Inaugurated in Geneva and opened to the public in November 2001, the Patek Philippe Museum has met with great success amongst visitors from Geneva and the rest of the world.
Since its opening, more than 45,000 visitors have come to admire its numerous horological treasures. An open doors event organised in March 2005 welcomed one thousand visitors in just a single day. This fall, the Museum is hosting its first thematic exhibition dedicated to special Patek Philippe timepieces that belonged to royalty or other heads of states.

Timepieces for Royalty – 1850-1910 – by Patek Philippe

In following a well-established tradition, the rulers – Popes, monarchs, and other heads of states – of many countries referred to the best watchmaking manufacturers or to their local retailers to provide themselves with timepieces either for their personal use or to be offered as “presentation gifts”.

Due to the quality of its products, which comprised a myriad of technical and aesthetic innovations, and to its presence at numerous Universal Exhibitions, the Geneva watch manufacturer, founded in 1839, acquired a reputation of excellence answering to a wellinformed clientele. It is interesting to note that Patek Philippe never exploited the fact of being supplier to royalty as a publicity campaign but, instead, boasted the rewards obtained during the large industrial exhibitions and as of 1875, of frequently being “Member of the Jury”, the supreme distinction.

These historically significant watches were frequently decorated with armorial bearings, initials, dedications, or portraits which were finely engraved, chiselled, enamelled or set with precious stones. The timepieces known as “presentation watches” were equally beautiful and generally ordered by sovereigns in view of being offered as diplomatic presents to important visitors or to be given to their subjects as a testimony of gratitude in recognition of bravery or loyalty. The Patek Philippe Museum collections in Geneva comprise some of these important timepieces.

From Queen Victoria to Czar Nicholas II

Manufactured between 1850 and World War I, the watches presented in this first thematic exhibition have a direct association with the crowned heads or descendants of royal blood of old Europe and more distant regions. From Queen Victoria to Czar Nicholas II of Russia, the timepieces that belonged to royalty are today the exceptional, sometimes intimate, testimonies of the lives of their owners. The ensemble is completed by pieces which have a connection with contemporary Popes and is enriched with some watches on loan from private collectors.







A brilliant showcase of the tradition of excellence

Reflecting the tradition of excellence of Geneva watchmaking, the Patek Philippe Museum presents around 2500 exceptional timepieces, automata, miniature portraits on enamel, and rare exhibits which trace a fantastic journey through five hundred years of European horology; at the same time, they showcase the 166-year heritage of a watchmaker which connoisseurs agree is the finest in the world. The collection, which continues to grow, consists of two complementary sections. One is dedicated to rare timepieces from Europe and mostly Geneva prior to 1839, the other is devoted exclusively to Patek Philippe watches, spanning the workshops’ history from its beginnings to the present day. The Museum, set in the heart of the city of Geneva, offers four entire floors of horological marvels.

Antique tools, precious archives and a specialised library

On the ground floor of the Museum, a nostalgic scene re-creates the noble atmosphere of watchmaking workshops of a bygone age, just as they were used by watchmakers, jewellers, engravers and enamellers, with a collection of over 500 antique tools and machines. A watchmaker specialised in the restoration of antique watches works in a glassed-in cabinet recalling those of the original Genevese cabinotiers.

On the third floor, visitors can discover eight glass cases of Patek Philippe archives, a horological library containing over 8,000 works, and a faithful re-creation of the office of Mr. Henri Stern (1911-2002), father of the firm’s current President.

A prestigious collection from the 16th century until today

On the second floor of the Museum, the antique collection spans the first three centuries of the horological art, through 1,000 of the most significant pieces of Genevese and European heritage, musical automata and other technical wonders, together with a splendid collection of miniature portraits on enamel, created by the great Geneva masters.

Watches had existed for almost three centuries and a half when Patek Philippe was founded in Geneva in 1839. In just a few years, the Genevese firm acquired a reputation for excellence.
Through 166 years of uninterrupted production it has built on that reputation, which continues to flourish to this day. On the first floor of the Museum, the Patek Philippe collection retraces the history – filled with technical and aesthetic innovations and illustrated by over 1,000 exceptional timepieces – of the most creative watchmaking firm of our times.


“Timepieces for Royalty – 1850-1910 – by Patek Philippe”
Thematic Exhibition of the Patek Philippe Museum

DATES
From 21 October until 30 December 2005

OPENING HOURS
Tuesday - Friday : 2 pm – 5 pm
Saturday : 10 am – 5 pm
Closed on national holidays
Opening hours until 9 pm on Tuesday 1st, 15th and 29th of November 2005

GUIDED TOURS AND OTHER INFORMATION
Multilingual guided tours of “Timepieces for Royalty – 1850-1910 – by Patek Philippe” on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 2.30 pm and 3.30 pm.

During the late opening hours of November, guided tours at 6.30 pm in French and 7.30 pm in English.

For more information, please refer to www.patekmuseum.com or contact the Museum at [email protected] or at + 41 (0)22 807 09 10 during opening hours.

EXHIBITION CATALOGUE
On sale at the Patek Philippe Museum or available at www.patekmuseum.com.

PATEK PHILIPPE MUSEUM
Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers, 7
CH – 1205 Geneva
Tel. + 41 (0)22 807 09 10
Fax + 41 (0)22 807 09 20


www.patekmuseum.com

Contact: [email protected]
(Please credit europastar.com)