To the casual watch collector, the name Estoppey-Addor might not sound familiar. But for those in the know, it stands as one of those companies that make the intricate world of watches even more captivating. Although the Bienne-based family business, established 144 years ago, does not produce any watch parts, it makes them better, both […]
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parked outside the museum that hosts, almost secretly, the largest public Rolex collection in the world. A few hundred meters away from where the first ever Rolex watches were made, I crossed the road and walked into Art du Temps, the brand new authorized retailer in Bienne for Tudor, IWC, Montblanc, Chopard, and, yes, the brand with the crown.
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Full disclosure: I’m a fan of Certina, a brand I’ve often recommended to friends and family, especially when looking for a great Swiss watch at an affordable price. That’s why, when I realized I was sitting next to its CEO, Marc Aellen (above), on a train to Geneva earlier this year, I couldn’t resist introducing […]
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When I wrote about John Kennedy’s Omega last year, I was not expecting to revisit the topic just eighteen months later. The elegant yellow gold rectangular timepiece, gifted by his friend Grant Stockdale, is famous for its presence on the newly elected President’s wrist on the day of his Inauguration, January 21, 1961. A piece not just of watchmaking history but simply of history. L’Histoire avec un grand H, as we say in French. The watch is proudly displayed at the Omega Museum in Bienne.
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”In watchmaking, the devil is only in the detail. A watch is made only of details. When we say shorten an indice by two tenths of a millimeter, it’s not for the sake of it. It’s because it matters. You can see the difference.” Listening to Manuel Romero, co-founder of White Brand Design, and his passion — not to say obsession — for details, it seems like he was born to design watches. Well, not quite.
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When you love watchmaking cities, a visit to Le Locle is always a treat. And if you are heading to its most prominent watch company, Tissot, to meet the CEO, Sylvain Dolla, well, you know it will be memorable. Sylvain Dolla, previously at the helm of Hamilton before taking over Tissot in 2020, is one of those CEOs who is also the best ambassador for their brand. Approachable, elegant, fun and always very sharp, those attributes could equally describe both Tissot and the man running it.
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A selection of the best local watchmaking sites you can visit.
Themed itineraries for those who love one brand in particular or watches in general.
