in the life of a modern and stylish woman.
The Art of Gemsetting
Gemsetting is one of the oldest specialist techniques used to decorate timepieces.
Alarm Travel Time
It was six years ago that the Manufacture undertook a new mechanical challenge: combining a Travel Time function with a newly developed alarm movement.
Symmetrical Time
Since 1839, Patek Philippe has been designing and manufacturing timepieces synonymous with reliability, accuracy and precision. In the late 17th and 18th century, pendulum clocks known as regulators, illustrious for their precision, served as reference timers in a watchmaker’s workshop.
Calatrava, Pure and Simple
The legendary Calatrava is one of the very purest representations of the Patek Philippe style. Created in 1932, the collection is recognized by many as the very essence of the round wristwatch, embodying both form and function.
Classic for Eternity
The perpetual calendar, a complication which truly demonstrates the Manufacture’s pursuit of capturing eternity, has been mastered by Patek Philippe since its foundation with the creation of the company’s first perpetual calendar pocket watch in 1864 and the world's first perpetual calendar wristwatch in 1925.
Sky on the wrist
This episode reads the tale of decades of astronomical research, defying technological limits in the pursuit of bringing the sky to your wrist.
The Human Touch
Maintaining the beauty and precision of a Patek Philippe timepiece requires extremely accurate and meticulous hand-finishing techniques. Each watch produced includes the recognized Patek Philippe Seal of excellence, guaranteeing the longevity and superior quality associated with Patek Philippe watches.
Twenty~4 Automatic
For two decades, the Twenty~4 timepieces have accompanied the active modern women in their everyday lives. A new chapter for this prestigious collection is about to unfold with the introduction of five self-winding mechanical ladies’ watches.
Golden Ellipse
Having successfully navigated five decades of changing fashion trends, the iconic Golden Ellipse celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2018.
World Time, The remarkable journey
In 1884, the International Meridian Conference adopted universal time and the world was officially divided into 24 time zones. Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) became the principle meridian. Ever since, the watchmakers’ challenge has been to display multiple time zones on just one dial.
The origins of the company
At the start of the 19th century, Switzerland was challenging the United Kingdom for its watchmaking supremacy.
Aquanaut, 20 years of casual chic
A contemporary interpretation of the Patek Philippe legacy, the Aquanaut was envisioned as a modern timepiece for the younger generation.
The legendary Caliber 240
In 1977, the watchmaking industry witnessed the genesis of the Caliber 240; the thinnest self-winding movement of its time.
Rare Handcrafts
Over nearly two centuries, Patek Philippe has celebrated rare handcrafts and ensured their preservation. The Stern family has continued this absolute commitment to commissioning work from gifted and uniquely talented artisans.
About Time
On the occasion of Baselworld 2018, Patek Philippe presents its first self-winding Travel Time for ladies: The Calatrava Pilot Travel Time.
