Patek Philippe has created a new quality benchmark for its mechanical timepieces: the Patek Philippe Seal. This new emblem of horological excellence goes beyond any existing standards of the Swiss watch industry. Uniquely, the Patek Philippe Seal applies to the completely assembled watch as delivered to its owner. In conjunction with these standards, the Seal represents a commitment to lifelong servicing and restoration for all timepieces created by us since 1839.

By integrating knowledge, innovation and technical developments, the Patek Philippe Seal guarantees the enduring quality of our timepieces.

As a family-owned company, we are the only guardians of this quality. The Patek Philippe Seal is further evidence that we will never compromise the integrity of our watches. We value the support and trust of our clients and therefore with this Seal we ensure that our watches continue to be appreciated and enjoyed for generations to come.

PHILIPPE STERN THIERRY STERN
President, Vice President,
Patek Philippe Patek Philippe

THE PATEK PHILIPPE SEAL: SYMBOL OF A WORLD IN WHICH THE EXCEPTIONAL BECOMES THE RULE.

Patek Philippe not only consummately masters all horological challenges but is also unanimously appreciated for the exceptional quality and reliability of its timekeeping instruments. The company is a complete, vertically integrated manufacture that develops and produces its movements, cases, and most key exterior elements in-house. As an independent, privately owned business, Patek Philippe has always defined its own quality criteria, recognized by the entire watchmaking community as the strictest ever compiled.

To communicate these rigorous criteria and guarantee that they are respected, Patek Philippe has created a proprietary seal of quality.

The Patek Philippe Seal is a comprehensive emblem of excellence that applies to the completed and fully cased watch. It covers the movement, the case, the dial, the hands, the pushers and buttons, the straps and bracelets, the buckles and clasps, as well as all other components that contribute to the accuracy and aesthetic appeal of the watches. It takes technical, functional, and design-related aspects into account and also covers the visual appearance of the watch, its rate accuracy and dependability, as well as the quality of the customer service to which its owner is entitled. It encompasses the entire know-how and the unique facets that govern the development, production, and long-term maintenance of an exceptional timepiece.

The production of a Patek Philippe timepiece supersedes all conventional standards. Every single detail is taken into consideration to achieve the best conceivable result with respect to quality, beauty, rate accuracy, and reliability. All the elements of a timepiece – including the movement, the inside and outside of the case, the dial, push pieces, and crowns, etc. – must be crafted to perfection and immaculately finished.

True to all horological skills and abilities accrued by Patek Philippe, the watches are developed, produced, and completed in compliance with the best principles of traditional watchmaking prowess.

The appearance of all watch components is systematically assessed throughout the entire manufacturing process. Finished watches are subject to 100% scrutiny.

In the course of various levels of completion, the rate accuracy of Patek Philippe watches is tested in both raw and fully cased movements. The final check of rate accuracy is performed with kinetic simulators and the results must be in line with the following Patek Philippe precision benchmarks:

- For calibers with diameters of 20 mm or more, the rate accuracy must lie within the range of -3 and +2 seconds per 24 hours.
- For calibers with diameters of less than 20 mm, the rate accuracy must lie within the range of -5 and +4 seconds per 24 hours.

The sound of all minute repeaters is tested with acoustic instrumentation and then must be approved by Messrs. Stern. The acoustic signatures of all watches have been archived since 2003.

Regardless of the intensity of deburring and polishing operations, the form and aspect of all parts (movement and exterior elements) must be preserved. Every finished case and bracelet, no matter how complex its geometry or which finissage methods are applied, must reflect the underlying design template. Sharp edges will not be tolerated.

The finished watches shall be as thin as possible under consideration of all measures implemented to optimize their technical performance and their energy efficiency.

Elegant forms, noble materials, superb finishes, and sublime decoration techniques: the sophistication of the exterior elements of a Patek Philippe timepiece must reflect the immaculacy of the movement inside. They must be eminently functional and assure the ultimate in comfort and convenience. Numerous inspections performed in the course of all manufacturing phases guarantee that high-end technologies and traditional artisanal talents are consummately mastered.

Diamonds must comply with strict quality criteria, be internally flawless, conform to the Top Wesselton color specifications, and exhibit an immaculate cut. Only the right proportions, impeccable symmetry, and perfect faceting will bring out the brilliance and fire of diamonds.

All precious stones must be set vertically, axially parallel, and in the same height. Each stone must be securely set.

All stones are set in line with the master jeweler’s art and never adhesively bonded.

The applied numerals and/or markers are made of gold and mechanically secured to guarantee maximum longevity. The hands are crafted from gold. Other hand materials are allowed only if special technical or aesthetic considerations so require.

Displays are always configured in ways that assure optimized legibility. This applies to paved dials as well.

To qualify for the Patek Philippe Seal, a movement must fulfill many strict requirements with respect to its technical assets and its finissage. Compliance with this criterion results in masterpieces that are admired by knowledgeable connoisseurs for their outstanding functionality, long-term reliability, superior rate accuracy, and peerless beauty.

The flanks of steel parts must be satin-finished, their angles and sinks polished. The visible surfaces must be smoothed except for the regulator assembly, which must be polished. Screw heads must be polished or circular grained, their circumferences and slots chamfered.

The bearing jewels in every movement must have polished holes, especially in going trains as well as in specific self-winding wheel trains and escapements. The jewels on the bridge side must be rounded and have polished sinks except in cases where this would jeopardize their secure fit. In addition to bearing jewels, all systems that improve the rotation of pivots are permissible.

All exterior surfaces of the spring barrel and barrel cover as well as the ratchet, the crown wheel, and all round components must be meticulously finished.

The tooth flanks of steel wheels are to be polished with wooden wheels.

The upper sides of all bridges must be decorated and provided with polished chamfers and sinks. The undersides and flanks of the bridges must be meticulously finished. The contact surfaces are precision-machined and have angled edges.

The surfaces of the main and any secondary plates are decorated with circular graining. The full-height plate cut-outs are chamfered, the sinks polished.

The balance spring must be mechanically attached in a manner that assures perfect truth in the flat and in the round. The attachment must guarantee that the spring withstands shocks pursuant to the NIHS standard.

Rate accuracy adjustments must act on the inertia of the balance wheel assembly. Regulators with index pointers or slots are also permitted if they incorporate a steadying device, except in ultra-thin calibers where such regulators are not required. In conventional balance wheels, the rim must be chamfered and diamond-polished. The spokes must be sandblasted or circular grained on the top side. The spokes and the rim must be meticulously finished on the bottom side.

The winding rotors must be made of a precious metal and shall be decorated.

Individuals who own a timepiece with the Patek Philippe Seal can rest assured that for its entire lifetime, their watch is backed by a global service organization which measures up to the same standards of excellence as the product itself – in every respect. The unlimited validity of this promise is rooted in the philosophy behind an instrument made to last, a watch acquired not only for personal gratification but one destined to be handed down to future generations.

Honoring the criteria of excellence for which the Patek Philippe Seal stands, the company’s International Customer Service is devoted to maintaining and restoring all Patek Philippe watches ever made since 1839.

Patek Philippe strives to stock all original parts of movements and/or cases and to replace them only if all other options have been exhausted.

The Authorized Service Centers employ technical experts who undergo permanent training by Patek Philippe and have an in-depth understanding of the specific features of the manufacture’s watches. The multi-level training curricula are progressively more complex and last at least four weeks. The sessions take place at Patek Philippe training centers.