COMPANY BACKGROUND

THE COMPANY 

You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation.

History of the company

On May 1^st, 1839 two polish immigrants, Antoni Patek (Businessman) and Franciszek Czapek (Watchmaker) joined forces to found Patek, Czapek and Cie in Geneva. In 1844, Mr. Patek met the French watchmaker, Mr. Adrien Philippe in Paris where the latter presented his pioneering system winding and setting system by the crown. In 1845 when Czapek decided to leave the company and to continue his activity on his own, the company name changed for Patek and Cie. Later on, in 1851 when Mr. Philippe officially associated with the company, it was rebaptised Patek Philippe and Cie, before changing once more in 1901 for Ancienne Manufactured’ Horlogerie Patek Philippe and Cie. In 1932, the company was purchased by Charles and Jean Stern, two brother owners of a fine dial manufacture in Geneva. Since then, Patek Philippe S.A. remains a family owned firm. In 2009 the presidency was officially transmitted from the 3^rd to the 4^th generation: Mr. Thierry Stern became president and his father Mr. Philippe Stern, Honorary president.