Patek Philippe was originally established in 1839 as Patek, Czapek & Cie, which was founded by Antoni Patek and Francois Czapek. The brand was liquidated in 1845 after a disagreement, and Patek partnered with watchmaker Adrien Philippe within the same year. The company name was rebranded as Patek, Philippe & Cie by 1851.
The Stern family has owned the brand since 1932, and is currently located in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland.
Rare Handcrafts “Formula One Car”
The Calatrava “Formula One Car” (ref. 5077/355G) was released by Patek Philippe as part of its Rare Handcrafts editions in 2023. The enamel dial features a Formula 1 car, a diamond and ruby-set bezel, white gold case, and limited to 10 pieces. Despite the name, there is unlikely any official licensing involved.
Also included that year was the Calatrava 1948 Nations Grand Prix (ref. 5189G-001), which commemorated an event from just prior to the dawn of Formula 1. It had a limited run of six pieces.
Patek Philippe Rare Handcrafts is an annual showcase of traditional decorative arts that are applied to various forms of timepieces, aiming to preserve traditional and declining artisanal skills. The 2023 exhibit was held at the brand’s Geneva salon from April 1 to 15, following that year’s Watches & Wonders.
References
https://www.instagram.com/patekworld_/reel/C-sMS2ptenH/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DO3gC_GjBga/
https://chronocollectible.com/blog/the-patek-philippe-rare-handcrafts-treasure-racing-cars
https://watchbase.com/patek-philippe/calatrava/5189g-001
https://www.watchprosite.com/patek-philippe/rare-handcrafts-automotive-theme/11.1534966.14957426/
https://monochrome-watches.com/the-patek-philippe-rare-handcrafts-2023-exhibition-starts-on-april-1st-in-geneva/
https://www.patek.com/en/manufacture/artisans-of-time/rare-handcrafts