Patek Philippe is sought after by many watch enthusiasts. The brand philosophy is "100 years of responsibility."

At the end of 2023, Patek Philippe will release a tribute model to commemorate the 85th birthday of current Honorary Chairman Philippe Stern. The movement installed in this model was developed exclusively for this model and will never be installed in any other watch. As reflected in this philosophy, Patek Philippe is a special company, and the watches they produce have been called the "Holy Grail" by many watch enthusiasts. We would like to take another look at the company's existence.

Craftsmanship and brand philosophy woven together under the banner of "100 Years of Responsibility"

　For many watch enthusiasts, a Patek Philippe watch is the holy grail, the ultimate timepiece, so what is it that makes this brand so special to collectors?

　For about 25 years, Patek Philippe has used the slogan, "A watch imbued with emotion and passed down from father to son, from generation to generation." This is one of the most beautiful lines of communication in the watch industry.

　But this doesn't tell the whole story: Patek Philippe watches are certainly enduring, but that's not all.

　Patek Philippe is the very definition of luxury watchmaking: high-quality Swiss-made timepieces, and the brand was founded in Geneva, where its factory and museum remain to this day.

　Many watch enthusiasts dream of one day visiting the famous Salon Patek Philippe, located on the top floor of the building that Patek Philippe has owned since 1853, and looking out the windows overlooking Lake Geneva.

　Thus, what characterizes Patek Philippe is its presence and the advanced technology that creates its reputation and popularity.

　The manufacturing process, sometimes industrial, sometimes manual, takes time to complete and is in some sense "time-consuming." "As a family business, haste is the enemy," Patek Philippe emphasizes.

　In each department, from cases and dials to movements and stone setting, Patek Philippe has cultivated specialized craftsmanship for decades.

　This is one of the reasons why Patek Philippe is not planning to significantly increase production (current annual production is estimated at around 7 units).

PP6 factory in Plan-les-Ouates

　Since 2020, Patek Philippe has concentrated all of its watchmaking operations in a 10-story factory in Plan-les-Ouates, near Geneva.

　This ship-shaped building is a showcase of advanced craftsmanship.

　The factory's guiding principle is to equip it with specialized production methods that will ensure the brand's growth over the next 20 to 30 years and guarantee its long-term independence - an important consideration given that it is a family business.

　Currently, complicated watches account for roughly half of the models in Patek Philippe's catalog. "Practical complications" such as annual calendars, weekly calendars, travel time functions, and world time functions are becoming increasingly important, and the number of special functions is increasing.

　Patek Philippe's design philosophy has involved repeated trial and error to simplify the operation of these complicated watches, especially the Grand Complications, and to improve their safety and reliability.

　As a result, the number of steps and parts required to produce a single watch is high, which means that it takes a lot of time to manufacture and assemble.

　Not surprisingly, Patek Philippe maintains an extremely diverse collection, with over 160 different models, produced in small batches ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred pieces, and always equipped with a vast range of 100% "in-house" movements, which requires production space.

　Furthermore, the development and manufacture of highly technical watches requires a huge amount of time and expertise.

　The factory space is divided into five large blocks: the first and second floors are dedicated to the production and hand-finishing of movement components, while the third floor is dedicated to the machining, hand-polishing, assembly and gem-setting of watch components.

　In addition to regular production, the factory also manufactures and stocks replacement parts for after-sales service, which, along with the restoration of vintage models, is one of the keys to Patek Philippe's success.

　The fourth floor houses the research and development department for new materials and technologies (Patek Philippe Advanced Research), the luxury watch workshop, and the department for secretive prototyping.

　The fifth floor is a space for developing and passing on the exceptional craftsmanship that Patek Philippe continues to uphold (hand engraving, enameling, guilloching, wood inlay, etc.), while the sixth floor houses an 880-seat penthouse restaurant with panoramic views of the surrounding landscape and mountains, as well as four VIP lounges.

　The remaining four underground levels will house parking spaces for 635 cars.

　The extra space will help the company grow over the next 20 to 30 years.

　Patek Philippe watches are designed to function perfectly for a century or more, as their slogan states: "100 Years of Responsibility." This long-term vision is more than just a slogan; it's a personal commitment from Thierry Stern.