a Story of Independence
The Stern Family
By passing down the helm from one generation to the next since 1932, the Stern Family has been the guardian of Patek Philippe values and know-how, while successfully ensuring the continuous development of the company and its timepieces.
The First Generation
Charles and Jean Stern
In 1932, during the Great Depression, Charles and Jean Stern, owners of Cadrans Stern Frères, acquired Patek Philippe after having been their suppliers. They appointed watchmaker Jean Pfister to lead the company and internalized the production of their own movements. This quest for independence remains at the heart of the company’s strategy to this day.
The Second Generation
Henri Stern
Charles’ son Henri joined Patek Philippe in 1935 as Commercial Director and a few years later headed to New York. There, he created The Henri Stern Watch Agency (HSWA), exclusive distributor of Patek Philippe watches in the US, in 1945. His travels to Canada, Latin America and Asia helped develop the company’s standing on the world stage. He became Chairman of the board upon his return to Geneva in 1958.
Watchmaking knowledge has been relayed through the generations of our family-run company.
In 1976, Henri Stern was President of the family-owned enterprise, with his son Philippe poised to succeed him.
At Patek Philippe, successors must share not only blood but values, visions, and understanding.
The Third Generation
Philippe Stern
Henri’s son Philippe joined HSWA in 1963. He returned to Geneva in 1966 and became President in 1993. At that time, production operations were split across different locations; Philippe centralized all activities in a new manufacture inaugurated in 1996. Having spent forty years collecting timepieces, he created the Patek Philippe Museum in 2001. He then inaugurated the fully renovated Geneva Salon in 2006. Finally, he presided over the creation of the prestigious Patek Philippe Seal in 2009.
Thierry and Philippe Stern in front of the Plan-les-Ouates building in 2008.
As President, Philippe Stern contributed to the momentum of the Manufacture with pivotal projects.
Philippe Stern on his father’s desk during the opening of the Patek Philippe Museum in 2001.
Philippe Stern’s extraordinary collection is housed in the Patek Philippe Museum.
The Fourth Generation
Thierry Stern
Philippe’s son Thierry joined Patek Philippe in 1990. After years of learning within the company and HSWA, he became Vice President of Patek Philippe in 2003 and has served as President since 2009, a role he continues to hold today. He created the Watch Art Grand Exhibition in 2012, celebrated the company’s 175th anniversary with the release of the extraordinary Grandmaster Chime in 2014, and inaugurated the new PP6 Manufacture in 2020.
The final validation for the chimes of every one of our Minute Repeaters is done by Thierry Stern himself.
The 2020 building expresses the Stern’s vision to bring the entire Manufacture under one roof.
Our President is committed to safeguarding the company’s technological leadership.
Our founding commitment to create the finest timepieces is upheld by Thierry Stern.
