A History Of Patek Philippe

Swiss luxury watch company, Patek Philippe has a long and distinguished history. It was originally founded in 1836 by businessman Antoni Patek and watchmaker Frantisek Czapek, both Polish immigrants. Patek made the acquaintance of French watchmaker Adrien Philippe in 1844 in Paris. A year later, Czapek chose to leave the company to pursue his own activities. In 1851, Mr. Philippe officially joined the firm and it was renamed Patek Philippe.

The company was sold in 1932 to Charles and Jean Stern. It has continued to be a family business since that time with 4 generations of Sterns operating the company.

During these many years, the company has been awarded over 70 patents for new innovations in the watch making industry. They were the first in the world to produce a wristwatch, with a gold watch that was produced for the Countess Koscowicz from Hungary. This amazing feat was accomplished in 1868.

In addition, throughout the 1940s, the firm was awarded a record number of first place awards for precision by the Geneva Observatory in their competition between marine chronometers. Between 1953 and 1956, they received a patent for the self winding mechanism and began to produce the first mechanical watches that did not have to be wound as long as they were worn.