Frequently Asked Question
The most common questions about Patek Philippe Grand Complications
What makes a watch a Grand Complication?
While watchmakers, executives and collectors debate over what really qualifies a grand complication, the generally accepted definition of a Grand Complication is a portable timepiece that includes a minute repeater, moon phases, perpetual calendar, split-seconds chronograph and a grand and petite sonnerie which is a ...Jul 7, 2017Is a Patek Philippe watch a good investment?
Yes, absolutely some Patek Philippe watches can be a good investment but a luxury watch is not the sort of purchase you should make lightly. You should do plenty of research before committing to a particular model or brand. There are lots of reasons why people purchase luxury watches, too.Oct 1, 2021Why is it called a complication?
They're called complications because they "complicate" the watch and watchmaking process. ... Unlike today, in the past these complex watches were achieved through mechanical means — like adding additional tiny gears and other parts.Apr 10, 2015Who is the owner of Patek Philippe?
The Swiss Stern family has owned Patek Philippe since 1932 when Charles Stern and Jean Stern acquired the company during the Great Depression. The Stern brothers' company, Fabrique de Cadrans Sterns Frères, had been a business partner of Patek Philippe as its supplier of watch dials.Why Patek Philippe is expensive?
The manufacturer only uses stainless steel for a small selection of watches. ... The way Patek Philippe watches are created means their production takes longer, resulting in lower inventories than most other luxury brands. This makes Patek Philippe watches highly exclusive and, thus, expensive.May 27, 2021
What does Patek mean?
Jewish (from Poland): from Polish patek 'godfather', hence, as a Jewish name, perhaps a nickname for a person bringing a child in for circumcision.What is the most complicated watch?
Vacheron Constantin released its Reference 57260 watch in 2015 to mark the brand's 260th anniversary. The model, with 57 complications, 2,826 parts, and 31 hands, and which took eight years to assemble, is touted as the most complicated timepiece in the world.Dec 2, 2019What is a minute repeater complication?
A repeater is a complication in a mechanical watch that chimes the time on demand by activating a push or a slide-piece. ... Minute repeaters chime three different sounds; the hours are typically signaled by a low tone, the quarter-hours by a sequence of two tones and the minutes by a high tone.Does Patek Philippe make a tourbillon?
Tourbillon 5339 Minute Repeater One of the most luxurious models among the Patek Philippe collection are its tourbillon timepieces. ... These are manually-wound timepieces with a 10-day power reserve and a tourbillon complication.Is a tourbillon a complication?
A tourbillon is a mechanical complication found in the movements of certain high-end mechanical watches. It was invented during the era or the pocket watch and is both hypnotic and fascinating to watch. ... They are not the most common complication that you'll find on a watch, but certainly one of the most entertaining.How much does a new Patek Philippe cost?
With over 173 models available, a brand new Patek Philippe watch is going to cost you anywhere from $12,500 to $2 million and up. However, you should be aware that not every dealer offers every model.