Luxury watch brand Patek Philippe is celebrating its 175th anniversary with a special exhibition, "Patek Philippe: Timepieces Through History," held at the Meiji Jingu Gaien Museum of Art from January 17th to 19th. A reception party was held on the 16th prior to the event. Thierry Stern, president of the Swiss headquarters, who visited Japan, said, "For 175 years, we have been a family-run company that has been passionately producing watches. We hope that many people will come to Japan to see these many timepieces." Plans are currently underway for a commemorative event to be held in Geneva in November. The event featured a saxophonist and dance performance, and singer Ryuichi Kawamura, known as a Patek Philippe enthusiast, performed his original song, "Colors of Time," composed specifically for the occasion. The piece pays homage to the beautiful sound of the Patek Philippe Minute Repeater, a signature model owned by the artist himself.
This special exhibition also commemorates the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Switzerland and Japan, and features approximately 100 timepieces (mechanical watches) beloved by many historical figures, including Queen Victoria of England and Tchaikovsky, alongside masterpieces from the Meiji Memorial Art Gallery. Also on display are the "Juroku-Kikyo (16-chrysanthemum) Imperial Crest Pocket Watch," which is said to have had 16 chrysanthemums engraved in Japan, and the manuscript and published version of "Beio-O Kairan Jikki," edited by Kume Kunitake, which records the visit of the Patek Philippe factory in Switzerland by the Iwakura Tomomi delegation during their tour of 12 European and American countries.
【Event Information】
Patek Philippe Exhibition - Timepieces through History-
Dates: January 17th to 19th
Venue: Meiji Jingu Gaien Shotoku Memorial Art Gallery
Address: 1-1 Kasumigaoka-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Admission: On the day: 500 yen for adults, 200 yen for elementary, junior high and high school students; Advance: 400 yen *Free for preschool children; Free for holders of a disability certificate and one caregiver
