The history of Patek Philippe as remembered by Alan Banbery PART I – WAR, WATCHES, AND THE MAKING OF A PATEK PHILIPPE MAN In the world of watchmaking, a few names sit not on dials or bridges, but behind the scenes — people whose decisions, memories, and instincts quietly shape how a great manufacture understands … Continued
Among the rarest and most extraordinary creations produced by Patek Philippe are the miniature enamel pocket watches made between 1950 and 2000. These pieces are a testament to Patek Philippe’s role as patron of the arts and guardian of disappearing traditional crafts. At a time when the ancient art of miniature enamel painting faced extinction, … Continued
New York. London. Tokyo. As new long-haul routes connected continents in the 1950s Golden Age of air travel, businessmen and adventurers found themselves crossing multiple time zones with increasing frequency. This era of aviation innovation, expanded international routes, and unprecedented passenger comfort presented an elegant challenge: how does one keep track of time across distant … Continued
Introduction When Patek Philippe unveiled the ref. 5070 at Baselworld 1998, it marked a notable return to form: the manufacture’s first serially produced, simple chronograph in over three decades. The last such piece, the celebrated “Tasti Tondi” ref. 1463, had concluded production around 1965. In the intervening years, Patek Philippe had continued its perpetual calendar … Continued
In the world of Patek Philippe it is hard to imagine that there are any ‘value buys’ left. Interest in all things Patek Philippe has exploded in the last few years, but that does not mean that there are no vintage watches currently under the collector-radar. Here are five watch categories that deserve attention. But … Continued
Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has gazed upward in wonder, charting the heavens to navigate oceans, mark seasons, and seek meaning in the cosmos. The celestial chart in horology represents this ancient aspiration translated into mechanical poetry—not merely observing the stars, but capturing their eternal dance on the wrist. When Patek Philippe introduced its … Continued
One of Edith Piaf’s most enduring songs is titled: ‘Non, je ne regrette rein’. I often sing it to myself in the hope that it might ease my regret over not having brought a certain Patek Philippe watch years ago when it was a sleeper. It does not help — I still regret! Here are … Continued
In the world of haute horlogerie, Patek Philippe has maintained a unique tradition: beyond its own Salons in Geneva, Paris and London, all its timepieces are distributed through an exclusive network of local retail partners worldwide who represent the brand. Many of these relationships span over several decades, built between family businesses that share similar … Continued
More than twenty years have passed since Patek Philippe unveiled ref. 5970, which many collectors consider one of the most significant perpetual calendar chronographs ever produced. With only six years of official production from 2004 to 2010, it represents a crucial transition in Patek Philippe’s flagship complication—the last to use a third-party Lemania movement and … Continued
Following our in-depth study of the perpetual calendar ref. 725, we’re getting more complicated with the Patek Philippe minute repeater perpetual calendar references 844 and 843. The ref. 844 is an “American” in-line perpetual calendar, sharing some DNA with the Second Series 725, but adding a minute repeater. The added complication, larger case, and clean … Continued
Patek Philippe didn’t invent the perpetual calendar, but it might have made it famous. The earliest known Patek Philippe perpetual calendar pocket watches date to the 1860s, nearly a century after English watchmaker Thomas Mudge made the first perpetual pocket watches in 1762 (one of which now sits in the Patek Philippe Museum). Over the … Continued
Ninety-six. Even the reference number is simple and clean. Introduced in 1932, the Patek Philippe reference 96 “Calatrava” was its first serially produced wristwatch, and the Stern family’s first major project after acquiring the manufacture. For decades, collectors have pursued the ref. 96 for its elegance and restraint, for its experimental phases and its wide-ranging … Continued
