Musée Patek Philippe (Patek Philippe Museum), Geneva (must see)

Anthony Patek served in the Polish military until 1834. At that time he was fleeing from Russian occupation and oppression in Poland. A decorated military veteran, he was also dedicated to art and business. In 1839 he partnered with fellow immigrant refugee Franciszek Czapek to create their high-end watch making company, Patek, Czapek & Company.

In 1844, Anthony Patek met prize-winning watchmaker Adrien Philippe at the French Industrial Exposition and invited him to Geneva. Adrien became the head watchmaker of the new firm, Patek, Philippe & Company. The firm has been run by the Stern family of Geneva since 1932.

Philippe Stern, named after the famous watch, opened the Patek Philippe Museum in 2001 as a "temple to watchmaking." The museum is in a four-story restored Art Deco building located on Old-Grenadiers Street (Rue Des Vieux-Grenadiers). It is open Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

At least 2,500 watches, automata, precious objects and enamled miniatures take the museum-goer on a journey through five centuries of European watchmaking art. The exhibits are in two sections. Antiques section presents watches and enamels from the 16th to the 19 century. The Patek Philippe section showcases firm items from 1839.