Sell Patek Philippe Watch

Launched in 1932,  the Calatrava is arguably the most recognisable of Patek Philippe’s signature collection. The elegant understated models featuring in this long-standing production directly reflect the sophisticated style of the Patek Philippe brand. The inspiration for the collection was the German-rooted ‘Bauhaus Art Movement’ which originated in the 1900s, with Bauhaus translating as ‘School of Building’.

The consistent styling of the Calatrava model over the last 90 years, although still advancing on its own design, manages to transcend modern trends, refusing to let contemporary watch designs affect its classic appearance. Varying between time-only versions, such as the Calatrava 5196, some versions, like the 5127 range, features a date function.

The consistent styling of the Calatrava model over the last 90 years, although still advancing its own design, manages to transcend modern trends and refuses to let contemporary watch designs impact its classic appearance. While some versions are time-only, like the Calatrava 5196, others, like the 5127 range, feature a date function.

It’s tough being in competition with a watch that comes from your own stable, yet that’s exactly the position that the Aquanaut finds itself. Considered by some to stand in the shadow of the Nautilus, the Aquanaut has chosen its 20th birthday to demand its time in the sun.

Utilising two of the key innovations designed by Patek Phillippe’s Advanced Research team, the Aquanaut boasts a new balance spring with vastly improved time-keeping with precision flexible mechanisms which reduce the number of parts required and so delivering a thinner watch.

Also, released in April 2017, the Aquanaut Ref 5168G is the first men’s Aquanaut watch in white gold.

Launched in 1997, the Patek Philippe Aquanaut was designed to bridge the gap between a technical, sports watch and an elegant timepiece that you can wear with evening dress. The Aquanaut is contemporary in design with a rounded octagonal shape that sets it aside from other watches. The texture of the strap is captured in the dial’s surface while the Aquanaut’s casual elegance is highlighted by a screw-down crown that gives extra protection when worn by sports people.

When you’ve been making stunning timepieces for as long as Patek Phillipe has, you get the urge to push the boundaries of precision. That’s exactly what the watch brand did when they created the Grand Complication. In doing so, they broke the mould.

With such precision at the core of the Complication, it’s staggering to see the layers of confusion and mystery that surround its origins. The very first Grand Complication was ordered in 1910, with a second commissioned in 1916 by James Ward Packard. However, the discovery of a further Grand Complication in 2013, owned by Stephen S. Palmer, sees Patek Philippe takes the top spot as the earliest grand complication.

The Palmer Grand Complication has a Patek calibre, a minute repeating perpetual calendar split-second chronograph clock watch with grande petite sonnerie, as well as moon phases. While this is exceptional by any standards, it’s critical to understand that this watch was made in the late 1800s. Without access to any of the modern CAD, CNC machines modelling tools at watchmaker’s disposal, this Grand Complication is utterly amazing – no one knew about it until it popped up for auction at Christie’s in 2013.

The watch was totally pristine, untouched in its original condition. Alongside the piece itself comes the paperwork, including all of the original warranty documents and the records of Mr Palmer’s stay at the Beau Rivage Hotel in Geneva while there to receive his watch. The operating instructions that Mr Palmer left for his family are also there as the watch remained within the Palmer family for many generations. Incredibly, Mr Palmer bought three watches on this same day, including the Grand Complication at 6000 Swiss Francs, trading one watch on exchange.

The Palmer Grand Complication is the only early model in pink gold, rather than the later yellow gold used. Although it was anticipated that the watch would fetch between $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 at auction in 2013, the Palmer Grand Complication eventually took $2,250,000.

On the surface, it may seem like the Patek Philippe Twenty-4 is a world away from the roaring Brazil of 1920s and 30s. However, the Twenty-4 and the fabulously famous Gondolo Gang were forever linked when the Twenty-4 drew inspiration from the Patek Philippe Gondolo wristwatch model that had been so popular in Brazil.

With such clear links to the past, it’s no surprise that the Twenty-4 takes design inspiration from the Art Deco period. The Art Deco era took its name from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels which was held in Paris in 1925. Bringing together modernist styles with craftsmanship oppulent materials, Art Deco represented a luxurious glamorous lifestyle, bursting with exuberance a new hope in technology.

Art Deco draws on many different concepts – the geometric forms of Cubism, the bright colours of Fauvism, updated ideas based on the eras of Louis Philippe Louis XVI, the exotic styles of China, Japan, India, Persia and ancient Egypt. The Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building are both examples of the Art Deco style, while the Strand Hotel and the Shell Building, near London Waterloo, are stunning London examples.

The Art Deco Story is critical to the Twenty-4 as its influence is so clearly evident within both the design and the materials used in the watches’ production. With a very defined geometric oblong design, the face of the watch is shouldered by a functional casement. However, where Patek Philippe truly excels is the dramatic way in which the watchmaker softens the Twenty-4 into a piece of sublime beauty – on two very different levels…

The Patek Philippe Twenty-4 uses the elegant beauty of diamonds to offset any Cubist influence, leaving the wearer with a stunning wristwatch that can be worn for both formal and casual occasions  – but it is also comfortable and practical enough to be worn around the clock. Launched in 1999, the Twenty-4 features a diamond set face and also comes in a range of metals, including cool steel, 18ct gold in both rose and white.

Not content with developing a gorgeous line of watches, Patek Philippe introduced a range of jewellery to complement Twenty-4 wristwatches to ensure that you can change up your watch jewellery to match the occasion.

The Twenty-4 range has a matching set of rings and diamond set earrings that add a touch of emphasis to any outfit.

The Patek Philippe Gondolo has a backstory that is as complex fascinating as the timepiece itself. The Gondolo Collection was launched in 1993 is a modern interpretation of the Art Deco style. The Gondolo’s heritage stretches back to the 1920s 1930s when Patek Philippe created the “Chronometro Gondolo” watches that were made for famous Brazilian retailer, Gondolo & Labouriau.

However, beyond simply making watches for the watch retailer, the Gondolo was responsible for the creation of one of Brazil’s most exclusive members club. Between 12 November 1872 – when Patek Philippe sold its first watch to the Rio de Janiero retailer, Gondolo & Labouriau, 1927, when the relationship ceased, around one-third of all Patek Philippe’s timepieces were sold through Gondolo & Labouriau. The watches weren’t simply sold to anyone, rather they found good homes on the wrists of the ultimate watch collecting club, the Gondolo Gang.

Membership of the Gondolo Gang in 1920s Brazil was a clear indication that you had ‘made it’. The Gondolo Gang wore Patek Philippe straw hats, enjoyed opulent outings were driven by the desire to own some of the finest watches ever made.

Patek Philippe quickly caught on to the gang’s obsession devised a selling strategy, the ‘Plano do Club Patek Philippe System’, that allowed them to purchase a watch across a 79-week period. Every member of the 180-person club would agree to the purchase of a CHF 790 watch, making a 10-Franc payment every week until the watch was paid off in full.

But it got better. Gondolo held a weekly lottery draw – one across every week of the 79 weeks – where the lucky weekly winner was released from their payment responsibilities. This meant that the first winner got a free watch the week two’s winner would only pay 10 Francs. Only 101 of the Gondolo Gang members would actually pay full price for their watch.

The hundreds of Chronometro Gondolo watches were similar in design as Gondolo & Labouriau requested four basic requirements that would set them apart from Patek Philippe’s other timepieces. Chronometer Gondolo featured:

• Gilded brass plates an S-shaped fourth wheel, patented by Patek Philippe in 1893 now considered one of the company’s hallmark designs.
• A Swiss moustache lever escapement with bi-metallic compensation
• 9k rose gold on the fourth, intermediate minute wheels of each watch
• A square socket in each of the mainspring barrels

Gondolo & Labouriau imported its last Patek Philippe in 1927 has long since gone out of business. However, the legacy still burns bright with Chronometro Gondolos generating a huge buzz of interest at auction. For those of you who can’t wait for one to come up at auction, turn your attention to the Gondolo Collection for fine Swiss timepieces inspired by an unusual Brazilian backstory.

Selling your Patek Philippe watch can be done in as little as 24 hours when you sell to Suttons and Robertsons. From expert valuation to cash or funds in your account one the same day, we welcome you to visit one of our London stores or contact us online. Selling your Patek Philippe will most likely attract a strong price, with the brand regularly on the preowned market for over £25,000.