Patek Philippe Watches

Introduction to Patek Philippe Watches

On this website you can view all models of Patek Philippe watches that we buy and sell. These include Grand Complications, Calatrava, Gondolo, Golden Ellipse, Aquanaut, Nautilus, Twenty 4, and more. The models that we have currently in stock can be seen by visiting our Patek Philippe Catalogue.

Patek Philippe on this site are divided into the following categories to make your visit as convenient as possible: Mens Patek and Womens Patek Watches. All watches are listed alphabetically for your convenience. You can speak to other Patek Philippe owners in our online Forum.

Patek Philippe Watch Models Available and other useful links

• All Patek Philippe watches
• Mens Patek Philippe watches
• Womens Patek Philippe watches
• Vintage Patek Philippe Watches
• Watch Glossary
• Watch Just Arrived at Watches.co.uk
• Watch FAQs

Typical Patek Philippe Watch Models

Here are a list of a selection of Patek Philippe watch models with their details. We sell both new and second hand Patek Philippe:

Patek Philippe Nautilus Features Include: Stainless Steel Case Stainless Steel Bracelet Automatic Movement Model Number 3800/1A-001

Patek Philippe Twenty 4 Features Include: Polished Stainless Steel Bracelet Diamond-Set Inner Bezel Engraved Calatrava Cross on Cover Caliber E15 - Quartz 36 Top Wesselton diamonds Only 500 made a year with a Black Dial Model Number 4910

Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Features Include: Perpetual Calendar and Moon Phases Day, Date, Month, Leap Year and AM/PM indicators Self Winding Movement Yellow Gold Case Sapphire Crystal Model Number 5040

A History of Patek Philippe Watches

During the Polish uprising in 1830, Norbert de Patek, a Polish refugee settled in Geneva preferring exile rather than facing prison. Geneva at that time was the capital of watchmaking and fine jewellery. Nine years later together with his friend and fellow-countryman, the gifted watchmaker François Czapek, they set about using their combined talents and founded the watch manufactory of Patek, Czapek & C°, with their headquarters in Geneva. Their artistic production reflected themes from Polish history, such as portraits of revolutionary heroes, legends from the tenth and twelfth centuries and the cult of the black Virgin Mary. Before very long, however, increasing disagreement between the two men obliged the second partner, Czapek, to withdraw. The French engineer, Adrien Philippe, joined Patek at this time, and the firm acquired its definitive name.

At the Paris Exhibition of the Products of Industry in 1844, Philippe was there to present his latest invention, the first keyless winding and setting system that was viable on an industrial level. It represented a giant step towards the modern watch, since up until then all timepieces had to be wound and set with a separate key, which could be lost or incorrectly used. This ingenious discovery, which apparently left the Parisian watchmakers cold, immediately interested Antoine Patek... to the extent that the two men formed a partnership and founded the firm of Patek Philippe. Queen Victoria acquired one of Patek Philippe’s first keyless watches. She also appointed the two partners horologers to Her Majesty’s court, and in doing so, opened the doors to every other palace in Europe.

Calatrava - The Calatrava Cross was adopted by Patek Philippe towards the end of the nineteenth century and has come to symbolise perfection and expertise. Far from being just discreetly elegant, it has deep historical roots that plunge back to the Middle Ages.

Gondolo - Patek Philippe was one of the first watchmaking firms to enjoy business relations with the United States, dating from 1851, when it signed an exclusive agreement with Tiffany & Co. New York. The firm had been present in Latin America since the 1870’s, but sales in this market really took off towards the end of the nineteenth century, when business relations began with distributors Gondolo & Labouriau, in Rio de Janeiro. Carlos Gondolo and his partner, Paulo Labouriau, had devised an ingenious sales method. This consisted of a buyers’ club for 180 watch enthusiasts. The first week, the members paid ten dollars a week and then drew lots, with the winner acquiring a Patek Philippe. The timepiece in question was the celebrated Chronometro Gondolo, a calibre specially created for Gondolo and found in no other Patek Philippe timepiece.

As the fashion of wearing a watch around the wrist was catching on, watchmakers began challenging the integration of various complications into their new timepieces. Patek Philippe’s first perpetual calendar wristwatch was produced in 1925. In addition to indicating the day, date and month, taking into account the number of days of each month (29, 30, 31) as well as the 29th of February in leap years, it displays the ages and phases of the moon. Patek Philippe’s general production launched the first bracelet chronographs either with or without a split-second mechanism and wristwatches with minute repeating.

The economic crisis of 1929 slowed the production throughout the 1930’s. Although the economy was stunted, the Genevese firm continued to blossom in terms of creativity and produced remarkable timepieces such as the “Calatrava” with triple date and perpetual calendar “à guichet” (with aperture), age and phases of the moon and minute repeating. This watch, the most complicated of its time, was encased in a new design named “Calatrava”.

World Time - Immediately after the world was divided into 24 time zones in 1870, most watchmakers pushed hard to develop a device which would indicate the time in at least two different cities in the world. But they rapidly came up against the impossibility of incorporating in the same watch two identical movements acting in perfect synchronism. Finally, in 1935, an independent Genevan watchmaker by the name of Louis Cottier invented an ingenious universal time display mechanism that allowed watches to simultaneously indicate the local time in several cities. Cottier, who was sought after by the finest watchmaking companies, created several series of universal time watches for Patek Philippe.

Current Patek Philippe Models

The current Patek Philippe collection include Grand Complications, Calatrava, Gondolo, Golden Ellipse, Aquanaut, Nautilus and the Twenty 4.

I want to Sell my Patek Philippe Watch!

If you have a second hand or used Patek Philippe watch or any other watch make you see on this site, you can get a same day valuation from us. Simply fill in our Selling a Watch Form and we will get a price to you via email (subject to condition). This form is the easiest way to get a price on your timepiece.

Watch Facilities on Website

We offer the facility for you to buy Patek Philippe Watches and also to sell or upgrade watches you currently own. Complete one of our Online Contact Forms for a same day valuation. You can then either send the watch into us or call us to make an appointment.