A brand identity also includes graphic elements.
Around 1880, companies began to register their factory brands, which were sometimes associated with a logo.
The first brand registration for “Patek Philippe et Compagnie” was submitted in 1882 as the acronym “PP & C°”, accompanied by a decorative calligraphic curlicue which soon disappeared again. (1)
The Calatrava Cross was registered as a logo on April 27, 1887. (2)
The registration was renewed on January 25, 1908, with the explicit mention of the designation Calatrava Cross. (3)
Six new logos were registered in 1891, of which three featured the Calatrava Cross. This may have been done to prevent counterfeiting and fraudulent use of the logo. (4)
Two of these registrations were associated with “Patek-Genève” and “Patek et Cie-Genève” although these company names were never used in this form. These logos may have been submitted for registration because Patek Philippe wanted to prevent them from being used by unauthorized third parties.
The reasons that prompted Jean-Adrien Philippe and his partners at the time (Antoine Norbert de Patek had meanwhile passed) to adopt the Calatrava Cross are not known. Quite likely, it was the pleasing form of the cross with four fleur-de-lis, which are considered to be symbols of French royalty and can also be found on the coat of arms of the village in which Jean-Adrien Philippe was born. (5)