A Geneva-based watch company founded in 1839 by Polish immigrants Antoni Patek and Franciszek Czapek. Czapek, the watchmaker, was replaced by Frenchman Adrien Philippe after leaving the company in 1845. In 1932 the company was purchased by Charles and Jean Stern. The current president is Thierry Stern as of 2009.
Patek Philippe was the first to include a perpetual calendar, which premiered in 1941, and minute-repeater in watches.