Of all the watchmakers, the Swiss are known for the top quality watches all over the world. And while there are many brands among them, one stands out from the crowd with the most luxurious and expensive watches ever made.
Patek Philippe watches have a long history that is reaching year 1839. A Polish watchmaker Antoni Norbert Patek started making watches in Geneva with his friend Franciszek Czapek. In 1844 their ways separated and in 1845 Patek joined the French watchmaker Adrien Philippe. They've began making wristwatches and the first Patek Philippe watch has seen the light in 1868.
Patek Philippe is famous for the most expensive watches in the world. The first record was set when a single watch was auctioned for $11 million dollars in 1999. The was watch originally made for Henry Graves Jr. in 1933. The most recent record was made in April 2008, when the platinum Patek Philippe tourbillon wristwatch was sold at Hong Kong Sotheby's for $1.49 million dollars.
These watches are also known for their royal owners. Patek Philippe had a great demand among the collectors and the watches meant high social status and wealth. Since Queen Victoria's reign, these watches were owned by monarchs, popes, political leaders and rulers.
In 1989 Patek Philippe reminded the world about themselves by creating one of the most complicated mechanical watches ever made, Calibre 89. The watch holds 33 complications including the date of Easter, a thermometer, time of sunrise, equation of time and more.
These watches are the most expensive luxury watches even today where they come in modern models. They still are a sign of wealth and are owned by the elite. However, despite their price, they are available to anyone.
They are not only attractive for the collectors but for anyone who has a spare $40 thousands and wants to get a watch to show off for any occasion. No doubt, Patek Philippe is something to be proud of having, as if joining the lines of Queen Victoria and the likes.
Posted under Watches
This post was written by Dan P.P. Reynolds on April 8, 2009
