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

Risto · Thurs. 2:16pm

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 😀

big case · Thurs. 2:28pm

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

ricardo.ch you can search watches from private sellers

Risto · Thurs. 2:32pm

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 😀

hen · Thurs. 2:36pm

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

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

noelekal · Thurs. 2:37pm

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.

neilfrancis · Thurs. 3:16pm

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/

Tony C. · Thurs. 3:31pm

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.

sheepdoll · Thurs. 5:51pm

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.

hansaboy · Fri. 12:03am

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

https://www.db1983.com/

Risto · Fri. 1:14am

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.

pdxleaf · Fri. 7:43am

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.

hansaboy · Fri. 7:51am

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

Maybe send an Email, or even call them?

noelekal · Fri. 8:10am

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.

iamvr · Fri. 8:42am

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 😀

pdxleaf · Fri. 8:47am

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!

Archer · Fri. 10:16am

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.

Fatcat · Fri. 1:21pm

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.

Risto · Fri. 1:26pm

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.

Tony C. · Fri. 4:00pm

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.

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

Risto

big case

Risto

hen

noelekal

neilfrancis

Tony C.

sheepdoll

hansaboy

Risto

pdxleaf

hansaboy

noelekal

iamvr

pdxleaf

Archer

Fatcat

Risto

Tony C.

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