Patek Philippe, Geneva

In 1839, when two Polish immigrants established a small watch shop in Geneva, they could not have foreseen the significant impact it would have on the watchmaking industry in the years to come. Patek Philippe, a Swiss luxury watch and clock manufacturer, has been under the ownership of the Stern family since 1932. In 2010, Thierry Stern, the son of Philippe Stern, assumed control of the company. Patek Philippe is renowned as one of the world's oldest watch manufacturers, boasting an uninterrupted history of watchmaking since its founding.

The exquisite design of Patek Philippe timepieces strikes a harmonious balance between classic aesthetics and modernity. These watches are backed by intricate engineering, exemplified by their complex mechanical solutions. Consequently, Patek Philippe enjoys a well-deserved reputation as one of the most prestigious watch brands globally. Throughout its history, notable figures such as Queen Victoria, Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Pius IX, Marie Curie, Albert Einstein, John F. Kennedy, Nelson Mandela, Pablo Picasso, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, and Leo Tolstoy have been among its esteemed patrons and timepiece owners.

In 2018, the company manufactured 62,000 timepieces, deliberately maintaining a modest yearly production increase of no more than 1-3% to preserve the brand's high quality and exclusivity. Since the early 2000s, Patek Philippe timepieces have consistently commanded high prices at auctions around the world, ranking among the top ten most expensive watches ever sold, with individual pieces fetching tens of millions of US dollars each.