Are Patek Philippe watches a sound investment?

If you’re about to part with thousands of pounds on an accessory, you’ll probably want to know that you’ve made a wise choice.

Patek Philippe used to use the advertising slogan “You never actually own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation.”

But does the thought of handing it down to your son or daughter make you feel less guilty about parting with your precious cash?

We think that owning a timepiece from one the world’s most notable watchmaker is a very wise investment and here, we tell you why:

Heritage

Regarded as one of the most prestigious luxury watchmakers in the world, Patek Philippe watches offer a style statement that has gone unrivalled from the brand’s inception.

Polish immigrant Antoni Patek (pictured below) started making pocket watches in Switzerland back in 1839. He hooked up with Franciszek Czapek and they went into business, creating 200 of the items per year.

After several arguments the pair went their separate ways but a Frenchman, Adrien Philippe, who had invented a keyless winding mechanism, stepped into Czapek’s boots. And it’s pretty obvious from the names, what happened next.

The ‘new’ company went from strength to strength and consistently went on the hunt for new inventions.

Innovation

Patek Philippe offers groundbreaking advancements that you won’t see elsewhere.

This is the brand which came up with the perpetual calendar complication (this adjusts to the number of days in the month and leap years), split-second chronograph, the minute repeater and the Cal 89, which is composed of over 1700 parts and 29 complications.

Quality

Patek Philippe carefully handcrafts every element of its watches and movements in-house in Geneva. The incredibly complex Patek Philippe watches are assembled and finished manually.

Every style involves artistry and exceptional craftsmanship by its specialist team. Processes such as enamel painting and setting of precious diamonds, are meticulously carried out by hand.

The brand enforces rigorous testing when it comes to the components and time-keeping ability accuracy of the watch, so you can rest assured the end product you get is worth every penny.

The combination of multiple factors such as the use of top quality materials, innovation in terms of design, superior workmanship makes the brand a firm favourite among watch collectors across the globe.

Value

Unlike some brands, Patek Philippe watches have a great resale value. These watches make excellent investment pieces as their value is likely to increase over time.

Some vintage Patek Philippe watches are sold pre-worn for considerable prices. In November 2019, a Patek Philippe watch sold for $31 million, making it the most expensive wristwatch ever auctioned.

The sale topped the previous record set in 2017 for a Rolex Daytona owned by actor Paul Newman, which sold for $17.7 million.

Buy or sell your Patek Philippe

Here at Sell My Patek Philippe, we can offer you a competitive price for your watch if you wish to sell it. It’s easy to get an online quote with us. Alternatively, having read this blog post, you may think about keeping hold of yours to hand down to the next generation!

If you wish to buy a Patek Philippe as an investment, we can highly recommend the sales team at Luxe Watches to provide you with a new or pre-worn luxury timepiece.