Patek Philippe was founded in 1839 in Geneva, Switzerland, by Antoni Patek, a Polish watchmaker. In 1845, Adrien Philippe, the French inventor of the keyless winding mechanism, joined the company. The brand officially became Patek Philippe & Co. in 1851.

Today, Patek Philippe remains headquartered in Geneva, is renowned for its craftsmanship and complications, and is still independently owned by the Stern family since 1932.