What is the quintessential Patek Philippe watch? Some will say the answer is simple; it is the Nautilus. Because of how globally sought-after it is, how fascinating its origin story is, and how it is in some ways (for better or for worse), even bigger than Patek Philippe itself.
Others will say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, it has got to be a minute repeater. Because Patek Philippe minute repeaters are so rare, so worshipped and so exclusive, that only selected customers of the Manufacture are allowed to acquire one. These are also known as application watches because in order to get one, you'd have to apply for it through a Patek Philippe distributor and hope your credentials as a watch collector convince the Manufacture that you do deserve to own a Patek Philippe minute repeater.
Others believe that it has to be the annual calendar—or any combination of complications that include it. Because Patek Philippe literally invented the annual
