Living by our values
10 unique values reflect Mr. Philippe Stern’s vision for the company, based on respect for the past and fascination for the future. Upholding the founding values of the company is integral to the way we work at Patek Philippe.
Bienfacture and Geneva Seal
The French term 'bienfacture' is a recognition of fine workmanship in the quality of making all component to our movements, watch cases and bracelets. 100% of the Patek Philippe mechanical movement are awarded by the prestigious official hallmark of the Geneva Seal granted since 1886 to locally crafted mechanical movement which comply with 12 high quality criteria that can only be fulfilled by craftsmen who perfectly master micromechanical engineering, hand finishing, assembly and precision timing regulation skills.
Independence
"Founded in 1839, Patek Philippe is privately owned and has been in the Stern's family since 1932. Independence gives us control of our destiny; our philosophy, our practices, our standards and our vision are all in our own hands. Independence means that the long-term vision of our company will always take precedence over the short-term demands of commerce. The investment needed to maintain our technological leadership will never be limited by the demands of external shareholders. And the principal beneficiaries of our company's independent spirit? The people who are most important to us: those who make Patek Philippe watches and those who own them.
Independence enables us to pursue our long-term objectives."
Tradition
"Patek Philippe is a true “watch manufacture” meaning that we control all stages in the making of our watches, from design to production, from assembly and finish to distribution. The uniquely comprehensive nature of our production method has many important benefits. Certain traditional skills and tools, which have not changed for hundreds of years, can still be used on a daily basis. The experience and know-how of our master watchmakers is passed on to new generations. We also preserve the traditional “Art of Fine Watchmaking”, the criteria of which were established by the Republic of Geneva in 1886, with the creation of the Geneva Seal. The Geneva Seal hallmark is the highest official endorsement of watchmaking quality and excellence. It certifies that all our watches have been made in this tradition.
Tradition should always command respect."
Innovation
"While we treasure our traditions, it is the future that inspires us. Innovation is the true driving force of the company. We are passionately dedicated to creative Research and Development. We also develop the very latest technology for use throughout the watchmaking process – wherever it can demonstrably improve the quality and reliability of our watches. The fact that we have been granted over 70 patents is testament of this policy. Groundbreaking innovations are at the heart of Patek Philippe and this motivates us to uphold the challenge of bringing exciting and practical products to life year after year.
Innovation is part of our tradition."
Quality and Workmanship
"Many elements contribute to the unique quality inherent in our watches but none more than the highest standards of workmanship and quality control. It takes more than 1,200 operations to create one watch. Between three and five years are spent creating a new mechanical movement. Six hundred hours of quality control checks are undertaken during manufacture, followed by thirty days of observation and rigorous examination. Only after all this are we ready to put our name to a watch. Behind the stark figures, of course, are our skills as craftsmen. Each watch is individually assembled, polished and regulated by hand. It is this dedication to perfection that has kept our reputation for workmanship unequalled over the years. Our commitment to quality is nothing new.
Workmanship involves commitment to an ideal."
Rarity
"We make most models only in small quantities, from as little as five to a few hundred for more well known models. When you own a Patek Philippe, you possess something of rare value. Since 1839, we have kept a record in our archives of every single timepiece bearing the Patek Philippe name. Besides being useful for practical purposes like repairs and cleaning, it is a demonstration of our continuing interest in each timepiece and a reminder of how individual each watch is, both to its owner and to us. We celebrate the notion that man is capable of creating art through the manufacture of timepieces.
Rarity is the essence of a piece of art."
Value
"It is hard to measure the value of a Patek Philippe in purely financial terms. Aesthetics, craftsmanship and reliability all make their contributions. We purposefully design, produce, and test every watch to last for generations. This allows us to say: "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation." Perhaps though, the true value is emotional. The desire to pass on a treasured possession, an heirloom, to a son or daughter can find no greater expression than in a Patek Philippe watch.
Lasting value is both material and emotional. "
Aesthetics
"We strive for timeless aesthetic perfection. Beauty is also present where it cannot be seen. Bridges are angled, polished by hand and decorated with Côtes de Genève, and circular graining, or perlage, embellishes every movement. That an owner might never be able to see these many aesthetic touches does not discourage us. This is simply the way we make watches. Beauty, albeit understated, is all-pervasive at Patek Philippe. We know that the hundreds of parts operating in harmony make a watch work, but it is beauty that brings a watch to life.
Everywhere we strive for aesthetic perfection."
Service
"We believe in the importance of after sales service. Although we make watches that will last for generations, a little care and attention is needed once in a while. A good, regular service is essential for the longevity of our watches. We keep stocks of spare parts dating back to the earliest days of manufacturing. This service is unique and allows maintenance, repair and restoration of our past creations. We also maintain the age-old skills and tools that enable us to reproduce a part if necessary. We can provide the best and most specialized after sales service in the world so that every Patek Philippe owner can enjoy her or his timepiece, safe in the knowledge that it will perform as well for the next generation, as it does for them.
Our interest is maintained throughout the life of the watch."
Emotion
"A Patek Philippe watch is not merely a method of telling the time. It is a silent statement about your values. Each Patek Philippe is made to become a story, a tale of emotions. Who gave you the watch. On what milestone in your life. With what words. To whom did you pass on your watch. A labor of love received and given with love. All of our watches have the ability to create an emotional response in their own right. This emotion is not just at the heart of every watch - it is at the heart of our company.
A Patek Philippe watch reveals something about you."
Heritage
"Our heritage gives us absolute faith in the continuing success of Patek Philippe as an independent family business. We are simply a bridge between the past and the future. The watches being created now will continue to amaze and inspire, as do the rare and precious exhibits in the Patek Philippe Museum. This company will be handed on to the fourth generation of family owners. With it will go the values and beliefs that have always been at the heart of the company, values and beliefs that have earned Patek Philippe respect and made it successful. Generations will follow, and those who work for the company and those who own our watches, will be continuing a famous and enduring tradition - that of producing and owning the finest and most valuable watches in the world.
We will always live by the ideals that built our reputation."