Watchmaking Tourism Saga – The Geneva Region

Let’s discover the main regions linked to watchmaking in Switzerland. This first episode is an introduction to Geneva. Geneva is known as the capital of Swiss watchmaking. It has a major influence on the watch industry, and especially the market.

History explains that Jean Calvin, one of the main spiritual founders of the Protestant religion, forbid local artisans to produce jewels. He also imposed punctuality on the society. Thanks to these initiatives, the production of watches increased, and jewelers started to adapt their skills to decorate them. Geneva became a place where watches were finished and sold as the city was, and still is, an important place for the watch trade.

For instance, the most important watch auctions are always held in Geneva. The auction record to date is $23 million for the Patek Philippe Graves Supercomplication sold by Sotheby’s in 2014. But, of course, many brands have also their headquarters in Geneva as well as some production locations. Rolex and Patek Philippe run their activities from Geneva as does Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, Harry Winston, Frédérique Constant, F.P. Journe, MB&F, Urwerk, Franck Muller, Bovet, and Laurent Ferrier, for instance.

Outside the brands, in the Geneva region there is an intense network of suppliers, and in particular those involved with the métiers d’art as the city was globally known for the quality of its enamellers. Finally, two main realizations incarnate the watch identity of the area. First is the flower clock of the Jardin Anglais. Photographed by hordes of tourists and re-decorated regularly by city gardeners with different flower arrangements, it is electrically powered and precision radio-controlled. It has also the longest second hand of a public clock in the world.

The second one is the Jet d’eau, the huge fountain that emerges from Lake Geneva. Initially, the Jet d’eau was located next to Pont de la Coulouvrenière, a bridge where the plant providing high-pressure water for energy to the horological workshops of the city center was located. This energy, the cheapest and most accessible, and was necessary to power the machines. At the time, the Jet d’eau’s function was to be a security valve for when the workshops stopped at the end of the day and cut the water supply. To avoid an overpressure of the pipe system, the water would escape throughout the valve, creating a water jet. In 1891, the local council decided to change its location to where it stands now and to use it as a tourist attraction as it was no longer necessary due to the arrival of electricity.

[charlesg]

Totally outstanding!! We love this video and the touring of watchmaking regions. As a watchmaking student, this is both inspiring and beneficial. I am now a patreon supporter, thank-you and keep up the good work, I love your enthusiasm!

[Karsonbarnes]

Awesome video and very interesting facts.
Well put together, I can't wait for the rest in the series!

[kognitionwings]

Thank you for the tour and the history recap. Very interesting!

[davidnygren]

Absolutely amazing show!
So cool that I found out that you Marc are related to Swedish legend Johan Gunterberg!

[andrewholt]

Wow, that was excellent and informative. It had everything on for someone wanting to come to Geneva. I know there is a watch shop in Geneva Airport as well. This must have been made about 2014. The others in the series look interesting and you could add this and those to the Playlist where the watch group videos are. Thanks

[cejuson]

You're very informative. Beautiful city. I would like to visit Geneva, from the United States. Request: Please make a top list of places to visit in 2016 of important watch dates around Switzerland, such as major celebration, anniversary, auction, opening, , , .

[yiannismerianos]

great work!
it could be easily shown by the ministry of tourism(if that's the right title! ) well shoot, informative ! it makes you wanna travel!

[itsapugslife]

I'm going there for 4 days in March, my partner has booked it for me as she knows I'm obsessed with Horology. I'm doing the Frank Muller Tour too, would you recommend this? Love your channel guys keep up the great work! Dr David Taylor

[timstring]

Beautiful, just like those beautiful mechanical watches :)