Patek Philippe : The Last Family Owned Independent Geneva Watch Manufacturer

Patek Philippe : The Last Family Owned Independent Geneva Watch Manufacturer

Origin
Since 1839 without interruption, Patek Philippe has been perpetuating the tradition of Geneva fine watchmaking. Last family owned independent watch manufacturer in Geneva, it enjoys total creative freedom to entirely design, produce and assemble what experts agree to be the finest timepieces in the world - following the vision of its founders Antoine Norbert de Patek (1839) and Adrien Philippe (1845). Thanks to its exceptional know-how, Patek Philippe maintains a tradition of innovation hailed by an amazing repertoire of more than 80 patents.

Values
Independence, tradition, innovation, quality and craftsmanship, rarity, value, aesthetics, service, emotion and legacy are the fundamental values of the Geneva watchmaker. Patek Philippe has always aimed for perfection by creating timepieces of unrivalled quality and reliability, the uniqueness and exclusiveness of which makes them rare and precious pieces, a unique legacy to be transmitted from one generation to the next. To achieve this, the company invests in innovation with new materials and leading-edge technologies, while continuing to preserve the tradition of ancestral watchmaking know-how, and maintains the industry's most severe quality control standards.

Vision
Since 1932 in the hands of the Stern family, the company is managed today by a board of directors composed of the Honorary President Philippe Stern, the President Thierry Stern and the Managing Director Claude Peny. During his years as President, Philippe Stern marked the history of the company with significant building projects to reinforce its industrial structure and consolidate its independence, the creation of the Patek Philippe Museum and the launch of exceptional timepieces such as the Caliber '89. Recently appointed President, Thierry Stern aims to ensure that Patek Philippe remains at the leading edge of watchmaking technology and research into material performance, thus contributing to continually improve the long-term quality and reliability of its timepieces.

The Patek Philippe Seal
In 2009, Patek Philippe launched its new quality label for mechanical watches. The Patek Philippe Seal attests to the utmost quality of its timepieces, far above and beyond official standards, by integrating all competencies and features of relevance to the manufacture, precision and lifelong maintenance. This new quality label applies to the entire watch, not merely to its movement. It is governed by detailed regulations and an independent supervisory body. The Patek Philippe Seal embodies all the company's values and quality standards and Messrs. Stern act as its main guardians.

The Company Today
Patek Philippe S.A. today comprises the main workshops at Plan-les-Ouates, with its administrative headquarters, research activities into new technologies, development of new mechanisms, the creation division, the movement component manufacturing workshops and all the watchmaking activities from design to delivery, including after-sales service and restoration; the case and bracelet workshops in Perly; the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, and the exclusive Patek Philippe Salons in Geneva, Paris and London. Patek Philippe also owns six partner companies outside the Canton of Geneva: Calame (watch cases), Poli-Art (polishing) and SHG (gem-setting) in La Chaux-de-Fonds; Cadrans Fluckiger (dials) in Saint-Imier; Allaine (movement casing) in Alle; and Betakron (finishing, decorating, steel components) in the Jura.

The Patek Philippe Museum
Philippe Stern's legendary passion for exceptional timepieces allowed him to gather in Geneva an extraordinary and unique collection of watches, musical automata and miniature enamels from the 16th century to today, along an extensive library entirely dedicated to horology. This unique museum was opened to the public in Geneva in November 2001.