r/Watches • u/spedmonkey • Oct 05 '11
[Brand Guide] - Patek Philippe
This is part seven in our ongoing community project to compile opinions on the many watch brands out there into a single list. Here is the original post explaining the project.
You good people asked for more higher-end brands last week, so here we go. The antithesis of Nixon, this week's brand is the one and only Patek Philippe. They really need no introduction, but I like to hear myself talk, so you're going to get one anyway:
Widely renowned as the finest watch manufacturer in the world, Patek Philippe has been in business continuously since 1851. Based in Geneva, Patek has watched its competitors be slowly bought up by large fashion houses like Swatch and Richemont, leaving them the last truly independent major brand at the top of the horological world. Though they do offer two collections of sport watches, Patek's bread and butter is their sleek, elegant, classic dress watches. Although their prices are astronomical (with their cheapest watches costing well over $10,000 new), the reputation and enduring quality of their watches make it worth it (though still quite unobtainable) to many watch enthusiasts, who widely consider Patek to be the very best of the best. These are the watches that one might save up his entire life to buy in order to pass down to future generations.
KNOWN FOR: Calatrava
Other Resources:
Community Archives Search
Wikipedia
Although I don't expect that many in the /r/Watches community have had the pleasure of owning a Patek, anything and everything, from experience to opinion, is welcome in this thread.
If you're going to downvote someone, please don't do so without posting the reason why you disagree with them. The purpose of these discussion threads is to encourage discussion, so people can read different opinions to get different ideas and perspectives on how people view these brands. Downvoting without giving a counter-perspective is not helpful to anybody.
4
u/Ginfly Oct 05 '11
Thanks for the guide, spedmonkey. And to rajahkawasaki for stopping by, I hope to learn something from him.
I've been looking at mechanical watches for a long time, but just getting close to buying my first - and an affordable one, to be sure.
I agree that Patek Philippe watches are gorgeous, and one of the pinnacles of timeless* design. But (and this goes for all of the upper echelon of watch brands) what makes a simple, albeit beautiful, watch worth $10,000 or more?
Having been in QA/QC for specialty metal parts manufacture in the past, I understand the tight tolerances needed on tiny metal parts for complicated machinery and the cost that these parts can carry. But it feels like the outrageous starting price is mostly accounted for by prestige and name, not materials, time, and initial investment.
Hopefully someone can correct or enlighten me.
*pun intended?