Visiting Switzerland... and I am a vintage watch guy...

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Risto

·Apr 10, 2025

So, my first time visiting Switzerland.
I am doing this for business and pleasure - for shooting watches!
I'll be there for 1 week and was wondering what locals would recommend for a watch nerd.
I mean of course, I will visit some watch museums, and if I have time, perhaps a Zenith factory tour or somewhere else.

I am staying near Geneva. Traveling by rental car.

Are there some thrift shops or vintage shops where I might find some cheap vintage watches 😀
Or some fairs?

Let me know if you know something 😀

 

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big case

·Apr 10, 2025

shops to find, where ... - perhabs some decades to late 😄

ricardo.ch you can search watches from private sellers

 

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Risto

·Apr 10, 2025

Yes, of course, I am late, but I am not looking for hidden gems and deals. Just interesting to see a genuine Swiss vintage watch shop... if there is one 😀

 

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hen

·Apr 10, 2025

The Omega museum comes to mind. 😉 150 km from Geneva

https://www.omegawatches.com/planet...edium=local&utm_source=google&utm_term=Museum

 

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noelekal

·Apr 10, 2025·Home For Wayward Watches

Was in Switzerland a couple of years ago. Saw several watch shops in Zurich, however saw no watch deals in Zurich.

Omega Museum collection is enough to make a person swoon dead away.

 

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neilfrancis

·Apr 10, 2025

Terrence Howells in Basel? (I have no idea where Basel is in relation to Geneva tho.) https://www.bexsonn.com/vintage-watch-shopping-basel-uhren-kunst-antiquitaten/

 

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Tony C.

·Apr 10, 2025·Ωf Jury member

neilfrancis

Terrence Howells in Basel

I'm friendly with Terrence, and would recommend him. However, I'd suggest contacting him in advance, partly to insure that he will be in his shop, and partly to discuss what you are seeking, as the stock in his shop is limited.

 

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sheepdoll

·Apr 10, 2025

Swiss trains are very efficient. Especially if one gets a Swisspass.

Geneva, Basil, and Zurich form 3 sides of a triangle. The western side (Jura) is where the watchmaking is. This is the French speaking areas. Bern is sort of in the middle.

Do not miss the museums in La-Chaux-de-fonds and Le Locle. The Baud brothers museum in Vaud is also quite the show. (not sure if that still exist) They had a whole section of botched watches. Lots of automata.

I am also partial to the Automatons in Neuchâtel. Which is not far from Biel/Bienne.

Seawin also has a great museum. That one features a lot of orchestrions and mechanical music.

 

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hansaboy

·Apr 11, 2025

Why not here?😄
But you need to book a meeting!

https://www.db1983.com/

 

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Risto

·Apr 11, 2025

hansaboy

Why not here?😄
But you need to book a meeting!

https://www.db1983.com/

I actually sent PM on IG but they haven’t replied.

 

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pdxleaf

·Apr 11, 2025·"I cut it TWICE and it's still short!"

Longines factory museum is fantastic. Much better than Omega's in my mind, and I am a Speedmaster fan. It requires a reservation, which should not be difficult to make. When my brother and I went, we were the only two in the museum and in effect we had a private two hour tour with a docent. The museum includes the archives and exhibits of nearly ever watch. There is a wall of nothing but calibers.

We did not make it to Geneva but heard the Patek Philippe museum was also a world-class museum.

 

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hansaboy

·Apr 11, 2025

Risto

I actually sent PM on IG but they haven’t replied.

Maybe send an Email, or even call them?

 

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noelekal

·Apr 11, 2025·Home For Wayward Watches

pdxleaf

Longines factory museum is fantastic. Much better than Omega's in my mind, and I am a Speedmaster fan. It requires a reservation, which should not be difficult to make. When my brother and I went, we were the only two in the museum and in effect we had a private two hour tour with a docent. The museum includes the archives and exhibits of nearly ever watch. There is a wall of nothing but calibers.

We did not make it to Geneva but heard the Patek Philippe museum was also a world-class museum.

Aw man...!

Don't tell me that about Longines being better. I wanted to go to the Longines museum, but time constraints and Mrs. noelekal's sensibilities precluded any additional watch museums after doing the IWC and Omega museums plus the odd watch shops.

I admire Longines.

 

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iamvr

·Apr 11, 2025

There is a watch fair in Zurich on Sunday, 27th April of you happen to be around.

The last time I was in Geneva I walked past La Maison d'Horlogerie. They had some nice vintage pieces on display. But the prices aren't for us cheapskates 😀

 

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pdxleaf

·Apr 11, 2025·"I cut it TWICE and it's still short!"

noelekal

Aw man...!

Don't tell me that about Longines being better. I wanted to go to the Longines museum, but time constraints and Mrs. noelekal's sensibilities precluded any additional watch museums after doing the IWC and Omega museums plus the odd watch shops.

I admire Longines.

Gotta save something for next time!

 

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Archer

·Apr 11, 2025·Omega Qualified Watchmaker

Risto

Yes, of course, I am late, but I am not looking for hidden gems and deals. Just interesting to see a genuine Swiss vintage watch shop... if there is one 😀

I admit it's been quite a few years now, but I visited at least 2 shops in Geneva in the old town that had vintage watches for sale, so you might want to search for places around there before you go.

 

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Fatcat

·Apr 11, 2025

Leaving in Geneva i have to say there is nothing except the Davidoff Brothers, but the notion in CH of a good deal doesn’t exist, sometimes in Zurich « Swisstimearts » selling online you can do a good deal , but there is no chance elsewhere.

 

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Risto

·Apr 11, 2025

Fatcat

Leaving in Geneva i have to say there is nothing except the Davidoff Brothers, but the notion in CH of a good deal doesn’t exist, sometimes in Zurich « Swisstimearts » selling online you can do a good deal , but there is no chance elsewhere.

Well, we all have heard stories of "barn finds" or garage sale finds... 😀
Of course, with any watch dealer, the prices cannot be reasonable.

 

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Tony C.

·Apr 11, 2025·Ωf Jury member

Fatcat

but the notion in CH of a good deal doesn’t exist, sometimes in Zurich « Swisstimearts » selling online you can do a good deal , but there is no chance elsewhere.

I respectfully disagree, though not in broad strokes. In my experience, most shops and watches do tend to be expensive at stores in Switzerland, but to use one example, I have purchased both a small clock and a watch in recent years at Uhren Atelier Rindermarkt in Zurich, that represented excellent value.

I would add that it also depends on what you are seeking, as the most fashionable brands and models will almost certainly be very expensive, while less obvious ones can occasionally slip through the cracks.