Patek Philippe
Founded in Geneva by Antoni Patek and from 1845 Adrien Philippe, who developed crown winding. Known for complications such as the perpetual calendar and for the Calatrava and Nautilus.
Antoni Patek was a Polish officer who fled to Geneva and started a watch firm, and Adrien Philippe, who had invented keyless winding, joined in 1845. The firm became known for complicated watches and royal clients.
The Stern family bought Patek Philippe in 1932, and the Calatrava of the same year became the model for the simple, round wristwatch. The Nautilus of 1976, designed by Gérald Genta, was a sports watch in steel. The brand is still owned by the Stern family.
Movement and case numbers; the firm can issue an Extract from the Archives. The Geneva Seal, since 2009 the Patek Philippe Seal.