Anyone familiar with watches knows the prestige of Patek Philippe. What makes Patek Philippe the king of watches? Is it really worth the high price tag?

Patek Philippe, for watch enthusiasts, holds a position akin to royalty in the traditional watchmaking realm.

The well-known Patek Philippe Nautilus is particularly vibrant; a stainless steel Nautilus watch can fetch prices in the millions, which is truly astonishing.

However, recently Patek Philippe made it clear that, while balancing traditional watchmaking with continued excellence in technology, it has discontinued many highly sought-after steel models.

So, what exactly is Patek Philippe good at? Let's delve into some analysis today.

1) Why is Patek Philippe the king of the watch world?

Patek Philippe's dominance in the watch world is not just a title.

It encompasses nearly all existing complications, with some watches even boasting up to 20 complications.

Among these, one of Patek Philippe's leading technical achievements is its super-complicated perpetual calendar function.

This is not only due to technical prowess but also because of Patek Philippe's history in the field of perpetual calendars.

As early as 1925, Patek Philippe released the first perpetual calendar wristwatch, establishing its position as the king of watchmaking.

2) Patek Philippe's several outstanding technologies

Perpetual Calendar Technology

Despite other watchmakers also developing perpetual calendar functions over the years, Patek Philippe remains a pioneer in this technology.

In the 1990s, Patek Philippe collaborated with the Swiss Institute of Technology to create a perpetual calendar research project, and the perpetual calendar technology designed in 1994 was patented.

Patek Philippe's perpetual calendar function is extremely stable and reliable, seen in many classic timepieces, including fashion classics, Nautilus versions, rare advanced research models, and perpetual calendar chronographs.

World Time Watches

Patek Philippe's second major technical prowess lies in world time watches, a tradition it has a long history with.

These watches not only display the time in one or two additional time zones on Earth but can simultaneously show all time zones.

While other Swiss brands can also manufacture world time watches, those created by Patek Philippe possess higher craftsmanship value, especially models like the 5231 and 5531 launched in 2019, featuring enamel dials depicting views of Lake Geneva, with a slide cleverly hidden at 9 o'clock, forming a unique style.

Minute Repeater

Watches with minute repeater function, especially the triple repeater, which chimes the current time at the press of a button, have always been a hallmark of Patek Philippe watches.

Just five months after its founding, Patek Philippe introduced its first minute repeater watch.

Although many Swiss brands produce watches with minute repeater functions, few can independently manufacture repeater movements, with most relying on externally sourced movements.

However, Patek Philippe began using its in-house minute repeater movements in 1989.

In 2014, to celebrate its 175th anniversary, the company introduced the 5175 R super-complicated wristwatch, solidifying its dominance in the field of minute repeaters.

In summary, these three complex functions are just a small part of what Patek Philippe can offer.

With its centuries-old heritage and technical prowess, Patek Philippe has created many world-renowned complicated wristwatches.

The judgment criteria for luxury goods, aside from technical capabilities, are the brand's long-standing heritage and value.

Patek Philippe's achievements are inseparable from its long history and heritage.