Geneva's renown as a center for watchmaking and enameling, sustained since the 16th century, finds full justification in this breathtaking private collection of delicate gold watch cases, complicated watch innards, lifelike portrait miniatures, and softly lighted enameled fans, pens, pocket knives, snuffboxes, telescopes, and vanity pistols that shoot singing birds. Most of the objects displayed in this former watchmaking workshop are hundreds of years old; many were created in Geneva by Patek Philippe, one of the city's most venerable watchmaking companies. Meticulously restored workbenches, audiovisual displays, classical music, and a horological library complete the picture; the 2½-hour guided tour (in English at 2:30 on Saturday) puts it all in context. All signage is in English.
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