Along with Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe is considered to form part of the uppermost echelon of watchmaking. The company in its original form was set up in 1839.
Unlike many watch companies, it has been manufacturing consistently since its genesis, with no hiatus due to the quartz crisis of the 1970s, or any of the other industry challenges. The company holds the title of having the highest price ever achieved at auction for both a wristwatch, and pocket watch, at $31.19m and $24m respectively. They design and manufacture both internal and external components in-house and the quality of both is regarded extremely highly, by the industry and collectors alike.
Along with the Rolex Daytona and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, the Patek Philippe Nautlius is one of the most desired watches today. The Nautilus, said to take inspiration from a ship’s porthole, was first released in 1976. It joined the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak in inhabiting a new category of watches that emerged that decade – the ‘luxury sports watch.’ These timepieces were often just as, if not more, expensive than gold examples by the same companies. They have also now become the most desirable wristwatches on the pre-owned market today.
Patek’s Nautilus may be a poster boy for the company currently but its worthy challenger comes in the form of the many Complicated watches that the company has been known for from the beginning.