When is a watch more than just a watch? When it’s a Patek Philippe. In its 167-year history, Patek Philippe has been the watchmaker to kings, queens, popes, prime ministers, presidents, nobel prize-winning scientists, and artists.  As the last independent Geneva watchmaker, they have creative freedom to design and manufacture what many agree to be the finest timepieces in the world. Combining classic design with leading-edge technology, Patek Philippe crafts more than watches: they create heirlooms to be passed from generation to generation.

The undeniably Swiss aesthetic of perfection and precision emerges in Patek Philippe timepieces. Antoine Norbert de Patek and Adrienne Philippe founded their company with the ideal of excellence and the pursuit of beauty, a “pure” ethos that remains the common thread running through each series of watches.

At the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking since its first patent in 1845 for the invention of the keyless winding system, now an industry standard, Patek Philippe has been awarded more than 70 patents. Patek Philippe is also the only watch manufacturer whose entire production of mechanical movements, known as complications, qualifies for the Geneva Seal, the most sought-after and highest official recognition of excellence. Since its founding, all of these movements bear an individual number recorded in the Patek Philippe archives, which tracks the timepieces and their owners, guaranteeing authenticity.

Over the last five years, Patek Philippe has seen a rise in demand for larger, complicated timepieces. “Watches as multi-functional devices have grown in popularity. Women tend to look at design first, but are beginning to become interested in mechanical timepieces. Men have always been more focused on the mechanics of a watch,” says Larry Pettinelli, Vice President of Patek Philippe USA. “Our complicated watches have benefited from an increase in awareness and appreciation for high-quality watchmaking – watches with an innovative spirit that are made to last and maintain their value over time.”

Some of Patek Philippe’s complicated watches include moon phase, power reserve displays, astronomic calendars, and split-second chronographs. There is also the annual calendar, which displays date, month, and day of the week, and automatically adjusts for 30- and 31-day months, requiring resetting on March 1st. The perpetual calendar automatically adjusts even in leap years.

With a limited release of each style – from one to several hundred – rarity increases the value and exclusivity of the timepiece. The current Patek Philippe collection, which includes eight “families,” features 18 basic calibers and more than 45 different types of movements allowing for the creation of well over 100 different styles for both men and women.

“The inspiration for our new timepieces can often be traced to our historical past. Patek Philippe timepieces from the 1930s inspired the design of the new ladies Gondolo Gemma and Serata. Patek Philippe owner Mr. Philippe Stern challenges our designers to make elegant pieces with a timeless design. Many times it is simply a short walk to the Patek Philippe Museum to get creative inspiration,” says Pettinelli.