She lived nine human lives, each lasting 110 years. Nigh on a thousand years. Virgil, Ovid and Petronius sang about her. Botticelli and Raphael, among many others, painted her. Michelangelo found space for her on the Sistine Chapel ceiling, alongside two angels and two prophetic books.

Colourful lights wink at passers-by in Lisbon’s streets and alleyways. With enticing words and artistic features these signs of yesteryear are disappearing by the day, with the onslaught of building works that erase memories and the dust of another time, forever lost.

The Tagus River is clad in silver this afternoon, as Lisbon parades past Kukas’s window. She’s no longer the girl she was when she arrived in the Castelo neighbourhood, the capital’s oldest. This is where the local women laid out their dripping clothes on the pavement, while whispering that she must be a tourist.

If we look at the rankings, Patek Philippe is placed fourth or fifth among the big watchmaking brands. That said, if you talk to collectors or keep an eye on the major auction houses, there's no doubt who comes first. From humble beginnings to worldwide respect, this is the story of a fascinating brand.