Haute horlogerie.
The finest watches in the world come from a lake city and a single valley in the Jura. Who makes them, since when, and where to see them.
The finest watches in the world come from a lake city and a single valley in the Jura. Who makes them, since when, and where to see them.
1755Vacheron Constantin is founded in Geneva
Vacheron Constantin was founded in Geneva in 1755 and has made watches there without interruption since. Patek Philippe followed in 1839, and in 1976 it introduced the Nautilus, a steel sports watch drawn by Gérald Genta. Its museum in Plainpalais holds the house collection and a history of Genevan watchmaking going back to the 16th century.
Rolex was founded in London in 1905 by Hans Wilsdorf and moved to Geneva in 1919. The Geneva Seal, a hallmark of the Canton of Geneva, has certified watches made and finished there since 1886.
1875Audemars Piguet is founded in Le Brassus
Audemars Piguet was founded in 1875 in Le Brassus, in the Vallée de Joux, and is still run by the founding families. The Royal Oak, drawn by Gérald Genta, was launched in 1972. The Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet, a spiral pavilion by Bjarke Ingels Group, opened beside the original workshops in 2020.
Jaeger-LeCoultre and Blancpain work in the same valley. Richard Mille, founded in 2001, makes its watches in Les Breuleux in the Jura.
1775Breguet is founded in Paris
Louis Cartier designed the Santos in 1904 for the aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont, who wanted to read the time without letting go of the controls. The Tank followed in 1917.
Abraham-Louis Breguet founded his house in Paris in 1775 and patented the tourbillon in 1801. Breguet now makes its watches in L'Abbaye, in the Vallée de Joux.
1833Antoine LeCoultre opens his workshop
Antoine LeCoultre opened his workshop in Le Sentier in 1833. The Reverso, with a case that turns over to protect its glass, was made for polo players in 1931. Blancpain, which dates its founding to 1735 in Villeret, now works in Le Brassus.
1845A. Lange & Söhne is founded in Glashütte
A. Lange & Söhne was founded in Glashütte, Saxony, in 1845 and refounded by Walter Lange in 1990. IWC was founded in Schaffhausen in 1868 by an American, Florentine Ariosto Jones. Omega, in Biel, made the Speedmaster worn on the Moon in 1969.
1999F.P. Journe signs his first watches
François-Paul Journe signed his first watches under his own name in Geneva in 1999. H. Moser & Cie, founded in 1828, works in Schaffhausen. Chopard was founded in Sonvilier in 1860 and is now in Geneva.
1760Beyer opens in Zurich
Zurich's Bahnhofstrasse is home to Beyer, founded in 1760, with a clock and watch museum under the shop. In Lucerne, Bucherer was founded in 1888, and Rolex announced in 2023 that it would acquire it. In Geneva, the great auction houses hold their watch sales in spring and autumn.
Geneva🇨🇭 Switzerland
Zurich🇨🇭 Switzerland
Lucerne🇨🇭 Switzerland
Montreux🇨🇭 Switzerland
Zug🇨🇭 Switzerland
Lugano🇨🇭 SwitzerlandSources. Vacheron Constantin history · Patek Philippe Museum · Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet · Watches and Wonders Geneva · Beyer Chronometrie. Read October 2026. A record of places, houses and dates, published as research. Patrician.ch has no commercial relationship with any house named here.
Vacheron Constantin, founded in Geneva in 1755, has operated without interruption since.
In Le Brassus, in the Vallée de Joux of the Swiss Jura, where it was founded in 1875.
In 1839, in Geneva.
Its museum is in the Plainpalais district.
Rolex was founded in London in 1905 and moved to Geneva in 1919, where it has its headquarters.
Every spring, at the Palexpo exhibition center in Geneva.
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No. 01Monaco
No. 02The Riviera
No. 03The Italian summer
No. 04Alpine grand hotels
No. 05Yachting
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No. 09Fine jewelry
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