So you’re thinking of packing your bags and heading to Switzerland for a tour of watch manufactures?
Step 1: If you are a VIP at any manufacture, contact me so I can join đ
Step 2: If you aren’t flagged as a VIP (or a member of the press…sadly I don’t qualify), unfortunately your options are limited. Manufactures such as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier and Breguet do not offer tours to the common people – nor to the independents (Philippe Dufour, Kari Voutilainen, Romain Gauthier, Rexhep Rexhepi…unless you are visit to pick up your watch, of course).
And of the ones that do, they are often extremely limited in terms of times tours are offered as well as their availability.
Example watch manufacture and museum tours:
Audemars Piguet: Le Brassus
The AP Musee Atelier, which looks stunning, offers tours for up to 8 people (unfortunately all visits are guided with appointment required, so there is *very* limited availability). Tours are 20CHF per person and available in English, French or German, with bookings opening 3 months in advance. These slots fill up quickly, so don’t hesitate.
Days of the week vary, and they often are closed due to private events or tours. When open, most weeks have tours at 2pm and 3pm on Tuesday, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The first individual to pick the tour time gets to select the language, so don’t be late! It’s such a beautiful building it is an absolute shame that there are no self-guided tours to allow more enthusiasts the chance to visit.
Audemars Piguet also offers two additional tour experiences.
– Visite Kids, where the MusĂ©e Atelier Audemars Piguet gives future collectors aged 7 to 11 a 2-hour guided tour every Wednesday at 2pm, which provides up to 8 kids an introduction to the world of watchmaking by blending history, the workshop and fun. Tours are 15CHF and appear to be in French only. Oh, and no adults are permitted, so your kid can’t help you as a workaround to get in when the Musee Atelier tour is otherwise booked.
– Audemars Piguet Masterclasses are also available, which are 5-hour immersion experiences with 4-6 people, where you practice the art of watch decoration and assembling. Available on Thursday afternoons in French, German and English, runs 390 CHF and I haven’t yet seen availability, which doesn’t surprise me as, really, who doesn’t want to spend the afternoon in a watchmaking class at AP? These begin booking 3 months in advance as with the tours.
The website does contain conflicting information, so make sure to confirm the details with Audemars Piguet directly.
Espace Horloger: Le Sentier
Located in Le Sentier, in the former ZĂ©nith manufacture created in 1917, later known as LeCoultre from 1927, the Espace Horloger was founded in 1994 and opened its doors in 1996 with the aim of becoming the first public watchmaking museum in the canton of Vaud. As a member of the AMS (Association of Swiss Museums), its cultural mission consists, on the one hand, in the conservation and presentation to the public of a material heritage through its temporary exhibitions and permanent collections (Gideon and VallĂ©e de Joux), showcasing timepieces from the 15th to the 20th century. This collection is complemented by loans from the Ăcole Technique de la VallĂ©e de Joux (ETVJ) and prestigious loans from renowned watchmaking brands (Jaeger-LeCoultre, Audemars Piguet, etc.), offering our visitors an overview of watchmaking production in the VallĂ©e de Joux.
Tickets are readily available online and only 6 CHF. The museum is open Tuesday-Sunday from 10:00-17:00.
Jaeger-LeCoultre: Le Sentier
JLC offers three different manufacture visits. But before you get excited, when we went to book we found that there were no times available for the next few months, so it is unclear how often they offer these visits and their availability when they do.
– Welcome Home Manufacture Visit. A 1.5 hour tour for up to 10 people in French or English that covers the story of the founding families, with time to meet JLC craftsmen and master watchmakers to see some of JLC’s finest watchmaking complications. 40 CHF per person.
– Home of Watchmaking Manufacture Visit. This 3-hour tour (80 CHF per person) in French or English, explores the basics of watchmaking and allows visitors the opportunity to see key stages involved in bringing fine watches to life, from design and prototyping to machining, assembly and rare artistic crafts.
– Lastly, the Home of Crafts Manufacture Visit explores Jaeger-LeCoultreâs creative spirit through the movement-decoration workshop and the MĂ©tiers Rares Atelier, where the artisans create objects of rare beauty. Tours are 3 hours for up to 8 people, 80 CHF per person in French or English.
Longines: St-Imier
The Longines Museum is easily accessible, Monday through Friday (closed for lunch), with guided tours available in French, German or English. The museum was renovated in 2012, and includes collections from all facets of the Longinesâ past. Included are the “main” watch models, navigation instruments, timekeeping instruments, and a variety of unique documents such as photographs, posters, films, medals and archive records (and regarding archive records, I’ve found Longines to be exceptional with their service).
Longines does not offer visits to their workshops or the rest of the company.
Panerai: NeuchĂątel
A visit to Panerai’s manufacture in Neuchatel is available. The 2.5 hour experience is available by prior registration only (up to the Sunday prior to the tour) for 70 CHF per person. Tours alternate between French and English depending on date, and are offered Thursdays at 1:30pm. Tours can be booked through Explore Swiss Watchmaking.
Zenith: Le Locle
Zenith Manufacture Tours are readily available, both
– “General public”; 50 CHF, 3 hours, Fridays at 9am, in French with German, English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish audioguides. I do not believe that reservations are required.
– “Exclusive private tours”; 500 CHF for up to 8 people, 3 hours, and in French, German, or English. Registration is required, and bookings can be made through Explore Swiss Watchmaking.