Antoni Patek

Antoni Norbert Patek (14 June 1812 – 1 March 1877) was a Polish pioneer in watchmaking and the creator of Swiss watchmaker company Patek Philippe & Co., as well as a Polish independence fighter and political activist.[1]

Early life

Antoni Norbert Patek de Prawdzic was born in 1812 to a prominent family in Piaski Szlacheckie near Lublin in the Duchy of Warsaw to Anna née Piasecka and Joachim Patek of Prawdzic coat of arms. At the age of 10, Patek moved with his parents to Warsaw where his father died on 7 April 1828.

On 1 March 1828, 16-year-old Patek joined the Polish 1st Mounted Rifles Regiment. He fought in the Polish November Uprising against Russian rule during which he was wounded twice. On 27 February 1831, for his heroic attitude Patek was promoted the second lieutenant of the "1 August" brigade, and on 3 October the same year decorated with Virtuti Militari Golden Cross. After the downfall of the uprising – like many other officers and soldiers of Polish Army – he had to emigrate.

In 1832 he was engaged by general Józef Bem in organising an evacuation route for Polish insurgents through Prussia to France. He was charged with a command over a staging point in

Patek Philippe & Co.

On 1 January 1851 Patek & Co. transformed into Patek Philippe & Co. The company started mass production of pocket watches.

Both co-owners recognised perfection as their ideal, and the company gained its success thanks to principles that Antoni Patek left to his descendants:

The "Queen Victoria" (see picture ) open-face keyless-winding watch was presented to Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom during the Great Exhibition of London at Hyde Park (Crystal Palace), on 18 August 1851.

In 1868, Patek Philippe made their first wristwatch, which was sold on 13 November 1876 to the Hungarian Countess Koscowicz. They have also pioneered in perpetual calendar, chronograph and minute repeater in watches.

Looking for trade contacts Patek travelled among others to England (1847), USA (1854), and Russia (1858).

After Patek's death the company changed its owners several times; since 1929 Patek Philippe & Co. has been owned by the Stern family, but kept its original name. Patek Philippe & Co. issues collectable watches every year, and till today has remained a coveted luxury brand. Patek Philippe & Co. is the only Geneva watch manufacturer honoured with the Geneva seal. Of all the movements bearing the Geneva Seal distinction, 95% are Patek Philippe & Co. timepieces. The company does not cease in its efforts to innovate its products. Patek Philippe & Co. has been awarded more than 70 patents, since implementing in 1845 the stem winding system. The 20 most expensive wristwatches sold at auction are all from Patek Philippe & Co. The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication watch made in 1933 holds the world record for the most expensive watch—sold at auction in 1999 for more than $11 million.

The Sky Moon Tourbillon Ref 5002 is currently a renown complication timepiece. At present only 3 pieces are produced a year. Owners of these watches are selected by Patek Co as they are highly sought after. They are sold primarily to collectors rather than traders so as to avoid the flipping of watches for profits.

the quality of produced watches maintained on the highest possible level,

the ability of implementing new inventions and constructive solutions.

Political life

In 1843, Patek was naturalized in Geneva and thus acquired Swiss nationality. However, he did not cease his political activity of a Polish emigrant and did not stop in his efforts to bring his assistance to the refugees. Thus, in 1838, he supported the initiative of a group of Polish emigrants for the establishment of the "Polish Foundation", an organization of mutual aid which was founded the following year and of which he became the treasurer and one of the most active members. In May 1844, he took part in the installation of a Polish Library with a salon of lecture in Geneva. Persuaded of the need for a centralization of the organizations of Polish emigrants, he recommended to the Poles residing in Geneva to collaborate with the commission of the "Funds of Polish Emigration" and the Polish Library in Paris. In the years 1843, 1845 and 1847 he requested the support of prince Adam Jerzy Czartoryski for this society. On 18 May 1846, Patek adhered to the Polish Democratic Society of Lyon and, during the Spring of Nations in 1848, he went secretly to Frankfurt am Main to propose there, at the time of the meeting on 6 March of Dozór Polski, the convocation of the Polish Parliament in exile.

The political activities of Patek during the January Uprising in 1863 [2] were described by Julian Aleksander Bałaszewicz, writing under the pseudonym of Albert Potocki. After the crushing of the insurrection, Patek brought his assistance to the refugees arriving to Geneva and maintained the relations with the Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, (Polish: Zmartwychwstańcy), in Paris. Thereafter, the pope Pius IX conferred on Patek the title of a count, in recognition of the services rendered as well as an active Catholic, as within the community of the Polish emigrants. Unfortunately, the files of the Vatican do not preserve documents providing information about the date and the nature of this distinction.

Antoni Patek died in Geneva and was buried in a local cemetery in Chatelaine.

birth name	Antoni Norbert Patek
birth date	June 14, 1812
birth place	Piaski Szlacheckie, Duchy of Warsaw
death date	March 1, 1877
death place	Geneva, Switzerland
resting place	Cemetery of Châtelaine
occupation	watchmaker, political activist
known for	founding Patek Philippe & Co.
awards	Virtuti Militari (1831)

Early life

Patek, Czapek & Co. (1839–1845)

Patek & Co. (1845–1851)

Patek Philippe & Co.

Political life

External links

References