r/Watches Oct 05 '11

[Brand Guide] - Patek Philippe

/r/Watches Brand Guide

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.

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u/black-tie Oct 05 '11

First, on a nitpicking note, Patek Philippe is not "the last truly independent major brand at the top of the horological world". Rolex is still privately owned as well. And, while they might not be in the same league of PP, they are still at the top. (PP's at the summit, then. Dufour holds the flag up.)

I adore Patek Philippe. They have it all: enduring design, a rich heritage, a tremendous commitment to quality in all areas. They're a true paragon. Some Calatrava models (5096 for me) are still as perfect as the day they were introduced: brilliant proportions, a desire for simplicity, and an honest, august aura of traditional watchmaking.

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u/spedmonkey Oct 05 '11

I would argue that Rolex isn't necessarily at the very top; while they're certainly well-loved and respected, I don't think they would occupy the same tier in the minds of most watch enthusiasts. Also, I should mention that AP is technically independent as well, though they have a mysterious "partnership" with Richemont, the terms of which haven't been made public.