Most people agree that Patek Philippe is the best-known brand among all significant Swiss watchmakers. Why is it the case? In this most recent trip to the WatchTime vaults, Rüdiger Bucher, Editorial Director of German sister publication Chronos, outlines seven factors that have contributed to Patek Philippe's success.
Expertise
From the hand-winding two-hand watch and "basic" complications with features like an annual calendar or second time zone to intricate masterpieces with minute repeaters, tourbillons, and split-seconds chronographs, Patek Philippe has perfected every facet of fine watchmaking. The utilization of cutting-edge, contemporary equipment works hand in hand with expert artisan workmanship.
Tradition
It takes time to reach this degree of skill. Since Patek Philippe has been producing watches continuously for 177 years, it has accumulated a vast amount of expertise that is handed down from one watchmaker generation to the next.
Future-oriented vision
Although Patek Philippe has a long history, the company is not tied to the past. While making significant investments in the use of new materials, technologies, and manufacturing techniques, the firm retains the values of the traditional art of watchmaking on the one hand. The company has also made a deliberate effort to develop fresh styles, such as the Calatrava Pilot Travel Time watch for pilots introduced in 2015.
Quality
The most valuable resource of Patek Philippe is quality. The firm as a whole is built to support it. The firm enforced strict criteria that often go above and beyond typical industry norms with the launch of the Patek Philippe Seal in 2008. However, the dedication to excellence extends beyond the timepieces themselves. The highest standards are set for personnel training at Patek Philippe, from the watchmaker to the salesman, and this includes customer assistance that spans both sales and service. You can buy Patek Philippe first copy watches in best quality.
Family-run business
Since its founding in 1839, Patek Philippe has been run by the Stern family, who are now in their fourth generation of ownership. As a result, the company's ideology and practices are quite consistent. It also rules out the prospect of drastic course changes brought on by a new management team, ensuring that the successful route will undoubtedly continue. This guarantees sustainability, which is strongly related to the statement that follows.
Value
Anyone who buys a Patek Philippe is aware that if they decide to sell it later, they most likely won't lose any money. And although there is no way to forecast this in specific circumstances, it is certainly likely that the watch's value may rise over time. But it's still comforting to know that even though most individuals buy watches for personal pleasure rather than with the intention of selling them right away.
Perfect ornamentation is essential to Patek Philippe's success.
Both in terms of technique and aesthetic quality, hand-applied ornamentation used in production is of the highest caliber. Even for unnoticeable components like wheels, 40 to 60 steps are required. Enamel painting, exceedingly fine engraving, placing precious stones, and inlays are examples of artisanal techniques that are important.