Patek Philippe Celebrate 175th Anniversary

Photocredit: watchtime.com

May 1st 2014 marked 175th anniversary of the founding of one the most prestigious and influential Swiss watch brands in the world: Patek Philippe.
 
Patek Philippe president Thierry Stern wrote the following in a press release:

“Today, May 1, 2014, I am happy to announce the 175th anniversary of Patek Philippe, and the imminent launch of a special timeline at patek.com to showcase our history – the longest uninterrupted history of any watch brand. The timeline will be continuously enriched throughout the year, with fascinating stories from our past and present.
“We believe that one of the secrets of our success has been our independence (we are the last family-owned watch manufacture in Geneva). Over the years, this freedom has allowed us to be truly creative, innovative, and pioneering – as demonstrated in our impressive repertoire of patents, our unique designs, and our dedication to rare handcrafts.
“My great grandfather, Charles Stern, and his brother Jean, took the reins of Patek Philippe in 1932. It was Charles’ son – my grandfather, Henri Stern -and my father, Philippe, who inspired my passion to stay true to the vision of the company’s founders, and to keep creating and producing the best watches in the world.
“I feel proud to be at the company’s helm during this most important historical milestone. And I look forward to maintaining the long-standing spirit of creativity and innovation for which the company is known.
“May I take this opportunity to thank you for sharing our passion for Patek Philippe.”

Patek Philippe hosted a new and much larger booth at Baselworld 2014, revamped their website to dedicate much of it to Patek Philippe's vast history and also have released several new timepieces including Annual Calendar Calendar Chronograph (Ref. 5960/1A-001) and the Nautilus Travel Time Chronograph (Ref. 5990/1A-001). Plans are in motion to release more time pieces this fall, with a chance of some anniversary editions.