Patek Philippe makes things "complicated". But hey, that is what the most sophisticated Swiss watchmakers are supposed to do. Complications, which are any function of a timepiece other than the essential display of the time, are the norms at Patek Philippe’s watchmaking workshops at Geneva and Vallee de Joux. The brand’s Caliber 89, launched in 1989 to commemorate its 150th anniversary, is one of the most complicated mechanical watches ever made. It carries 33 complications that include chronographs, calendars, the date of Easter, sidereal time and a 2800-celestial chart. Getting all those functions working took 5 years of research, 4 years of manufacture, and 1, 728 parts crammed masterfully together in a 41mm thick case. Indeed, Patek Philippe knows how to make a science out of watchmaking.

 

Check out Patek’s collections at Shreve & Co in Post Street, San Francisco.

 

 

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calibre_89

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patek_Philippe_%26_Co.

"You never really own a Patek Philippe, you merely look after it for the next generation." The timelessness of Patek Philippe watches, as well as their enduring qualities, bank on gentlemen who faithfully pass on unchanging values and priceless treasures to the next in line. Throughout the ages, men have taken strong attachments to their watches which had been handed down from their fathers or grandpas. That is why watches have become more than just timepieces or chronographs. Patek Philippe, haute horlogerie from Geneva since 1839, has been the symbol of undying family traditions for four generations now. The bestowing of a Patek to a younger family member is really the sophisticated way of passing the baton. The brand values the honorable part it plays in many affluent family sagas. In order to ensure each model's heirloom quality craftsmanship, the time-tested company employs only the most seasoned craftsmen and watch experts to reverently put each watch together. Keep your family tradition alive, or else start a new one, with Patek Philippe luxury Swiss watches, available at Shreve & Co. in Portland Oregon.

 

 

Reference: http://www.patek.com/contents/default/en/advertisingcampaign2013.html

When you are wearing Patek Philippe’s Sky Moon Tourbillon (Ref.5002) timepiece, everyone who requests for the time is literally asking you a million-dollar question. The Patek Philippe timepiece, which is most prominent for its affinity to astronomy, fetches a whooping 1.5 million dollars. Sky Moon Tourbillon M 5002P is notable for its celestial patterns indicator and its second blue dial that tells sidereal time every 23 hours 56 minutes and 4.1 seconds. Its 43 mm white silver dial is fitted with special functions – a leap year indicator at the 12 o’clock slot, month indicator at 3’oclock, moon phase indicator at 6 o’clock, and week indicator at 9 o’clock. Add to that a date teller in pink engravings under the hour markings. And of course, it tells accurate time. How all of these features are packed into a sleek platinum case held by black crocodile leather strap is a Patek Philippe genius that is, decidedly, worth a million dollars. Shreve & Co. in Post Street, San Francisco is an authorized retailer of Patek Philippe.

 

 

Reference: http://www.bornrich.com/entry/patek-philippes-expensive-watches/

The year is almost over but the spirit of the Dragon will linger in the Woods Room of Christie’s Hong Kong on Wednesday, November 28th. 2012. The autumn auction of Important Watches will sport 540 collectible chronographs. All are estimated to sell at $17 million USD.  The Dragon Collection, of Patek Philippe watches, will highlight the event. The Star Caliber 2000 (est. $2,300,000 – 4,000,000) accentuates the collection as this is a piece that has yet to see the market. This  masterpiece pocket watch showcases itself with 21 complications to celebrate the millennium. It in itself is made up of 1,118 parts and took seven years to perfect. The unique collection also includes The Patek Philippe Ref. 5016 and the Ref. 3939. The particular 5016 to be auctioned is the only yellow gold one with its dial having ruby indexes to come into market. The other exceptional piece is a Ref. 3939 in platinum. There were only 200 of such model made and only 65 were in platinum. But this special piece in the Dragon Collection was made even more special with a mother-of-pearl dial—the only one in the world. All three pieces form The Dragon Collection. Each is considered to be a rare feat of craftsmanship. Their qualities mirror the company that conceived them—innovated, worthy of royalty and free spirited, much like the dragon. If you can’t visit Christie’s Hong Kong, you can try and visit Shreve & Co.. Shreve & Co. is an authorized dealer for Patek Philippe. 

 

 

References: http://www.christies.com/presscenter/pdf/2012/christieshkspring2012earlyrelease_eng_26apr2012.pdf

http://www.christies.com/about/press-center/releases/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=5948

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f408/dragon-collection-astonishing-group-rare-patek-philippes-775961.html

Many people would say that instead of buying luxury items, you should use the money to help those in need. If maybe you can skimp on luxury and donate some to charity you’d make more of a valuable and positive change to society than just looking good. But thanks to Patek Philippe, this moral dilemma was solved for one buyer; even just in one auction this 2012. Now the proud owner of a special Patek Philippe Ref 5131J World Time donated $1,045,260 to a charity through buying the said item at the mentioned amount in a Christie’s auction.  Normally, this model would sell around $150,000 tops. But because this was donated by Patek Philippe to the Child Action charity, it was worth far more. The Swiss-based charity, Child Action, aims to provide medical and surgical care, psychological support for children and teenage suicide prevention. For this special cause, this particular 5131J model was made one-of-a-kind with a “View of the City of Geneva” cloisonne’ enamel dial which represents Geneva Lakeview. This wasn’t the first time that Patek Philippe pitched in the noble effort of Child Action as they have also donated a Calatrava 5180T for Children’s Action in 2009 and a Calatrava 6000T in 2007. To learn more about the cause visit www.childrenaction.org. To see these and more of Patek Philippe collections visit Shreve & Co. – authorized dealer for Patek Philippe. 

 

 

References: http://blog.perpetuelle.com/watches/patek-philippe-5131j-unique-piece-for-children-action-charity/

http://www.bornrich.com/entry/patek-philippes-expensive-watches/

http://www.patek.com/contents/default/en/childrenaction2012.html

Bragging rights are earned; but for Henry Graves, Jr. you can buy it. A pedigree American banker behind railroad projects and other industrial investments that propelled the U.S. economy in the early part of the twentieth century, Henry challenged the automobile manufacturer, James Ward Packard, in owning the world’s most complicated watch back in the 1930s. Some years earlier, James paraded the most complicated watch and the world was impressed, except Henry. He commissioned Patek Philippe to outdo James’ feat. A few years and some 60,000 Swiss francs after, Patek Philippe produced the world’s most complicated timepiece—a pocket watch—using state-of-the art horological techniques that many considered an engineering feat as it is a high form of art expression. Called the Patek Philippe Supercomplication, the watch has an 18-karat gold enclosure and 24 mechanical features that move in separate but precise coordination. It charts the positions of starts and the Milky Way, has a minute repeater playing the same melody as is in London’s Big Ben, a chronological function per hour and, yes, it tells time. But its biggest feature is not mechanical. The Patek Philippe Supercomplication watch was auctioned at Sotheby’s New York in 1999 for $11,002,500, a record high. Henry would not know this, of course; only that he bested his James Ward in his, well, time.

 

Image: "The Supercomplication" watch made by Patek Philippe

References: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patek_Philippe_%26_Co.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/09/12/1202_most_expensive_timepieces/2.htm