Patek Philippe Watches

What you need to know about Patek Philippe watches

Why choose a Patek Phillipe watch?

Patek Philippe is a Swiss luxury watchmaker with a reputation for producing some of the most exclusive and expensive watches in the world. A Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime sold in 2019 for the equivalent of $31 million, which remains the highest auction price ever achieved by a timepiece.

One of the few watch manufacturers that designs and produces all of its movements in-house, Patek Philippe dedication to craftsmanship and quality is reflected in the complexity of its watches, which often feature multiple complications, such as perpetual calendars, moon phases, and minute repeaters.

This manufacturer has a reputation for exclusivity: they produce around 50,000 watches per year. This limited production adds to the brand’s allure and cements its position as one of the most prestigious watch brands in the world.

Over the years, Patek Philippe has contributed greatly to the development of the watch industry, with Jean-Adrien Philippe’s invention of the keyless winding mechanism being a prime example. With a rich history and unwavering commitment to excellence, Patek Philippe remains a highly sought-after brand among watch enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Which Patek Philippe to buy?

At Luxe Watches, we understand the importance of feeling confident in your choice. With each timepiece exuding its own allure and charm, making the right decision becomes crucial, especially considering the investment involved. We firmly believe that the best watch is the one that truly excites you, regardless of its name, but we still want to give you some help navigating through the captivating world of Patek Philippe watches.

• The brand’s classic Nautilus sports watch is a firm favourite amongst our customer base. With its distinctive shape and enduring spirit, this flagship Patek Philippe watch is certain to stop even the most discerning watch-lover in their tracks. 
• The elegant Calatrava, in contrast to the sporty Nautilus, emphasises simplicity and timelessness and is Patek Philippe’s most popular dress watch. By the way, “calatrava” is the name of the symbol included in the Patek Philippe logo.
• The striking Twenty-4 watches are designed with women in mind and are equally suited for business dress and evening wear. They can be either round or square but no more than 36mm in diameter

Pre-owned Patek Philippe price guide

Pre-owned Patek Philippe watches come in various ages, models, conditions, and levels of popularity, which makes it hard to give brief rules of thumb when it comes to price.

However, based on previous sales at Luxe, we can share the following data about some of the Patek Philippe collections that you may wish to use as a guideline.

Patek Philippe as an investment?

When we compared the investment returns of luxury watches with that of other products, we found that luxury watches outperformed luxury bags, supercards and even real estate. 

Of all the watch brands we looked at, it was Patek Philippe that gave the best results. Patek watches outperformed Rolex and Audemars Piguet as well as the S&P 500 and the FTSE 100 over time.

Why can the prices of Patek Philippe increase over time? Because, as well as being beautiful products with exceptional functionality, they are collectors items in limited supply. There’s no guarantee that the price of any particular watch will increase over time, but the prices can surge, making them an attractive prospect for patient investors.

Buying Patek Philippe pre-owned – What should you know?

There’s no need to beat around the bush: Patek Philippe watches are expensive. They are handcrafted luxury products that use expensive materials and are made in limited quantities and have high levels of demand. They are an exclusive, premium product and have a price tag to match. 

When first sold, Patek Philippe watches come with a “Certificate of Origin”, which Patek describes as like a birth certificate for the watch. It also serves as the owner’s warranty. It cannot be replaced, so it is vital that the certificate of origin is kept safe by the owner. 

Another form of paperwork that might come with a Patek Philippe watch is an “Extract from the Archives”. These can be requested from Patek when a watch is more than 10 years old, and includes the information about the watch recorded in their journals. It will describe the details of the watch at the date of manufacture as well as details of any modifications made by Patek Philippe since. 

Extracts from the archives are requested directly from Patek Philiipe, and you can order them from their website here.

As with all luxury products, be confident that you are buying from a reputable dealer. As with any luxury product, some sellers will attempt to scam unsuspecting buyers with stolen or counterfeit goods. If you have any questions or concerns about your purchase, we’re very happy to talk them through with you. Luxe Watches has been in business since 2011 and has a reputation for excellent service in this industry. 

Buying via Luxe Watches

Luxe Watches is a leading UK retailer of used and pre owned Patek Philippe watches. We have the expertise and technical experience to be able to guarantee the authenticity of Patek Philippe watches, as well as sell, source and service them. Furthermore, we also offer 0% Patek Philippe finance, which enables more people than ever to own a luxury timepiece.

Buying a Patek Phillipe from Luxe watches means buying from luxury watch professionals with decades of combined experience. 

We aim to sell watches with their original box and paperwork where possible. If either is not available, this is stated in the product description and reflected in the price. 

We send watches via secure delivery to be received within seven days of payment. 

If you expect your watch to need strap length adjustment to fit your wrist, send us a message and we will make the adjustments.

We have a reputation for excellent customer service and are very happy to talk through any questions or issues you have. Just give us a call or visit us in our store in Epping, just outside of London. 

Have any other questions? Check our FAQ here.

Selling a Patek Phillipe

Remember that you can sell your Patek Philippe for more if you have the original certificate or origin and box.

Your watch will need to be appraised to assess its condition. You can send it to us in the post or visit our store in person. A final valuation will be given, and an offer will be made for your watch. If you decide to go ahead with the sale, will send you the payment via bank transfer to be received in 3-5 days. 

Choose a reputable fine watch expert to sell to, check their reviews online, and talk to them in person so that you can feel comfortable that the sale will go through smoothly and professionally. 

Sell your Patek Philippe with Luxe today.

Caring for a Patek Philippe

First things first, always keep your Patek Philippe watch clean. A soft, lint-free cloth will do the trick to remove dirt, oil, and fingerprints. Avoid using harsh chemicals or cleaning solutions that could damage the watch’s finish. Instead, use a mild soap and water solution and dry it with a soft cloth.

If you have a manual-winding Patek Philippe watch, wind it daily at the same time to ensure it keeps accurate time. For automatic watches, wear them regularly. This will prevent the watch from losing time or stopping altogether.

When you’re not wearing your Patek Philippe watch, store it in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight, moisture, and extreme temperatures. Its original box is designed specifically for this. If you’re not planning on wearing it for an extended period, consider keeping it in a watch winder to keep it fully wound.

It’s important to have your Patek Philippe watch serviced by an expert every three to five years. This service will include cleaning, oiling, and regulating the movement to maintain accuracy. Find out more about Patek Philippe watch servicing, repairs and refurbishment.

Lastly, avoid exposing your Patek Philippe watch to extreme shocks, vibrations, or water to prevent damage to the movement and case. Though some luxury watches are more resilient than others (sports watches like the Patek Philippe Nautilus, for example), they are still intricate and expensive items

About Patek Philippe’s Complications

Patek Philippe is famous for its complicated watches. They are one of the few watch manufacturers that designs and produces all of its movements in-house. 

Though some Patek Philippe collections, such as the Calatrava and Golden Eclipse, are better known for their simplicity and elegance, lovers of complications can not fail to be entranced by two collections in particular: Complications and Grand Complications.

These watches feature perpetual calendars, minute repeaters, tourbillons, and more. The collection is designed for collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the art and craftsmanship of watchmaking. When it comes to complicated watches, no other watchmaker can stand up to Patek Philippe at their best.

Patek Philippe’s history

Patek, Czapek & Cie was a luxury Swiss watchmaker founded in 1839 by Antoine Norbert de Patek and François Czapek. Patek and Czapek later separated, and Patek was joined by Adrien Philippe, a Frenchman who had invented the keyless winding mechanism for watches. 

In 1851, the company changed its name to Patek, Philippe & Cie

The company produced its first wristwatch in  1868, some thirty years before Rolex adopted the concept. It was a small, round watch made for Countess Koscowicz of Hungary and was powered by a cylinder movement. 

Throughout the 20th century, Patek Philippe continued to innovate, producing some of the most complicated watches ever made. In 1925, the company patented the perpetual calendar mechanism, which automatically adjusts for the number of days in each month and leap years. The company also developed the split-seconds chronograph, which allows the timing of multiple events simultaneously.

In 1989, Patek Philippe celebrated its 150th anniversary with the introduction of the Calibre 89 pocket watch. This exceptional timepiece held the title of the most complicated mechanical watch in the world at the time, featuring 33 complications and over 1,700 individual components.

In 2001, the company opened its Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. This museum showcases the brand’s rich history, exhibiting a collection of rare and vintage timepieces, as well as horological artifacts and artwork related to watchmaking.

Today, Patek Philippe continues to be at the forefront of watchmaking, producing exquisite timepieces that combine traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. The company is known for its commitment to excellence and has a reputation for creating some of the finest watches in the world.

More information