On May 1st, 1839 two Polish immigrants, Antoni Patek (Businessman) and François Czapek (Watchmaker) joined forces to found "Patek, Czapek & Cie" in Geneva.
In 1844, Patek met the French watchmaker, Jean-Adrien Philippe in Paris where the latter presented his pioneering stem winding and setting system by the crown.
In 1845, when Czapek decided to leave the company and to continue on his own, the company name changed to "Patek & Cie".
Later, in 1851 when Adrien Philippe officially became associated with the company, it was renamed "Patek Philippe & Cie", before changing once more in 1901 to "Ancienne Manufacture d’Horlogerie Patek Philippe & Cie, S.A.".
In 1932, the company was purchased by two brothers, Charles and Jean Stern, owners of a fine dial manufacture in Geneva. Since then, "Patek Philippe S.A." remains a family owned firm.
In 2009 the company presidency was officially transferred from the 3rd to the 4th generation : Thierry Stern became president and his father Philippe Stern, Honorary president.
Company>History
History of the Company
Timeline
1839
Patek, Czapek & Co is founded by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek.
1844
Antoine Norbert de Patek (below right) meets Jean Adrien Philippe (left) in Paris.
The company produces its first watch with keyless winding and hands setting.
The company produces its first watch with keyless winding and hands setting.
1845
The company makes its first pocket watch with minute repeater.
Patent for watch with stem winding and hands setting mechanism.
Patent for watch with stem winding and hands setting mechanism.
1851
The Great Exhibition takes place in London, where England’s Queen Victoria is among those who admire the world’s first keyless watches.
"Patek & Cie" becomes "Patek Philippe & Cie".
"Patek & Cie" becomes "Patek Philippe & Cie".
1868
Patek Philippe creates the first Swiss wristwatch, made for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary.
1881
Patent for precision regulator.
1889
Patent for perpetual calendar mechanism for pocket watches.
1902
Patent for split-seconds chronograph.
1909
The “Duke of Regla” coat-of-arms pocket watch: Patek Philippe creates an exceptional timepiece with a minute repeating mechanism that plays the Westminster chimes on a petite and grande sonnerie.
1916
Patek Philippe produces the first complicated ladies’ wristwatch with a five-minute repeater.
1922/23
Patek Philippe makes the first split-seconds chronograph wristwatch.
1925
Patek Philippe creates its first wristwatch with perpetual calendar.
1927
James Ward Packard collects his Patek Philippe astronomical pocket watch.
The first wristwatch chronographs with or without split-seconds begin regular production at Patek Philippe.
The first wristwatch chronographs with or without split-seconds begin regular production at Patek Philippe.
1932
The two brothers Jean and Charles Stern purchase the Patek Philippe Company.
Introduction of the first model from the Calatrava collection: Ref. 96.
Introduction of the first model from the Calatrava collection: Ref. 96.
1933
Patek Philippe creates the "Supercomplication" pocket watch for Henry Graves.
Until 1989, this pocket watch remains, with its 24 complications, the world’s most complicated timepiece.
Until 1989, this pocket watch remains, with its 24 complications, the world’s most complicated timepiece.
1941
Patek Philippe begins regular production of perpetual calendar wristwatches.
1944
Patek Philippe wins a record number of first prizes for precision in the Geneva Observatory competition for marine chronometers.
1949/51
Patent for Patek Philippe Gyromax balance wheel.
1953/56
Patents for self-winding mechanisms.
1956
The company makes the first all-electronic clock.
1959/62
Patents for time-zone watches.
1962
A new timekeeping precision record is achieved by Patek Philippe in the Geneva Observatory competition.
1968
Introduction of the first model of the Ellipse collection: Ref. 3548
1976
Introduction of the first model of the Nautilus sports watch collection: the Ref. 3700/1 Steel.
1977
Patent for Caliber 240.
1986
Patent for secular perpetual calendar with retrograde hand.
1989
To celebrate 150 years of Patek Philippe, the company creates the most complicated portable timepiece ever made, the Caliber 89 with 33 complications.
1993
Launch of the first model of the Gondolo collection: Ref. 4824.
1996
Patent for Annual Calendar mechanism.
Patek Philippe moves into new building in Plan-les-Ouates.
Patek Philippe moves into new building in Plan-les-Ouates.
1998
Patent for state-of-winding indicator.
1999
Patek Philippe launches the ladies’ Twenty-4® collection: Ref. 4910/10A.
2000
To mark the Millennium, Patek Philippe presents the Star Caliber 2000, a double-sided pocket watch with 21 complications.
2001
Patek Philippe launches its most complicated wristwatch ever produced with double-face: the Sky Moon Tourbillon.
2003
Patek Philippe introduces the 10 Day Tourbillon wristwatch.
2005
Patek Philippe Advanced Research: Patek Philippe launches a watch with a silicon escape wheel for a Swiss lever escapement.
2006
Patek Philippe Advanced Research: Patek Philippe launches a watch with a silicon based balance spring Spiromax®.
The 10th anniversary of its workshops.
Patek Philippe celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus collection.
Patek Philippe re-opens the renovated Geneva Salons.
The 10th anniversary of its workshops.
Patek Philippe celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Nautilus collection.
Patek Philippe re-opens the renovated Geneva Salons.
