Patek Philippe Genève’s Chairman Philippe Stern is one of the 80 faces from the watch industry that features in Europa Star’s tribute to the army of men and women who work, day-in day-out, at imagining, elaborating, producing, decorating, distributing and selling watches. Europa Star, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, has decided to render a symbolic homage to all these players in the watch world, whether they are CEOs or simple artisans, creators or salespeople. There will be 80 faces among tens of thousands to be discovered throughout the year in the print magazine and on the website.

At the beginning of the 21st century, handcrafted mechanical watchmaking is already an anachronism in and of itself. And, in the economic ‘jungle’ of timekeeping, a family company such as Patek Philippe Genève (in the hands of the Stern family since 1932) is another anachronism. 
But, with these two anachronisms, Patek Philippe Genève is unanimously considered to be THE reference brand in the domain of haute horlogerie both in terms of its technology and in the quality of the workmanship. Philippe Stern , the grand ‘Lord’ of this realm is nonetheless a quiet, affable, modest, and a little bit secretive person. Although he won’t shout it from the rooftops – it is not his style – the Swiss watch industry owes him a great deal.
 Despite many obstacles, he has been able to conserve the essence of tradition while not hesitating to innovate, and even sometimes to surprise. A guardian of some of the most ‘sacred’ values of timekeeping, he did not, however, hesitate to slide silicon gears into his watches.
 An astute businessman (he is not a watchmaker by training but holds a degree in economic and commercial studies from the University of Geneva), a person well versed in the realities of the field (checking stocks and making the rounds of retailers during three years in the USA), a seasoned professional from the time spent in all the departments of the enterprise (from supplies to accounting), Stern is piloting the large vessel with the skill and science of the skipper that he is.
Having succeeded in getting rid of the somewhat ‘protestant’ image of Patek Philippe Genève, and having been the first to regroup all the brand’s activities under one roof, Philippe Stern understands how to skilfully use auctions (where Patek Philippe is the champion in all categories) to affirm the long-lasting preeminence of his brand in the global watch landscape. Among his first master strokes was the opening, in Geneva, of one of the most beautiful museums dedicated to timekeeping that has ever existed, dedicated solely to Patek Philippe Genève.