Patek Philippe Museum, Geneva, Switzerland

Patek Phillipe Museum is noble and prestigious private museum mapping the history of luxury watchmaking, since 16th century up to present. Huge collection of precious clocks and watches make the visit of museum artistic experience.

Antoni Patek was Polish watchmaking pioneer, who settled in Switzerland in 1834, after career in millitary. Interested in art and trading, with good connections in Paris, he soon got into luxury watch trading and watch production. In 1839, Patek together with his partner Franciszek Czapek, (who was also Polish immigrant) created their first watchmaking company, Patek, Czapek & Co.

In 1844, Adrien Philippe presented his invention of mechanism for watches on the French Industrial Exposition, which won him the first price. There he met Antoni Patek, who invited him to Geneva and soon employed him as the head watchmaker of the now renamed company, Patek, Philippe & Co, entitling him for 1/3rd of the profits.

Switzerland, and especially Geneva region were already at these thimes the hub for high-quality watchmaking. Patek, Philippe & Co merged swiss precision with beautiful decorative making, creating one of the most ultra-luxury watchmaking brand in the world.

Because of the prestigious artistic work and high accuracy of time measurement, they soon become world most popular high-end watches and clocks, reassuring the trend of high quality swiss clocks fame.

References:

Geneva Info

Museums in Switzerland

User Reviews

Gelyn Elizalde (6 months ago)
It was a nice experience and great insight to watch making. I took advantage of the free access during Saturdays. It has 3 floors of extensive watch collections and provides in depth history of each timeline. It is a must place to visit in Geneva!

Andres Barrera (6 months ago)
Worth the visit! A very interesting collection of watches that tell the story of how the gadget evolved to what it is today

Mohamed Negama (9 months ago)
My gift for Christmas ????so beautiful

Jeanne Stewart (11 months ago)
Fantastic. Utterly blew me away. If you love design, art, jewelry and anything with gears ...go and go for as long as you possibly can. Though they can fine-tune the movie a little, and they will hopefully add the iPad system for other floors, I will definitely be back..many times.

michal frade (13 months ago)
The museum's name can be misleading as this is not only about Patek Philip but a whole floor is dedicated to the history of watchmaking. This museum showcases the most exhaustive collection featuring all the movements from since the start of watchmaking, especially emphasizing the works Abraham Louis Breguet and John Harrison. One can appreciate all these works with your own eyes, all the important movements that shaped the industry and brought us to where we are today. Understandably, one area of the museum is dedicated to the greatest Patek watches. It's a magical place for a watch collector and for anybody who is interested in the history of watchmaking and the mechanical geniuses who pioneered the science of portable timekeeping. Thousands of watches from over hundreds of years. Recommend doing the guided tour.

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Historic Site of the week

Veste Coburg

The Veste Coburg is one of Germany's largest castles. The hill on which the fortress stands was inhabited from the Neolithic to the early Middle Ages according to the results of excavations. The first documentary mention of Coburg occurs in 1056, in a gift by Richeza of Lotharingia. Richeza gave her properties to Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne, to allow the creation of Saalfeld Abbey in 1071. In 1075, a chapel dedicated to Saint Peter and Saint Paul is mentioned on the fortified Coberg. This document also refers to a Vogt named Gerhart, implying that the local possessions of the Saalfeld Benedictines were administered from the hill.

A document signed by Pope Honorius II in 1206 refers to a mons coburg, a hill settlement. In the 13th century, the hill overlooked the town of Trufalistat (Coburg's predecessor) and the important trade route from Nuremberg via Erfurt to Leipzig. A document dated from 1225 uses the term schloss (palace) for the first time. At the time, the town was controlled by the Dukes of Merania. They were followed in 1248 by the Counts of Henneberg who ruled Coburg until 1353, save for a period from 1292-1312, when the House of Ascania was in charge.

In 1353, Coburg fell to Friedrich, Markgraf von Meißen of the House of Wettin. His successor, Friedrich der Streitbare was awarded the status of Elector of Saxony in 1423. As a result of the Hussite Wars the fortifications of the Veste were expanded in 1430.

Early modern times through Thirty Years' War

In 1485, in the Partition of Leipzig, Veste Coburg fell to the Ernestine branch of the family. A year later, Elector Friedrich der Weise and Johann der Beständige took over the rule of Coburg. Johann used the Veste as a residence from 1499. In 1506/07, Lucas Cranach the Elder lived and worked in the Veste. From April to October 1530, during the Diet of Augsburg, Martin Luther sought protection at the Veste, as he was under an Imperial ban at the time. Whilst he stayed at the fortress, Luther continued with his work translating the Bible into German. In 1547, Johann Ernst moved the residence of the ducal family to a more convenient and fashionable location, Ehrenburg Palace in the town centre of Coburg. The Veste now only served as a fortification.

In the further splitting of the Ernestine line, Coburg became the seat of the Herzogtum von Sachsen-Coburg, the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg. The first duke was Johann Casimir (1564-1633), who modernized the fortifications. In 1632, the fortress was unsuccessfully besieged by Imperial and Bavarian forces commanded by Albrecht von Wallenstein for seven days during the Thirty Years' War. Its defence was commanded by Georg Christoph von Taupadel. On 17 March 1635, after a renewed siege of five months' duration, the Veste was handed over to the Imperials under Guillaume de Lamboy.

17th through 19th centuries

From 1638-72, Coburg and the Veste were part of the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg. In 1672, they passed to the Dukes of Saxe-Gotha and in 1735 it was joined to the Duchy of Saxe-Saalfeld. Following the introduction of Primogeniture by Duke Franz Josias (1697-1764), Coburg went by way of Ernst Friedrich (1724-1800) to Franz (1750-1806), noted art collector, and to Duke Ernst III (1784-1844), who remodeled the castle.

In 1826, the Duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha was created and Ernst now styled himself 'Ernst I'. Military use of the Veste had ceased by 1700 and outer fortifications had been demolished in 1803-38. From 1838-60, Ernst had the run-down fortress converted into a Gothic revival residence. In 1860, use of the Zeughaus as a prison (since 1782) was discontinued. Through a successful policy of political marriages, the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha established links with several of the major European dynasties, including that of the United Kingdom.

20th century

The dynasty ended with the reign of Herzog Carl Eduard (1884-1954), also known as Charles Edward, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a grandson of Queen Victoria, who until 1919 also was the 2nd Duke of Albany in the United Kingdom. Under his rule, many changes made to the Veste in the 19th century were reversed under architect Bodo Ebhardt, with the aim of restoring a more authentic medieval look. Along with the other ruling princes of Germany, Carl Eduard was deposed in the revolution of 1918-1919. After Carl Eduard abdicated in late 1918, the Veste came into possession of the state of Bavaria, but the former duke was allowed to live there until his death. The works of art collected by the family were gifted to the Coburger Landesstiftung, a foundation, which today runs the museum.

In 1945, the Veste was seriously damaged by artillery fire in the final days of World War II. After 1946, renovation works were undertaken by the new owner, the Bayerische Verwaltung der staatlichen Schlösser, Gärten und Seen.

Today

The Veste is open to the public and today houses museums, including a collection art objects and paintings that belonged to the ducal family of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, a large collection of arms and armor, significant examples of early modern coaches and sleighs, and important collections of prints, drawings and coins.

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