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TIME TRAVEL

Eight must-visit watch museums in switzerland.

There are, of course, many reasons to visit Switzerland, but if you are into watches, a Swiss trip should feel a bit like Heaven on Earth (for you, that is; perhaps not for your fellow travelers who don’t share your passion equally). Along with the many great watch shopping (and window shopping) opportunities, Switzerland is also, as you would expect, home to many great watch museums. Unfortunately, some of the most fascinating collections are “by appointment only” and therefore require a bit of planning ahead (as with the museums of Longines, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, etc.). In this article, we introduce you primarily to some of the most interesting Swiss watch museums that all have regular visiting hours. Here are my top eight:

MIH – The Musée international d’Horlogerie in La ChaMusée international d’Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fondsux-de-Fonds houses one of the world’s largest and diverse collections of watches and clocks. It is open six days a week from 10 AM to 5 PM (closed on Monday) and offers the perfect start to your Swiss watch museum pilgrimage:  www.mih.ch

Musée d’Horlogerie du Locle , Château des Monts – Not far from the MIH, you’ll find a smaller museum in a breathtaking building located in Le Locle. During winter, the museum is only open in the afternoon, so make sure to check out the website first. http://www.mhl-monts.ch/

Omega Museum in Bienne – On your way back from La Chaux-de-Fonds, a stop at the Omega museum is a must. Since October 2019, the brand’s museum is housed in a striking steel, glass and Swiss timber building designed by award-winning architect Shigeru Ban. Visitors can even unleash their inner Olympian on a 9m running track (make sure you visit the Swatch museum in the same building as well) and discover almost everything that is related to the brand. Plus, admission is free and it is even open on Saturdays and Sundays. http://www.omegamuseum.com/

Neues Museum in Bienne – While in Bienne, check out the incredible (and quite often overlooked) collection of the Neues Museum – this is a close as you can get to visiting a Rolex museum. And there is a lot to learn about the city’s watchmaking past.  http://www.nmbiel.ch

Espace Horloger in Le Sentier – offering a modern approach to everything related to watchmaking, the Espace Horloger is located in the Vallée de Joux and open from Tuesday through Sunday (only in the afternoons). http://www.espacehorloger.ch/

Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva: Even though you are, unfortunately, not allowed to take pictures here, we still encourage you not to leave Switzerland before seeing this unforgettable collection. http://www.patekmuseum.com/

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich (currently closed): Since you’ll most likely end up in Zurich earlier or later, make sure to visit Beyer’s small but exquisite collection in the basement of its retail store (it’s often described as the world’s leading private museums dedicated to horology). It is open in the afternoon only, and we recommend booking a guided tour or talking to the friendly staff: http://www.beyer-ch.com/en/museum/portrait/portrait-museum.html

IWC Museum in Schaffhausen: Only about 40 minutes from Zurich, you will find IWC’s own museum. It offers a unique collection of watches related to either the brand or the region. The museum tour is probably best combined with a tour of the manufacture (which requires a bit of planning). http://www.iwc.com/en/about/museum/

I have a picture of a watch factory in Switzerland that has Hamilton on front side of building and A. Huguenin FILS S. A. Can you tell me anything about it?

It’s my husbands 50th 2020 and he would love to visit all the museums as his knowledge is outstanding and would love too see them first hand

I am interested in the Rolex museum and Piaget museum any tips ?

On a trip to Switzerland a few years ago I was fortunate to be able to tour the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva. It was a high point point of my trip, the collection is is an inspiration to any fine watch collector. This museum should not be missed by anyone interested in fine workmanship, history, beauty or intricate design. I now need to return to Switzerland to visit the other museums on this list.

we are coming to Switzerland for a holiday in Sep. Will be arriving in Zurich, Where we can find a watch factory and a Museum,

Anand, closest are Beyer and IWC.

Can anyone recommend the best place to see a comprehensive vintage Rolex collection on display?

That would be Neues Museum in Bienne in my opinion.

These are the great places to visit. Thanks for sharing this information.

Cool article

Nice article. There is a typo for the name La Chaux-de-Fond above.

Thanks for noticing, looks like a copy paste error.

My all times favorite, Patek Philippe Museum…But of course they are all “must-visit” indeed.

We will be traveling to Switzerland Dec 17 to Dec 28. Will musems be open then?

Does Zenith have a watch tour and museum? Thanks

Is their a Zenith museum?

Thank you so much for your insight Roger. I am travelling to Switzerland from Canada this fall with my family and you have helped me narrow my choices with your insider list. I always wondered which watch museums would the Warch Time Team recommend. Keep up the great work! Love my all access subscription.

You can also book a visit to the TAG Heuer museum at your local boutiques.

Would really like to Visit The museum

Thanks a lot for the information on Watch Museums of Switzerland!

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A Traveler’s Guide Through 7 Swiss Watch Museums

Every year for the past several years, I’ve had the privilege of visiting Basel, Switzerland during the  BaselWorld watch show . Walking the halls, eating the sausages outside under the giant dome amongst thousands of sharply dressed people, drinking cocktails that cost 27CHF a piece, and just basking in the luxury and prestige of it all. This year  all of that was cancelled, and for reasons other than COVID, it seems like BaselWorld as we knew it is now, sadly a thing of the past. 

Of course, most years we didn’t actually stay in Basel, but rather in smaller towns within an hour drive of the city. The hotels and AirBNBs in Basel, Switzerland book up over a year in advance, and the prices are hiked incredibly high for any spaces that still remain open. The great thing about Switzerland--ahem, ONE of the many great things about Switzerland is that it’s a small country where you can drive literally everywhere. In one day you can explore Switzerland in the car from top to bottom or left to right, and still have plenty of time to stop for croissants and fondue.

In addition to relatively easy driving, the Swiss have the best railway system in the world and it’s a quick, fast and efficient train ride from Geneva or Zurich to just about anywhere else you want to go. However, do not be late because unlike some other cities in Europe, Swiss trains do not play. If your train is scheduled to leave at 11:07, you better believe the train will be moving the second the Swiss clock strikes 11:07.

As you’re driving or riding the train through Switzerland, you’ll notice many incredible watch museums and watch-related buildings along the way. You’ll also of course pass the headquarters for Rolex, Patek, Omega, Panerai, Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and many other iconic Swiss watch brands. Most of these can be seen right from the road, near the Swiss cities of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Biel/Bienne. 

Hopefully soon the world will open back up and travel will be allowed and safe again. If you’ve been cooped up and longing for adventure, put these watch museums on your travel list. 

While we are sad that BaselWorld is no longer, it doesn’t mean you can’t quench your thirst for all things horology. These museums are a great way to get your horology fix on your next trip to Switzerland.

7 Great Watch Museums in Switzerland--From Zurich to Geneva

Sure BaselWorld is a thing in the past, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t get your Swiss watch fix while visiting Switzerland--either next year when things are safe again, or right now virtually through the blog. I want to take you on a quick “tour” of some Swiss Watch Museums, starting north near Zurich, and heading southwest toward Geneva. 

IWC Museum (Schaffhausen, Switzerland)

If you fly into Zurich, you’ll want to put this museum first on your list because it’s about a 39 minute drive north of Zurich, where everything else on the list is south. There are also trains that leave Zurich every 30 minutes to Schaffhausen, but the train ride is a bit longer, around 53 minutes. 

The IWC Museum in Schaffhausen is the first and only watch manufacturer in this part of Northern Switzerland. According to Time and Watches The factory was built in a place “where it was easy to recruit low-wage experienced watchmakers, not far from a railway and, very important, by a river in order to use hydraulic power for operating a generator and supplying electrical power to workshops and machinery.” This makes Schaffhausen, the small town in northern Switzerland an ideal location.

In this museum you can see over 230 items that show the journey of IWC through history. 

Important Museum Information

Hours:  from the site: The IWC museum is closed due to the latest development of COVID-19 until January 5, 2021. Our priority is to protect the health and safety of our employees, clients and guests. We are looking forward to welcoming you to our museum and presenting you the wonderful world of IWC soon

Admission Price:  adults CHF 6, reduced admission: CHF 3, Guided Tour CHF 100

Address:  Baumgartenstrasse 15, Schaffhausen 8200 Switzerland

Website:  https://www.iwc.com/us/en/company/museum.html

For an additional great read with details on this museum  click here .

Omega Museum (Bienne, Switzerland)

If you’re travelling south from Zurich, the next stop on your list will be Bienne, as it’s about an hour drive south of Zurich. When driving in Switzerland you might see signs that say Biel/Bienne but know that they are both the same town. Because in Switzerland, residents speak both French and German in this region, one name is the French pronunciation and one is the German, but rest assured they are the same town. Around this area you can also see (from the road) the Rolex Factory, Omega, and a lot of other Swatch Group buildings. 

When you enter the Omega Museum in Biel/Bienne, you’ll first walk across “the world”—a large world map on the floor embedded with digital screens featuring the current times at locations across the globe.

According to National Jeweler, “Before moving on, guests take a trip back in time with Omega’s ‘History of Time’ immersive, 360-degree video that tracks the path of humankind’s journey to precision, from the first clocks to modern movements.”

There’s also a very cool tribute paying homage to Omega’s history with NASA and a special area dedicated to James Bond 007.

Hours:  Tues-Friday 11:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10:00-17:00

Admission Price:  CHF 10

Address:  Nicolas-G. -Hayek-Strasse 2 La Cité du Temps, Biel 2502 Switzerland

Website:  https://www.omegawatches.com/stories/omegas-new-museum

Instagram :  https://www.instagram.com/omegamuseum/

For an additional great read with more details on this museum  click here.

The Musée International D’Horlogerie (MIH) In La-Chaux-De-Fonds 

La Chaux-de-Fonds is a small town about 30-40 minutes drive from Biel/Bienne. Here you can visit the Musee International D’Horlogerie (MIH). When driving to this location, you will also pass through the small town of Le Locle where you can drive past the factories of Cartier, Audemars Piguet, and Patek to name a few. 

The MIH opened in 1974 and is considered the world’s largest clock museum. One fascinating thing about the museum is that it is housed in an impressive concrete building, realized almost entirely underground, and surrounded by a park.

According to the website, the permanent collection of the museum is composed of clocks and precision machines, and is considered one of the most important in the world and includes rare pieces dating from the 18th century onward.

Hours:  Tuesday-Sunday 10-5

Admission Price:  Adults CHF 15.-

Children over 12 years and young people under 16 years CHF 7.50

Reduced tariffs, Students with card till 25 years old CHF 12.50

Families CHF 30.- (Parents and children under 16 years)

From October to March, the museum is delighted to offer free admission every Sunday from 10 am to midday.

Pro Tip: This museum is free with the Neuchatel Tourist Card. If you stay in the canton of Neuchatel (which I highly recommend), all hotels and airbnbs will provide this card to you. It offers free local public transportation and also free access to museums and exhibits.

Address:  Rue des Musées 29, 2301 La Chaux-de-Fonds

Website:  https://www.chaux-de-fonds.ch/musees/mih

Instagram :  https://www.instagram.com/musee_mih/

In addition to beautiful timepieces like seen above, the MIH also serves as a home for luxury watch brands such as  Breitling ,  Girard-Perregaux ,  Omega , and  Tissot .

Musée d’Horlogerie du Locle, Château des Monts – 

Not far from the MIH, you’ll find a smaller museum in a breathtaking building located in Le Locle, a small town very close to Biel/Bienne and La Chaux-de-Fonds that has been opened since 1959. Here you can find automata and time-pieces from the Maurice Sandoz donation, Neuchâtel and grandfather clocks, clocks and mechanisms which show the technical progress and creativity of their designers, as well as some 3D films.

During winter, the museum is only open in the afternoon, so make sure to check out the website first.  http://www.mhl-monts.ch/ . However, at this moment, all of the links on information such as admission prices, hours, etc. are broken. This makes me wonder if perhaps it is temporarily shut down due to COVID-19. Keep checking the site on this one.

L.U.Ceum — Traces of Time (Fleurier, Switzerland)

Fleuier Switzerland is also in the canton of Neuchatel so it’s not very far away from the MIH. By car, it’s about a thirty minute drive.  According to the FHH, this museum is located in the Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier, Switzerland.  “The L.U.CEUM invites visitors to follow the traces of time. An inventive museography highlights masterpieces of watchmaking from different periods and regions of Europe. Retracing five centuries of history, the collection is divided in themes, including Chopard L.U.C watches.”

At this museum you can see Breguet pocket watches, a Louis Ulysse Chopard pocket watch from 1860, and 18th and 19th century oil lamp clocks and sandglass clocks.

Hours:   By Appointment Only

Admission Price:  not disclosed

Address:  rue des Moulins 20, 2114 Fleurier, Suisse

Website:  www.hautehorlogerie.org/en/encyclopaedia/watchmaking-museums/s/luceum-traces-of-time/

The Mus é e Atelier Audemars Piguet

Number 6 on our list is truly and exceptionally beautiful in its design aesthetic and it is the Mus é e Atelier Audemars Piguet Museum in Le Brassus, Switzerland. The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet is located among the historical complex of workshops and factories in the heart of La Vallée de Joux, which is a town on the way from Biel as you head toward Geneva. The museum just opened this year in 2020 and they are offering small guided tours, Monday-Friday at either 2:00 or 3:00pm. You need to make reservations online to secure your spot, and tours that cost CHF20 are in both French and English.

According to the FFH: The museum’s collection, which showcases some 300 timepieces, is displayed alongside two in-situ production workshops, creating a living museum. With a design that marries tradition and innovation, the Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet offers visitors a unique opportunity to delve into the history of watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux and explore how the brand’s timepieces, crafted in Le Brassus, have been raised around the world.

Hours:  Monday-Friday 2:00 and 3:00 (however, timeslots do fill up, so secure your spot in advance).

Admission Price:  CHF 20 per person

Address:  Route de France 22B, 1348 Le Chenit, Switzerland

Website:  https://www.museeatelier-audemarspiguet.com/en/home.html

For the booking site  click here.

For an additional great read with more details on this museum  click here .

The Patek Philippe Museum In Geneva

Last on our list for today is the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Switzerland which opened in 2001. The museum is located in a beautiful historical building close to Plainpalais. The Patek Philippe museum consists of 4 floors, with the bottom floor being a small cinema in which you can watch a Patek film. 

According to the official museum website, the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva is considered by many to be one of the world's foremost horology museums. It houses over five centuries of watchmaking history into two important collections: the extraordinary antique collection starting from the 16th century, which includes the earliest watch ever made and the Patek Philippe collection from 1839 onwards. The latter bears testament to more than 175 years of manufacturing the world's finest watches and includes the most complicated timepiece ever made, the Caliber 89.

Hours:  Tuesday to Friday 14h00 - 18h00, Guided Tours on Saturdays at 2:00 (French) and 2:30 (English).

Admission Price:  Adults: CHF 10.00, Senior, disabled, unemployed, students aged 18-25: CHF 7.00, Groups >= 10: CHF 5.00, Children < 18: Free

Address:  Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland.

Website:  https://www.patek.com/en/company/patek-philippe-museum

Hopefully we can all travel soon and you will be able to visit some of these amazing watch museums. If not, at least we got to see them virtually today

All of us at  Everest   are total watch enthusiasts. We have been to several of these museums ourselves and some we still have on our future bucket lists. Every year some of the Everest staff spend the entire summer in the city of Neuchatel working on new designs and meeting with our manufacturers to create  the best custom watch straps for  Rolex, Tudor, and Panerai owners and  watch accessories for every other watch owner. If you have any questions about Everest or Swiss travel in general, feel free to leave a comment and we will help you out.

Which one of these museums is the highest priority on your list? Let us know in the comments!

Header Image Source  @cityarchmoscow Instagram

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