Patek Philippe Museum

Inaugurated in November 2001, the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva houses one of the world’s most important and prestigious horological collections.

Some 2,500 watches, automata, precious objects and portrait miniatures on enamel invite the visitor on a fabulous voyage through five centuries of Genevan, Swiss and European horological art, as well as proposing a panoramic view of Patek Philippe’s production since 1839. The museum also has a library with over 8000 publications on time and time measurement.

The Patek Philippe Museum was born of a man’s passion for horology. That man is Philippe Stern, honorary president of the Geneva manufacture, who little by little built up one of today’s most extraordinary horological collections. In doing so, he intended to share his love of the watchmaking art, communicate the splendor of Geneva’s high-watchmaking tradition and ensure that this cultural heritage would be handed down to future generations.

Rather than a museum devoted to a single brand, the Patek Philippe Museum is unique in that it offers the chance to discover five centuries of horological heritage, as well as the significance for all the decorative arts traditionally associated with watchmaking – engraving, enameling, gemsetting, guilloché work etc.

The collections are divided into two complementary sections: The Antiques Collection and the Patek Philippe Collection.

A fascinating presentation of Genevese, Swiss and European watches and enamels dating from the 16th to the early 19th century, including a great number of masterpieces that have left their mark on the history of horology.

An evocative showcase of watches designed and created by Patek Philippe since its foundation in 1839 up to the present day, testifying to more than 175 years of creativity in the production of pocket watches and wristwatches.

The Patek Philippe Museum finally greeted the world in a magnificent industrial building dating from 1919–1920. Acquired by Patek Philippe in 1975 to house Ateliers Réunis - a production unit making cases, bracelets and chains - the building was left vacant in 1996 when these activities moved to the new manufacturing premises in Plan-les-Ouates.

Philippe Stern decided that this was where he would present his collection. Between 1999 and 2001 the structure was fully restored, adding an additional floor.

Mr. Stern’s wife Gerdi oversaw the interior decoration, her aim being to give the rooms the warmth and intimacy of a private residence.

In November 2001, the Patek Philippe Museum collections were at last unveiled, in surroundings worthy of their technical, artistic, aesthetic, historical and scientific value.