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Patek Philippe Corner
For those who love Paek Philippe, we publish the introduction of "Collecting Patek Philippe Wristwatches", written by Arnaud Tellier. This edition is sold out and represents today a collectable item.
In 2004, as the Genevan auction house Antiquorum celebrates its thirtieth anniversary, its founder Osvaldo Patrizzi presents “Collecting Patek Philippe Wristwatches”. This new 2-volume book is exclusively devoted to the wristwatches of Patek Philippe.
Although this panoramic overview does not pretend to be exhaustive, it faithfully reflects the range of watches conceived, developed, and produced by Patek Philippe in Geneva since its founding in 1839, with particular attention being given to the 20th century.
Horological pieces have been sought-after and collected for over five centuries. Although during the 16th and 17th centuries only the world’s elite could boast of possessing rare and costly timekeepers in their «cabinets de curiosités», over time the passion for horology has become more and more popular.
With close to five hundred years of horological history, many collections have been constituted, some specialized, others more general in nature. The wealth of horological pieces has allowed all collectors to satisfy their passion according to their means, or to the means that each was willing and able to devote to his collection.
Prices have risen - and sometimes fallen - based on the technical or esthetic value of a watch, its rarity or state of conservation; fashion, and occasionally speculation, have also played a role.
Toward the late 70s and early 80s, the world of collecting was again revolutionized, with the emergence of the wristwatch market. Twenty-five years ago, when Osvaldo Patrizzi «dared» to offer a wristwatch at auction, it was almost impossible to imagine how quickly this new type of collection would develop, engendering a remarkably active market, and one which is growing daily.
The perspective and the knowledge that have been gained over this quarter century of commercial activity and historical research have led to the publication of countless auction catalogues and many historical studies. We now have a sufficient grasp of the production of the various Swiss
watchmaking firms to be familiar with the wristwatches they designed and produced.
Several excellent books have been devoted to the Patek Philippe Company, among them the superb monographies of Martin Huber and Alan Banbery, one devoted to pocket watches and the other to wristwatches. With “Collecting Patek Philippe Wristwatches”, featuring many new photographs and documents provided by the catalogues of Antiquorum, Osvaldo Patrizzi has contributed a remarkable addition and complement to the above-mentioned books. In it he again demonstrates the clairvoyance of his judgement, after having been the first to allow lovers of fine horology to collect watches they could wear on their wrists.
Arnaud Tellier
Director of the Patek Philippe Museum
Geneva, January 25, 2004
