A QUICK OVERVIEW OF PATEK PHILIPPE IN THE TWENTIES
1922 Patek Philippe Tonneau wristwatch, movement no. 169’721
The decade after WWI was unique in history, a breeding ground for innovation and new trends that have remained even 100 years later. There were flappers, the Prohibition Era and the rise of organized crime, the introduction of women’s voting rights, the beginning of Hollywood and the idea of global celebrities, and the rise of fascism. Despite all the advances, the era ended in disaster with the Great Depression. Nonetheless, for one watch brand it was a particularly important era, one where iconic models and significant celebrity associations would take center stage.
One of Patek’s first innovations of the decade was the tonneau-shaped wristwatch it released in 1922 with its no. 169 721 movement. The case was emblematic of the Art Deco style that was rapidly rising to prominence at the time, embedding itself into the jewelry industry and into architectural design styles of the age. Moreover, Patek’s foray into wristwatches was well received by the market, as wristwatches were used extensively throughout the war and were starting to shed their ‘feminine appeal’.
The Patek Philippe Henry Graves Jr. Minute Repeater circa 1928
Two other notable models were released: the ‘Packard’ astronomical pocket watch bought by James Ward Packard in 1927 and the Henry Graves Jr. tonneau-shaped minute repeater watch which recently sold for 4,575,000 CHF in November 2019. It seems that through its association with the celebrated industrialists of the era, Patek established itself at the forefront of watch culture, becoming the brand to buy for decades to come.
Unfortunately, Patek was notably affected by the Great Depression at the end of the 1920s and ended up being sold to the Stern family in 1932. The Stern brothers had already been suppliers to Patek Philippe, and the company was taken over by Charles and Jean Stern, who would manage the brand throughout the Great Depression and lead it into a modern era, and whose descendants continue at the helm of the company to this day.
By: Andres Ibarguen