The Company known today as Patek Philippe was founded in Geneva in 1839, by an exiled Polish Nobleman. Count Antoine Norbert de Patek and his compatriot Francois Czapek. The earliest watches were signed Patek, Czapek & co. until 1845 when Czapek left the partnership. Several years later the company was joined by French watchmaker , Jean Adrien Philippe, who later became the inventor of their famous stem-winding and hand setting mechanism, a modern and reliable 
concept. From May 1845 to January 1851 the firm was known as Patek & Co; Philippe lent his name to the company in 1851 when he became a full partner. Among the reasons for their initial success was the high standard of watch making and practicality of Philippe's new stem-winding system. In the early years of partnership.
concept. From May 1845 to January 1851 the firm was known as Patek & Co; Philippe lent his name to the company in 1851 when he became a full partner. Among the reasons for their initial success was the high standard of watch making and practicality of Philippe's new stem-winding system. In the early years of partnership. Queen Victoria of England herself was already a client. From the middle of the 19th century, Patek Philippe assumed a leading role in the Swiss watchmaking industry by raising the standards of workmanship and time keeping through the introduction of technical improvements (the free mainspring, the sweep seconds hand), in addition to implementing improvements to regulators, chronographs, and perpetual calendar mechanism. As early as 1867 the Paris Exhibition, Patek Philippe displayed watches featuring functions that were to become the standard for complicated watches at the beginning of the 20th century; namely a perpetual calendar, a repeater, and a chronograph with split-seconds.
The two most complicated watches of all time were made by Patek Philippe. The first, made for Henry Graves Jr. New York, was completed at the beginning of the century, and the second, the Caliber 89, the world's most complicated watch, completed in 1989 (hence the name) to mark the firm's 150th anniversary. In 1932, Patek Philippe changed hands, and its new owners became Charles and Jean Stern. Today the third generation of this family sill owns and manages the company. Shortly after world war II, Patek Philippe established an electronic division, and in the 1950's the company pioneered quartz technology, filling several patents and winning multiple awards. Today, Patek Philippe SA, Geneva, is still a family company, owned jointly by its president, Mr Henry Stern, and his son and Vice President, Mr Philippe Stern. The firm has traditionally made complete timepieces, watches and clocks, employing craftsmen who are master-watchmakers capable of designing and finishing the most complicated watch movements.
Other specialists such as goldsmiths, chainsmiths, enamellers, jewelers, and engravers complete the firm's manufacturing capabilities. Although Patek Philippe is rightly famous of the leading manufacture of mechanical horology, the firm is also the forefront of the industry as producers of industrial and electronic timekeepers, with its highly accurate master-clocks installed in power stations, hospitals, airports, and other public buildings and factories. The firm clientele has included many of the famous figures across history, including royalty such as Queen Victoria, as well as distinguished scientists, artists, authors and musicians, including Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Charlotte Bronte and Tchaikovsky. Today, clearly most of the firm's production consists of wristwatches, but Patek Philippe retains the ability to produce pocket watches,and clocks to order, from highly complicated movements to those decorated with enamelled miniature paintings and engravings. The company continues to patent new inventions and improvements in horology and plays an important role in maintaining the quality , prestige and reputation of the Swiss watchmaking.
PATEK PHILIPPE TIME-LINE
1839: On May 1, Antoine Norbert de Patek and Francois Czapek founded the firm Patek, Czapek & Co. in Geneva, with head offices located at 29 Quai Des Bergues.
1842: Jean Adrien Philippe made the first watch which could be wound and set by means of crown.
1843: On May 29, Antoine Norbert de Patek obtains Swiss Citizenship.
1844: Antoine Norbert de Patek meets Jean Adrien Phillipe at the universal Exhibition in Paris.
1844: Jean Adrien Philippe is awarded the gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris for his revolutionary system of keyless winding.
1845: On April 22, Philippe is accorded Patent no:1317 for his first system of winding by means of the crown.
1845: On May 1st, Antoine Norbert de Patek with his partners Jean Adrien Philippe and Vincent Gostkowski found in Geneva the firm Patek Philippe & Co, located at 15 quai Des Bergues.
1845: On May 17, The firm Patek, Czapek & Co changes name, officially adopting the name Patek & Co.
1851: On January 1, the same partners, establish a new company with the name Patek Philippe &Co.
1854: Tiffany & Co., New York, becomes an official customer of Patek Philippe & Co, in the US.
1860: On October 4, Adrien Philippe is granted a patent of his fifth system of winding by means of the crown, Patent no.46951.
1861: On September 27, Adrien Philippe further develops patent.
1862: On May 23, a hunting case pocket watch is put on sale; it is the 18k gold, no.19850, montre a tact, quarter hour and hour repeating; 20''' movement of gilt brass, 19 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance, flat hairspring.
1863: On June 16, Adrien Philippe is accorded Patent No.58941, for the slipping mainspring. this invention allows simultaneous winding of 2 or more mainspring barrels, a technique which is the foundation for all further development of self winding systems in wristwatches. This "slipping" spring makes the mainspring slide a few degree towards the inside of the barrel while staying fully wound. The end of the spring passes from one groove to another inside the barrel, stopping each time, thus keeping the spring under constant tension.
1863: Adrien Philippe writes: Les montres sans clef, a work on pocket watches wound by means of a crown in the pendant. This work was published in both Geneva and Paris.
1865: Sale of an 18k gold astronomical pocket watch, No.24919, with a double dial, one for a perpetual calendar and thermometer, the other for a solar dial with compass and equation of time. A second, similar, watch is sold in 1868.
1868: Creation of a watch mounted on a gilt bracelet with baguette movement, key winding. Enamel dial.
1876: On January 21, Vincent Gotkowski retires from the firm Patek Philippe
1876: Three employees of the firm replace Vincent Gostkowski: Albert Cingria, Gabriel Marie Rouge and Edouard Kohn.
1877: On March 1, Antoine Norbert de Patek dies.
1880: The first prize in the Chronometer Competition of the Geneva Observatory is obtained by a pocket chronometer with lever escapement and a Breguet over coil hairspring.
1881: On April 16, Adrien Philippe is accorded Patent No. 142376 for a micro metric adjustment to the index regulator subsequently adopted for all the chronometro Gondolo as well as by many other pocket watches and wristwatches.
1887: On April, 27, at 8 a.m. , the trademark PATEK PHILIPPE & Cie Fabricants a Geneve is registered with No. 1881, with the symbol of the Calatrava cross.
1889: On May 23, a perpetual calendar mechanism is protected by Patent No. 1018
1889: A system of winding with two mainspring barrels for independent seconds movements is granted a patent.
1891: January, Adrien Philippe passes the company management to the youngest of his five children, Joseph Emile Philippe, and to Francois Antoine Conty.
1891: Edouard Kohn leaves Patek Philippe and takes up management of the firm of watchmakers Henri-Robert Ekegren.
1893: A mechanism for the isolation of the minute recorder is patented; it can be applied to simple watches as well as to those with split-seconds.
1894: On January 5, Jean Adrien Philippe dies.
1897: A patent is granted for a fixing device for the opening spring of the cover, set on the band of the watch case
1899: A patent is granted for a push-bottom system to trigger the minute repeater.
1900: From this year through 1967, Patek Philippe receives 764 prizes at the Geneva Observatory competitions, 187 of which are first prizes..
1901: On February 1, the firm of Patek, Philippe & Co. becomes a Joint Stock Corporation under the name Ancienne Manufacture D' Horlogerie Patek Philippe &Cie S.A.
1902: On March 10, at 8am the trademark Chronometro Gondolo is registered with No. 14401. Characteristics of the Gondolo chronometer in its various sizes and in pocket or wristwatch from are the lever a moustaches, the eccentric micrometric regulation the 9k gold wheels and the movement with 18 19 20 and 21 jewels for pocket watches.
1902: On November 13, a double chronograph mechanism is granted Paten No. 27052
1903: A patent is granted to a hairspring regulator with upper en-piece for all types of watches.
1904: On March 3, a new system of winding-crown is granted Patent No. 30474
1904: A patent is granted for an instantaneous transmission mechanism in chronograph minute recorders.
1904: A patent is granted for an extra-flat watch movement.
1906: The firm delivers to Tiffany in New York, 12 minute repeating movements, which will first be used for pendant watches and later for wristwatches.
1910: On March 24 an 18k gold hunting-case pocket watch. No 138285, with the Arms of the Duke of Regla in multicolored enamel is sold. Westminster carillon. Grande et petite Sonnerie on 5 gongs minute repeater, 22 movement, rhodium plated, 38 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring.
1915 : Creation of the first Lady's wristwatch in platinum with 5 minute repeater, 10th caliber with 29 jewels, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet over coil hairspring.
1916: On January 31, a very complicated astronomical pocket watch is sold to James Ward Packard; it is in 18k gold, No. 174129, perpetual calendar with retrograde date, phases of the moon, Grande et Petite Sonnerie on 3 gongs, minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph and diablotine at a fifth of a second, 60-minute and 12-hour recorders, up and down indicators for both the movement and the chime, 22nd movement, rhodium plated, 58 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulation.
1916: On July 24, an astronomical pocket watch, in 18k gold (started in 1898) with indication of he equation of time, sunrise and sunset perpetual calendar and phases of the moon, is sold. The equation system rotates and is mounted on the axis of the central wheel on the back plate.
1917: On July 16, an astronomical pocket watch is sold to James Ward Packard. It is in 18K gold. No. 174623, perpetual calendar, sunrise and sunset phases of the moon, double barrel, 25''' movement, 21 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet hairspring.
1919: On November 19, the 18K gold watch No. 174720 is sold to James Ward Packard; it is a crown-winding minute repeater with push-button release and 1-minute tourbillon regulator, with 30-hour power reserve. The first class precision bulletin was obtained from the Geneva Observatory with this watch.
1920: On March 23, an astronomical 18K gold pocket watch No. 174749 is sold to James Ward Packard; it has Westminster Carillon, Grande et Petite Sonnerie on 4 gongs, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, power reserve indicators for the movement and the chime. 22''' rhodium-plated movement, 37 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulation.
1925: Beginning of the construction of minute repeating wristwatch movements.
1925: Patek Philippe makes the world's first instantaneous changing perpetual calendar wristwatch, with indication of leap years. Originally it had been created as a lady's pendant watch, 12''' movement, No. 97975, 20 jewels, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring.
1925: Patek Philippe obtains an exceptional result, winning the first prize in the chronometer trials, with a pocket chronometer, obtaining 848 points (7 more points than the best naval chronometers) at the Geneva Observatory.
1926: Fabrication of the first single push-button wrist chronograph, with 13''' movement, 19 jewels. This type of movement is housed is housed in classic, cushion- "tortue" and "tonneau" shaped cases in yellow pink white gold platinum or steel.
1927: Fabrication of a gentleman's watch for left-handed individuals, with split-seconds chronograph, and 30-minute recorder, 13''' rhodium plated movement, No. 198012, 21 jewels, 18k gold cushion shaped case.
1927: On January 20, the first "carry-galbe" wrist chronograph is sold by Patek Philippe with 13'' movement, for the amount of 2,135 Swiss Francs.
1927: On March 8, a hunting-case 18k gold pocket watch No. 198014, minute repeater and music alarm is sold to James Ward Packard. The tune is taken from the opera Jocelun by B. Godard, 29th rhodium plated movement, 48 jewels lever escapement bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil with micrometric regulation.
1927: On April 6, an 18k gold astronomical hunting-case pocket watch No. 198023 is sold to James Ward Packard; 3-gong minute repeater, double dial. On the first, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, sunset and sunrise and equation of time; on the second dial a star chart as from Warren, Ohio.
1927: In the month of July the production of wristwatches with split-seconds chronograph begins. The split-seconds chronograph can record two readings simultaneously. These watches have classic, cushion, "tortue" and "tonneau" shaped cases in yellow, pink, whit gold platinum or steel.
1927: On October 13, the first instantaneous jumping perpetual calendar wristwatch, built in 1925, is sold.
1928: Manufacturing of wristwatches with complete, but not perpetual, calendar begins and some models have the phases of the moon. They have a movement of 11''' or 12'''. The cases of these watches have a classic "tortue" shape and subsequently a Calatrava model with Ref. 96 The cases are in yellow punk white gold, platinum or steel.
1928: Manufacture of the only pocket chronometer with 52 ฝ minute Karousel regulator, 19''' movement, in gilt brass, Geneva quality seal, Lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, flat overcoil hairspring.
1929: On January 31 an astronomical pocket watch No. 198240 in 18k gold is sold to James Ward Packard. It is fitted whit several complications including perpetual calendar with retrograde date display, phases of the moon, Grande et petite Sonnerie minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute recorder, up and down indicators for the movement and the chime, 21''' rhodium plated movement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulation.
1929: Beginning of the manufacture of wristwatches with jumping digital hours, 10''' caliber, and other models with jumping hours and minutes. The cases of these wristwatches are rectangular or "tortue" shape, either in gold or platinum. Subsequently, as the watches did not become popular, the production was stopped.
1930: Creation of the 13''' Q caliber, split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute recorder, with rectangular push-buttons. Only three pieces were made with Ref. 2571. Wristwatches manufactured either in yellow or pink gold.
1930: Beginning of the Fabrication of a wristwatch with split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar, which will be completed in 1938, the year of its sale (movement No. 198393).
1930: Beginning of the fabrication of a wristwatch with minute repeater, perpetual calendar, platinum case, movement No. 198340, 29 jewels.
1930: Patek Philippe manufactures a special wristwatch with perpetual calendar, date and rectrograde date display, cushion case, 13''' movement, No. 198167.
1930: Beginning of the use of the 9''' round caliber for wristwatches, used until the beginning of the 1940s. This movement is housed in Calatrava and other shape of cases. These watches were made in yellow, pink white gold, platinum or steel.
1932: The brothers Charles and Jean Stern acquire the majority of the shares of Patek Philippe & Cie.
1933: Fabrication of the gentleman's rectangular wristwatch, Reversible of which very few examples were made. One was given as a gift by Charles and Jean Stern to an employee in commemoration of his 20 years of service. The case is made of gold, with a 9''' movement.
1933: The most complicated watch ever manufactured by Patek Philippe up to 1989 up to 1989, second only to the Calibre 89 is sold to Henry Graves Junior. Astronomical double dial watch, perpetual calendar phases of the moon, sidereal hours, minutes and seconds, equation of time, sunrise and sunset star chart for the New York sky, Westminster carillon, Grande et Petite Sonnerie on 5 gongs, minute repeater and alarm, chronograph, fly-back and 60-minute and 12-hours recorders, power reserve indicators for the movement and the chime, Movement, 25''', in rhodium-plated nickel, No. 198385, 70 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring.
1934: Henri Stern, son of Charles Stern, becomes responsible for the distribution on the American Market and founds the Henri Stern Watch Agency in New York.
1934: Manufacture of the 9''-90 calibre, of which 17'890 pieces were made and used until about 1987. The movement is "tonneau" shaped and is housed in wristwatches of different shapes and metals: yellow, pink, white gold or platinum and rarely, steel. Among them are references: 425/1, 494, 528 562, 564, 579, 596, 1434, 1450, 1480, 1482, 1507, 1553, 1593, 2495, 2440, 2441, 2442, 2443, 2456/1, 2471, 2503, 2517, 2519.
1935: Manufacture of the 8'''-80 rectangular caliber, of which 3'918 pieces were made and used until about 1960.
1935: Manufacture of the 12'''-120 round caliber, of which 24'188 pieces were made and used until 1953. the movement is housed in classic, round or fantasy cases. These watches are manufactured in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references: 96, 1435, 1510, 1527, 1528, 1534, 1543, 1565, 1571, 1582, 1583, 1584, 2405, 2428, 2431, 2439, 2459, 2478, 2511.
1936: Delivery of the second of the two very rare wristwatches made on special request by the London firm Goldsmiths & Silversmiths of 14 and 16''' diameter, movement and sonnerie de bord in passing with repeater. The mechanism is operated by a push-button coaxial with the winding-crown.
1936: Fabrication of two lady's rectangular wristwatches, Reversible.
1936: Manufacture of the 8'''-85 round caliber, of which 8'300 pieces were made and in use up to the year 1967. The movement is housed in square, fantasy, asymmetrical, driver's wristwatches. In yellow, pink, white gold or platinum. Among them we ca find references: 556, 560, 576, 588, 589, 1421, 1478, 3424/1.
1936: Manufacture of an astronomical wristwatch with perpetual calendar. Rectrograde date display and phases of the moon, 11''' movement.
1937: Manufacture of a unique model of World Time wristwatch. Ref. 515, 10''' round caliber, housed in a "gable" rectangular case. The universal hour dial is fixed and indicates 28 cities based on New York mean time.
1937: Manufacture of a gentleman's wrist chronograph with one push-button and 30-minute recorder, 13''' rhodium plated movement, 18 jewels, 18k gold "carre galbe" case.
1937: Manufacture of a gentleman's wrist chronograph with one push-button and 30-minute recorder, 13''' rhodium plated movement, 23 jewels, platinum case.
1938: Manufacture of the 12''' caliber with base caliber of 12'''-120, in use up to 1950. The movement is round with center-seconds hand, with indirect transmission; it is housed in round wristwatches, in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references: 96 SC, 592, 1497, 1536.
1939: Manufacture of the 12'''-120 HU (Heures Universelles) housed in gold wristwatches. In the watch the outer crown with the name of the cities is rotated manually, while the crown moves the intermediate ring divided in 24 hours. Some of these World Time models have the 12 hour dial in cloisonn้ enamel
1939: Fabrication of an "Observatory model" gentleman's watch, Calatrava case Ref. 570, 13''' rhodium-plated movement, 18 jewels, Guillaume balance, Breguet over coil hairspring, lever escapement.
1939: Manufacture of the 10''' 405 round caliber, of which 1'914 pieces were made and in use up to 1946. The movement is housed in round and square wristwatches in either yellow or pink gold with differently Designed cases and lugs. Among these watches are references: 1406, 1410, 1413, 1414
1940: Fabrication by special request of a unique wristwatch with World Time indicator, with chronograph and pulsometer.
1940: Manufacture of the 10'''-110 round caliber, of which 2'463 pieces were made and in use up to 1950. The movement is housed in round, rectangular or square cases, either in yellow or pink gold, with different Designs both for cases and lugs. Among them the are references: 1428, 1469, 1525, 1537, 1539, 1542, 1548, 1551, 1940. Beginning of the construction, by special request, of a wristwatch with complete calendar finished in 1942. In this model, the date display ca be found in the center of the dial and the day of the week and of the month on two cylinders between the two of the dial and the day of the week and of the month on two cylinders between the two lugs (Ref. 1490)
1941: Beginning of the production of the astronomical wristwatch with perpetual calendar and phases of the moon, chronograph and 30-minute recorder, square buttons, Ref. 1518, with 13''' Q caliber, of which 281 pieces were made and used up to 1954. These wristwatches are made in yellow, pink gold or stainless steel.
1942: Manufacture of 7'''-70 round caliber, of which 11'780 pieces were made and used up to 1969.
1942: Making of 12'''-120 Q caliber with perpetual calendar, of which 210 pieces were made up to 1952 with Ref. 1526. These wristwatches are made in yellow, pink or stainless steel.
1944: Patek Philippe obtains first prize in the Geneva Chronometry Competition with a movement of the category D (max. diameter 39mm). First prizes were also attained in 1946, 1948, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, and 1964. Manufacture of 12''' SCQ caliber with perpetual calendar, center-seconds, only 12 pieces made before 1947 with Ref. 1591. These wristwatches are in either yellow or pink gold.
1945: Creation of a 13''' ผ wristwatch with one minute Tourbillon, 18 jewels, lever escapement, Guillaume balance, Breguet free-spring overcoil hairspring. Designed and made by the master-watchmaker Andre Bornand. Chronometric precision regulation by Andre Zibach, who participated in the Chronometry Competitions of the Geneva Observatory in 1949, 1951 and 1953, obtaining a "Precision Bulleting" in 1958.
1946: Manufacture of the 10'''-200 round caliber, of which 20'197 pieces were made and in use up to 1965. The movement is housed in round, square and rectangular cases, in yellow pink, white gold, platinum or steel, with different Design of the cases and lugs. Among them are references: 431, 482, 1419 (also with 10''' -105 calibre), 1458 (also with 10'''-105 calibre), 1519, 2407, 2408, 2440, 2488, 2496, 2501, 2527, 2528, 2546, 2547, 2548, 2549/1, 2549/2, 3496.
1948: Creation of the Electronic Division
1949: On May 15, a patent is granted for the "Gyromax" balance wheel.
1949: Manufacture of the 27 SC round caliber, of which 12'879 pieces were made and in use up to 1970. The movement is housed in wristwatches, with center-seconds, some pieces with cloisonn้ enamel cases. The cases are in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references: 2457, 2460, 2467, 2467, 2481, 2482, 2508, 2514.
1950: Beginning of the manufacture of the wristwatch Ref. 2499, 13''' Q caliber, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, 30 minute recorder and chronograph, first with rectangular push-buttons, later with round ones. A total 349 pieces were made up to 1985. the cases are in yellow, pink or white gold and two pieces are in platinum.
1950: Manufacture of the round 12''' -400 calibre, of which 10000 pieces were made and in use until about 1961. The movement is housed in classic round cases in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references : 2532, 2536, 2537, 2538/1, 2560, 2569 2570.
1950: Andre Zibach and Eric Jaccard begin the construction of a movement caliber 34 S "tonneau", with lever escapement for the Chronometry Competitions, Category D. Finished in 1952.
1951: Sale of three gentleman's astronomical wristwatches, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute recorder. Gold case. Ref. 2571. Movement 13''' rhodium plated, 25 jewels, lever escapement, mono metallic balance with 18'000 oscillation per hour, self-compensating Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulator, manufactured in 1930.
1952: Manufacture of caliber 27 SCQ with perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, of which 179 pieces are made up to 1963. Housed in wristwatches Ref. 2438/1 and Ref. 2497, in yellow, pink or white gold, (chronometers) with 13''' round caliber, Guillaume balance for the Chronometry Competitions of Geneva Observatory. These Watches in gold or platinum, with Ref. 2458.
1953: Manufacture of the 12'''-600 AT caliber, of which 7'100 pieces were made and in use up to 1960. Movement with bi-directional winding. Gold rotor.
1953: On March 31, a patent is granted for a system of automatic winding which prevents inertia of the rotor by means of a ring of eccentric rotation. It thus launches the first automatic caliber: the 12'''-600 AT (automatic), with central rotor in guilloche 18k gold.
1954: Manufacture of automatic wristwatches with indication of the two time zones on two parallel dials, but with a single movement. The hands of the two zones can be separately adjusted.
1956: Manufacture of caliber 23-300, round. The movement is fitted in round, square and asymmetrical cases, in prototypes (not made in series) and also in the Ellipse watch up to 1975, the watches are made in yellow, pink, white gold or in platinum. Among these pieces are references: 2592, 2594/10, 3405A, 3412, 3413, 3548.
1956: On July 31, a special mechanism for a system of automatic winding to reduce friction is granted Patent No. 315161
1956: Creation of the First autonomous quartz clock.
1958: On July 31, the firm Patek Philippe is accorded Patent No. 331592 for a system of adjustable fixing of the hairspring to the balance-cock.
1958: Henri Stern is appointed President and General Manager of Patek Philippe, Geneva.
1958: Creation of a prototype wristwatch with linear minute and hour indicator (not made in series). Patent No. 338402. This watch in 18k gold with bracelet has a rectangular horizontal shape, Movement No. 977121, 9'''-90 caliber, "Gyromax" balance.
1958: The master-watchmaker Andre Bornand Modifies the rectangular caliber 34 S and fits in with a 57-hour power reserve, 50-seconds Tourbillon regulator with Guillaume balance, bronze-beryllium cage, weight of 1,018 grams including escapement, 21'600 oscillations per hour. Five of these chronometers were built between 1958 and 1966. All obtained first class chronometry bulletins and two won the first prize in their category in the Geneva Observatory competition.
1959: Manufacture of caliber 13,5-320, round, of which 25'000 pieces were made and used up to around 1971.
1959: On July 31, a device for the two time zone watch is granted Patent No. 340191. The hour hand can be adjusted without moving the minutes hand.
1960: Manufacture of caliber 27-460, round of which 6,900 pieces were made and in use up to 1970. Automatic movement with 18k gold bi-directional rotor. It is generally fitted in classical round watches in yellow pink or white gold or steel.
1891: Edouard Kohn leaves Patek Philippe and takes up management of the firm of watchmakers Henri-Robert Ekegren.
1893: A mechanism for the isolation of the minute recorder is patented; it can be applied to simple watches as well as to those with split-seconds.
1894: On January 5, Jean Adrien Philippe dies.
1897: A patent is granted for a fixing device for the opening spring of the cover, set on the band of the watch case
1899: A patent is granted for a push-bottom system to trigger the minute repeater.
1900: From this year through 1967, Patek Philippe receives 764 prizes at the Geneva Observatory competitions, 187 of which are first prizes..
1901: On February 1, the firm of Patek, Philippe & Co. becomes a Joint Stock Corporation under the name Ancienne Manufacture D' Horlogerie Patek Philippe &Cie S.A.
1902: On March 10, at 8am the trademark Chronometro Gondolo is registered with No. 14401. Characteristics of the Gondolo chronometer in its various sizes and in pocket or wristwatch from are the lever a moustaches, the eccentric micrometric regulation the 9k gold wheels and the movement with 18 19 20 and 21 jewels for pocket watches.
1902: On November 13, a double chronograph mechanism is granted Paten No. 27052
1903: A patent is granted to a hairspring regulator with upper en-piece for all types of watches.
1904: On March 3, a new system of winding-crown is granted Patent No. 30474
1904: A patent is granted for an instantaneous transmission mechanism in chronograph minute recorders.
1904: A patent is granted for an extra-flat watch movement.
1906: The firm delivers to Tiffany in New York, 12 minute repeating movements, which will first be used for pendant watches and later for wristwatches.
1910: On March 24 an 18k gold hunting-case pocket watch. No 138285, with the Arms of the Duke of Regla in multicolored enamel is sold. Westminster carillon. Grande et petite Sonnerie on 5 gongs minute repeater, 22 movement, rhodium plated, 38 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring.
1915 : Creation of the first Lady's wristwatch in platinum with 5 minute repeater, 10th caliber with 29 jewels, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet over coil hairspring.
1916: On January 31, a very complicated astronomical pocket watch is sold to James Ward Packard; it is in 18k gold, No. 174129, perpetual calendar with retrograde date, phases of the moon, Grande et Petite Sonnerie on 3 gongs, minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph and diablotine at a fifth of a second, 60-minute and 12-hour recorders, up and down indicators for both the movement and the chime, 22nd movement, rhodium plated, 58 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulation.
1916: On July 24, an astronomical pocket watch, in 18k gold (started in 1898) with indication of he equation of time, sunrise and sunset perpetual calendar and phases of the moon, is sold. The equation system rotates and is mounted on the axis of the central wheel on the back plate.
1917: On July 16, an astronomical pocket watch is sold to James Ward Packard. It is in 18K gold. No. 174623, perpetual calendar, sunrise and sunset phases of the moon, double barrel, 25''' movement, 21 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet hairspring.
1919: On November 19, the 18K gold watch No. 174720 is sold to James Ward Packard; it is a crown-winding minute repeater with push-button release and 1-minute tourbillon regulator, with 30-hour power reserve. The first class precision bulletin was obtained from the Geneva Observatory with this watch.
1920: On March 23, an astronomical 18K gold pocket watch No. 174749 is sold to James Ward Packard; it has Westminster Carillon, Grande et Petite Sonnerie on 4 gongs, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, power reserve indicators for the movement and the chime. 22''' rhodium-plated movement, 37 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulation.
1925: Beginning of the construction of minute repeating wristwatch movements.
1925: Patek Philippe makes the world's first instantaneous changing perpetual calendar wristwatch, with indication of leap years. Originally it had been created as a lady's pendant watch, 12''' movement, No. 97975, 20 jewels, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring.
1925: Patek Philippe obtains an exceptional result, winning the first prize in the chronometer trials, with a pocket chronometer, obtaining 848 points (7 more points than the best naval chronometers) at the Geneva Observatory.
1926: Fabrication of the first single push-button wrist chronograph, with 13''' movement, 19 jewels. This type of movement is housed is housed in classic, cushion- "tortue" and "tonneau" shaped cases in yellow pink white gold platinum or steel.
1927: Fabrication of a gentleman's watch for left-handed individuals, with split-seconds chronograph, and 30-minute recorder, 13''' rhodium plated movement, No. 198012, 21 jewels, 18k gold cushion shaped case.
1927: On January 20, the first "carry-galbe" wrist chronograph is sold by Patek Philippe with 13'' movement, for the amount of 2,135 Swiss Francs.
1927: On March 8, a hunting-case 18k gold pocket watch No. 198014, minute repeater and music alarm is sold to James Ward Packard. The tune is taken from the opera Jocelun by B. Godard, 29th rhodium plated movement, 48 jewels lever escapement bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil with micrometric regulation.
1927: On April 6, an 18k gold astronomical hunting-case pocket watch No. 198023 is sold to James Ward Packard; 3-gong minute repeater, double dial. On the first, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, sunset and sunrise and equation of time; on the second dial a star chart as from Warren, Ohio.
1927: In the month of July the production of wristwatches with split-seconds chronograph begins. The split-seconds chronograph can record two readings simultaneously. These watches have classic, cushion, "tortue" and "tonneau" shaped cases in yellow, pink, whit gold platinum or steel.
1927: On October 13, the first instantaneous jumping perpetual calendar wristwatch, built in 1925, is sold.
1928: Manufacturing of wristwatches with complete, but not perpetual, calendar begins and some models have the phases of the moon. They have a movement of 11''' or 12'''. The cases of these watches have a classic "tortue" shape and subsequently a Calatrava model with Ref. 96 The cases are in yellow punk white gold, platinum or steel.
1928: Manufacture of the only pocket chronometer with 52 ฝ minute Karousel regulator, 19''' movement, in gilt brass, Geneva quality seal, Lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, flat overcoil hairspring.
1929: On January 31 an astronomical pocket watch No. 198240 in 18k gold is sold to James Ward Packard. It is fitted whit several complications including perpetual calendar with retrograde date display, phases of the moon, Grande et petite Sonnerie minute repeater, split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute recorder, up and down indicators for the movement and the chime, 21''' rhodium plated movement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulation.
1929: Beginning of the manufacture of wristwatches with jumping digital hours, 10''' caliber, and other models with jumping hours and minutes. The cases of these wristwatches are rectangular or "tortue" shape, either in gold or platinum. Subsequently, as the watches did not become popular, the production was stopped.
1930: Creation of the 13''' Q caliber, split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute recorder, with rectangular push-buttons. Only three pieces were made with Ref. 2571. Wristwatches manufactured either in yellow or pink gold.
1930: Beginning of the Fabrication of a wristwatch with split-seconds chronograph and perpetual calendar, which will be completed in 1938, the year of its sale (movement No. 198393).
1930: Beginning of the fabrication of a wristwatch with minute repeater, perpetual calendar, platinum case, movement No. 198340, 29 jewels.
1930: Patek Philippe manufactures a special wristwatch with perpetual calendar, date and rectrograde date display, cushion case, 13''' movement, No. 198167.
1930: Beginning of the use of the 9''' round caliber for wristwatches, used until the beginning of the 1940s. This movement is housed in Calatrava and other shape of cases. These watches were made in yellow, pink white gold, platinum or steel.
1932: The brothers Charles and Jean Stern acquire the majority of the shares of Patek Philippe & Cie.
1933: Fabrication of the gentleman's rectangular wristwatch, Reversible of which very few examples were made. One was given as a gift by Charles and Jean Stern to an employee in commemoration of his 20 years of service. The case is made of gold, with a 9''' movement.
1933: The most complicated watch ever manufactured by Patek Philippe up to 1989 up to 1989, second only to the Calibre 89 is sold to Henry Graves Junior. Astronomical double dial watch, perpetual calendar phases of the moon, sidereal hours, minutes and seconds, equation of time, sunrise and sunset star chart for the New York sky, Westminster carillon, Grande et Petite Sonnerie on 5 gongs, minute repeater and alarm, chronograph, fly-back and 60-minute and 12-hours recorders, power reserve indicators for the movement and the chime, Movement, 25''', in rhodium-plated nickel, No. 198385, 70 jewels, lever escapement, bimetallic balance wheel, Breguet overcoil hairspring.
1934: Henri Stern, son of Charles Stern, becomes responsible for the distribution on the American Market and founds the Henri Stern Watch Agency in New York.
1934: Manufacture of the 9''-90 calibre, of which 17'890 pieces were made and used until about 1987. The movement is "tonneau" shaped and is housed in wristwatches of different shapes and metals: yellow, pink, white gold or platinum and rarely, steel. Among them are references: 425/1, 494, 528 562, 564, 579, 596, 1434, 1450, 1480, 1482, 1507, 1553, 1593, 2495, 2440, 2441, 2442, 2443, 2456/1, 2471, 2503, 2517, 2519.
1935: Manufacture of the 8'''-80 rectangular caliber, of which 3'918 pieces were made and used until about 1960.
1935: Manufacture of the 12'''-120 round caliber, of which 24'188 pieces were made and used until 1953. the movement is housed in classic, round or fantasy cases. These watches are manufactured in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references: 96, 1435, 1510, 1527, 1528, 1534, 1543, 1565, 1571, 1582, 1583, 1584, 2405, 2428, 2431, 2439, 2459, 2478, 2511.
1936: Delivery of the second of the two very rare wristwatches made on special request by the London firm Goldsmiths & Silversmiths of 14 and 16''' diameter, movement and sonnerie de bord in passing with repeater. The mechanism is operated by a push-button coaxial with the winding-crown.
1936: Fabrication of two lady's rectangular wristwatches, Reversible.
1936: Manufacture of the 8'''-85 round caliber, of which 8'300 pieces were made and in use up to the year 1967. The movement is housed in square, fantasy, asymmetrical, driver's wristwatches. In yellow, pink, white gold or platinum. Among them we ca find references: 556, 560, 576, 588, 589, 1421, 1478, 3424/1.
1936: Manufacture of an astronomical wristwatch with perpetual calendar. Rectrograde date display and phases of the moon, 11''' movement.
1937: Manufacture of a unique model of World Time wristwatch. Ref. 515, 10''' round caliber, housed in a "gable" rectangular case. The universal hour dial is fixed and indicates 28 cities based on New York mean time.
1937: Manufacture of a gentleman's wrist chronograph with one push-button and 30-minute recorder, 13''' rhodium plated movement, 18 jewels, 18k gold "carre galbe" case.
1937: Manufacture of a gentleman's wrist chronograph with one push-button and 30-minute recorder, 13''' rhodium plated movement, 23 jewels, platinum case.
1938: Manufacture of the 12''' caliber with base caliber of 12'''-120, in use up to 1950. The movement is round with center-seconds hand, with indirect transmission; it is housed in round wristwatches, in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references: 96 SC, 592, 1497, 1536.
1939: Manufacture of the 12'''-120 HU (Heures Universelles) housed in gold wristwatches. In the watch the outer crown with the name of the cities is rotated manually, while the crown moves the intermediate ring divided in 24 hours. Some of these World Time models have the 12 hour dial in cloisonn้ enamel
1939: Fabrication of an "Observatory model" gentleman's watch, Calatrava case Ref. 570, 13''' rhodium-plated movement, 18 jewels, Guillaume balance, Breguet over coil hairspring, lever escapement.
1939: Manufacture of the 10''' 405 round caliber, of which 1'914 pieces were made and in use up to 1946. The movement is housed in round and square wristwatches in either yellow or pink gold with differently Designed cases and lugs. Among these watches are references: 1406, 1410, 1413, 1414
1940: Fabrication by special request of a unique wristwatch with World Time indicator, with chronograph and pulsometer.
1940: Manufacture of the 10'''-110 round caliber, of which 2'463 pieces were made and in use up to 1950. The movement is housed in round, rectangular or square cases, either in yellow or pink gold, with different Designs both for cases and lugs. Among them the are references: 1428, 1469, 1525, 1537, 1539, 1542, 1548, 1551, 1940. Beginning of the construction, by special request, of a wristwatch with complete calendar finished in 1942. In this model, the date display ca be found in the center of the dial and the day of the week and of the month on two cylinders between the two of the dial and the day of the week and of the month on two cylinders between the two lugs (Ref. 1490)
1941: Beginning of the production of the astronomical wristwatch with perpetual calendar and phases of the moon, chronograph and 30-minute recorder, square buttons, Ref. 1518, with 13''' Q caliber, of which 281 pieces were made and used up to 1954. These wristwatches are made in yellow, pink gold or stainless steel.
1942: Manufacture of 7'''-70 round caliber, of which 11'780 pieces were made and used up to 1969.
1942: Making of 12'''-120 Q caliber with perpetual calendar, of which 210 pieces were made up to 1952 with Ref. 1526. These wristwatches are made in yellow, pink or stainless steel.
1944: Patek Philippe obtains first prize in the Geneva Chronometry Competition with a movement of the category D (max. diameter 39mm). First prizes were also attained in 1946, 1948, 1954, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, and 1964. Manufacture of 12''' SCQ caliber with perpetual calendar, center-seconds, only 12 pieces made before 1947 with Ref. 1591. These wristwatches are in either yellow or pink gold.
1945: Creation of a 13''' ผ wristwatch with one minute Tourbillon, 18 jewels, lever escapement, Guillaume balance, Breguet free-spring overcoil hairspring. Designed and made by the master-watchmaker Andre Bornand. Chronometric precision regulation by Andre Zibach, who participated in the Chronometry Competitions of the Geneva Observatory in 1949, 1951 and 1953, obtaining a "Precision Bulleting" in 1958.
1946: Manufacture of the 10'''-200 round caliber, of which 20'197 pieces were made and in use up to 1965. The movement is housed in round, square and rectangular cases, in yellow pink, white gold, platinum or steel, with different Design of the cases and lugs. Among them are references: 431, 482, 1419 (also with 10''' -105 calibre), 1458 (also with 10'''-105 calibre), 1519, 2407, 2408, 2440, 2488, 2496, 2501, 2527, 2528, 2546, 2547, 2548, 2549/1, 2549/2, 3496.
1948: Creation of the Electronic Division
1949: On May 15, a patent is granted for the "Gyromax" balance wheel.
1949: Manufacture of the 27 SC round caliber, of which 12'879 pieces were made and in use up to 1970. The movement is housed in wristwatches, with center-seconds, some pieces with cloisonn้ enamel cases. The cases are in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references: 2457, 2460, 2467, 2467, 2481, 2482, 2508, 2514.
1950: Beginning of the manufacture of the wristwatch Ref. 2499, 13''' Q caliber, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, 30 minute recorder and chronograph, first with rectangular push-buttons, later with round ones. A total 349 pieces were made up to 1985. the cases are in yellow, pink or white gold and two pieces are in platinum.
1950: Manufacture of the round 12''' -400 calibre, of which 10000 pieces were made and in use until about 1961. The movement is housed in classic round cases in yellow, pink, white gold, platinum or steel. Among them are references : 2532, 2536, 2537, 2538/1, 2560, 2569 2570.
1950: Andre Zibach and Eric Jaccard begin the construction of a movement caliber 34 S "tonneau", with lever escapement for the Chronometry Competitions, Category D. Finished in 1952.
1951: Sale of three gentleman's astronomical wristwatches, perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, split-seconds chronograph and 30-minute recorder. Gold case. Ref. 2571. Movement 13''' rhodium plated, 25 jewels, lever escapement, mono metallic balance with 18'000 oscillation per hour, self-compensating Breguet overcoil hairspring with micrometric regulator, manufactured in 1930.
1952: Manufacture of caliber 27 SCQ with perpetual calendar, phases of the moon, of which 179 pieces are made up to 1963. Housed in wristwatches Ref. 2438/1 and Ref. 2497, in yellow, pink or white gold, (chronometers) with 13''' round caliber, Guillaume balance for the Chronometry Competitions of Geneva Observatory. These Watches in gold or platinum, with Ref. 2458.
1953: Manufacture of the 12'''-600 AT caliber, of which 7'100 pieces were made and in use up to 1960. Movement with bi-directional winding. Gold rotor.
1953: On March 31, a patent is granted for a system of automatic winding which prevents inertia of the rotor by means of a ring of eccentric rotation. It thus launches the first automatic caliber: the 12'''-600 AT (automatic), with central rotor in guilloche 18k gold.
1954: Manufacture of automatic wristwatches with indication of the two time zones on two parallel dials, but with a single movement. The hands of the two zones can be separately adjusted.
1956: Manufacture of caliber 23-300, round. The movement is fitted in round, square and asymmetrical cases, in prototypes (not made in series) and also in the Ellipse watch up to 1975, the watches are made in yellow, pink, white gold or in platinum. Among these pieces are references: 2592, 2594/10, 3405A, 3412, 3413, 3548.
1956: On July 31, a special mechanism for a system of automatic winding to reduce friction is granted Patent No. 315161
1956: Creation of the First autonomous quartz clock.
1958: On July 31, the firm Patek Philippe is accorded Patent No. 331592 for a system of adjustable fixing of the hairspring to the balance-cock.
1958: Henri Stern is appointed President and General Manager of Patek Philippe, Geneva.
1958: Creation of a prototype wristwatch with linear minute and hour indicator (not made in series). Patent No. 338402. This watch in 18k gold with bracelet has a rectangular horizontal shape, Movement No. 977121, 9'''-90 caliber, "Gyromax" balance.
1958: The master-watchmaker Andre Bornand Modifies the rectangular caliber 34 S and fits in with a 57-hour power reserve, 50-seconds Tourbillon regulator with Guillaume balance, bronze-beryllium cage, weight of 1,018 grams including escapement, 21'600 oscillations per hour. Five of these chronometers were built between 1958 and 1966. All obtained first class chronometry bulletins and two won the first prize in their category in the Geneva Observatory competition.
1959: Manufacture of caliber 13,5-320, round, of which 25'000 pieces were made and used up to around 1971.
1959: On July 31, a device for the two time zone watch is granted Patent No. 340191. The hour hand can be adjusted without moving the minutes hand.
1960: Manufacture of caliber 27-460, round of which 6,900 pieces were made and in use up to 1970. Automatic movement with 18k gold bi-directional rotor. It is generally fitted in classical round watches in yellow pink or white gold or steel.
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