Patek Philippe is largely viewed as the best-known brand of all major Swiss watchmakers, and Patek Philippe enthusiasts are unlike those of other brands. They don’t need to be glamorous to be successful since Patek Philippe’s unpretentious charm exudes self-assurance. Basic sense, Patek Philippe leaders and creators understand they have the finest of workmanship, tradition, and layout on their wrists, and nothing else will do when you’ve had one. If you’re still in doubt if you should buy a Patek watch, here are some reasons that will assure you that if you do purchase one, you’ll likely purchase the greatest. And if you already have a collection of it, at least know or be refreshed with this trivia.
1. Competence & Heritage
Patek Philippe has perfected every element of excellent craftsmanship, from the simple two-hand watch to intricate works of art with split-second chronographs, tourbillons, and minute repeaters. The use of new, high-tech equipment goes hand-in-hand with brilliant artisan workmanship. This level of proficiency does not come easily. Patek Philippe has been around for 182 years and has been producing watches consistently throughout that period, bringing in a wealth of knowledge that is transferred down through generations of watchmakers.
2. Goals & Objective
While Patek Philippe has a long and illustrious history, the company is not compelled by it. On the one hand, the company upholds the traditional principles of watchmaking while heavily dealing with new products, technology, and manufacturing processes. The company has also taken a deliberate decision to develop new models, such as the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time, a 2015 pilots’ watch.
3. Supply Shortages
Since 1839, Patek Philippe is said to have produced less than one million products. That’s less than some of Switzerland’s most prestigious producers generate in a year. Patek’s manufacturing is so meticulous that even the simplest watches take 9 months to complete, and some of the more complex timepieces take over two years. In the meantime, demand is increasing all over the world. Certain Patek Philippe watches are so desired that potential customers must go through a verification trial to ensure that they are serious collectors.
4. High-Quality Products
At Patek Philippe, the most valuable asset is quality. The business is built to keep it. The company introduced the Patek Philippe Seal in 2008, imposing strict criteria that also surpass quality standards. However, the dedication to quality is not limited to the watches themselves. Career development is of the utmost importance at Patek Philippe, from the craftsman to the sales representative, and includes customer care that ranges from selling to operation.
Patek Philippe watches are unrivaled in terms of style, creativity, and artistry. Patek’s instances, for example, say it all: they can seem straightforward in implementation ultimately, but Patek doesn’t cut corners. Cases are machine-finished and cast by several other jewelers, mostly at an outside shop; at Patek Philippe, cases are often made in-house and are frequently crafted from solid pieces of platinum or gold.
5. Closely Held Corporations
Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 and has been led by the Stern family for over 80 years, with possession now in its 4th generation. As a result, the company’s ethos and practices are very consistent. It also eliminates the risk of dramatic changes of direction introduced by new management, ensuring that the company’s successful trajectory can proceed. This guarantees long-term viability, which is directly connected to the next issue.
6. Excellent Design
The true elegance of a Patek style can be found in its movements. Every component is hand-finished, which may seem to be an unnecessary detail given that only a jeweler can fully comprehend it. Even a casual supporter can’t help but be moved by its elegance. The dial style is also unrivaled. Even the wearer of the watch may miss the hand-polished hands and faceted batons that differentiate a Patek Philippe, but they all make sense to that which feels and looks beautiful on the wrists.
Hand-applied design in the production process is of excellent quality, both in terms of tactics and design. Even imperceptible pieces like wheels require about 40 to 60 steps. Enamel painting, highly delicate engraving, and the setting of precious gems and inlays are all important artisan procedures.
7. Asset Value
Patek Philippe outperforms all other watchmakers in terms of resale value, whether antique or new. Patek Philippe’s 175th-anniversary series watches are now fetching exorbitant prices on the secondhand market. Pieces like the 5131 Cloisonné Enamel sold for nearly twice their retail price at auction, right from the store.
In a wider, more historical context, a Calatrava may have been purchased for $300 in the 1950s; nowadays, they can fetch more than $20,000. Perpetual chronographs, such as the 2499/100 fourth series, cost less than $20,000 in the 1980s but now sell for more than $400,000. An initial Nautilus from the 1970s, which sold for less than $3,000 at the time, now sells for about $50,000.
8. Records/Archives
The Patek Philippe archives have a searchable ‘extract’ for every Patek Philippe watch ever produced. Understanding that you can find the date of development and initial date of sale for any Patek Philippe produced since 1839 gives you a lot of faith. When you encounter anyone who wears a Patek watch, you can bet they’ve accomplished something remarkable in their lives. The excerpts, which extensively detail the past of each watch, evoke specific moments in people’s lives when they purchased a Patek Philippe.
While Patek does not list the identities of former occupants on its excerpts, the archives contain a list of nearly every member of the royal family, as well as a slew of national leaders and personalities. It’s a fantastic material for the brain. Perhaps the prior occupant was wearing your watch to commemorate the birth of the new baby, the start of a new relationship, or the end of a war. Some of the most stunning timepieces ever seen have never been auctioned before.
In A Nutshell
Anyone who buys a Patek recognizes that he will almost certainly not make a loss if he sells it sooner. It’s also likely that the Patek Philippe prices will rise significantly over time, but this is impossible to foresee in specific cases. And when most people are buying a watch with their own pleasure and have no imminent intentions to buy and sell, it’s a comforting reality.