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

Rashida Kachwala (2 years ago)
Loved this museum. I wish I had more time on hand. There are some beautiful masterpieces and styles you never imagined a watch could look like. BTW, it's included in your Geneva Pass. Classy, stylish and elegant! Go for it!

Allan bahati (2 years ago)
Fabulous collection of watches, goes through the history of timekeeping. I'd advise to start on the 3rd floor, as they say, and then work your way down Also ensure you get the audio guide/ iPad. Very well thought out!

DXX MXX (2 years ago)
Incredible and beautiful. An absolute must see. I was staggered that such beautiful miniature paintings could be created 300 years ago on watch cases.

Przemysław Karczmarczyk (2 years ago)
Extraordinary museum with enormous collection of watches! Prepare yourself for several hours of visiting this place! The best option is to join a free (included in the ticket price, check the hours on their website) tour to get to know the history of the company and some interesting facts about selected watches. Amazing experience and a must see when in Geneva area!

Inés E. (2 years ago)
Loved this! One of the best experiences I had in Geneva. These are true works of art, showcasing art styles and historical landmarks in clock making. I had no idea there would be that much to be awed by (clocks are not the most mystifying thing that comes to mind usually), but there really was. Just beautiful!

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Inna_Zyu

Historic Site of the week

Kalozha Church

The Kalozha church of Saints Boris and Gleb is the oldest extant structure in Hrodna. It is the only surviving monument of ancient Black Ruthenian architecture, distinguished from other Orthodox churches by prolific use of polychrome faceted stones of blue, green or red tint which could be arranged to form crosses or other figures on the wall.

The church is a cross-domed building supported by six circular pillars. The outside is articulated with projecting pilasters, which have rounded corners, as does the building itself. The ante-nave contains the choir loft, accessed by a narrow gradatory in the western wall. Two other stairs were discovered in the walls of the side apses; their purpose is not clear. The floor is lined with ceramic tiles forming decorative patterns. The interior was lined with innumerable built-in pitchers, which usually serve in Eastern Orthodox churches as resonators but in this case were scored to produce decorative effects. For this reason, the central nave has never been painted.

The church was built before 1183 and survived intact, depicted in the 1840s by Michał Kulesza, until 1853, when the south wall collapsed, due to its perilous location on the high bank of the Neman. During restoration works, some fragments of 12th-century frescoes were discovered in the apses. Remains of four other churches in the same style, decorated with pitchers and coloured stones instead of frescoes, were discovered in Hrodna and Vaŭkavysk. They all date back to the turn of the 13th century, as do remains of the first stone palace in the Old Hrodna Castle.

In 2004, the church was included in the Tentative List of UNESCO"s World Heritage Sites.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Patek Philippe Museum

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

History of Guernsey & Jersey

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania

Cultural Landscape of Sintra, Portugal

Historic Site of the week

Kalozha Church

Looks like you are a history fan!