A Watch Lover's Dream Trip: An Unforgettable Journey to Geneva, Lausanne, and Vallée de Joux
My first visit to Switzerland was a family vacation in the summer of 2018. I was not so crazy about watches then. The Jet d'Eau in Geneva was turned off due to high winds, and the Patek Philippe Museum was closed on a Monday when we were there. Nonetheless, we had an incredible time traveling on to Lucerne, Mount Rigi, and Zurich.
Earlier this month, I revisited Geneva and Lausanne. This time it was a pilgrimage for a watch enthusiast to the mecca of watchmaking. It was a short trip, yet packed with visits to watch museums and workshops of renowned watchmakers. I'm eager to share with you the highlights of my memorable journey!
December 7, 2023
I arrived in Geneva around noon, and my first destination after hotel check-in was the WatchesTV office. I have long been a fan and patron, and it was wonderful to greet some of the team members and see the studio where countless videos on watchmaking have been produced! Check out their YouTube channel if you are not familiar with them yet.
The next stop was the nearby Akrivia Atelier. Founder Rexhep Rexhepi is the most renowned young watchmaker today who founded the brand in 2012. Tamara from the team kindly hosted my visit, showed me some watches, and gave me a tour of the workshop. I saw the RRCA again, after first seeing it at the L.A. stop of the 2023 Only Watch world tour. This time, I was able to watch Tamara open the case back and take a close look at the stunning movement.
Next was the Patek Philippe Museum, where I spent 2 hours like a kid in the candy store. The time was still too short - I would really need to come back again to fully explore this remarkable museum.
December 8, 2023
The main event on Friday was visiting the F.P. Journe manufactures in Geneva. It was a real eye-opener for me to see the many steps involved in making dials, cases, and assembling everything together. I had the opportunity to try out some watches and enjoyed lunch at the newly opened F.P. Journe Le Restaurant.
December 9, 2023
I took an early morning train from Geneva to Lausanne, then headed to Vallée de Joux. To my pleasant surprise, there was snow everywhere in Vallée de Joux. We drove by the offices of Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Breguet, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. We had lunch at the Hôtel des Horlogers (owned by Audemars Piguet) and then joined a guided tour at the Audemars Piguet Museum.
December 10, 2023
It was the last full day in Switzerland for me. We first went to visit the workshop of Petermann Bedat and had wonderful conversations with the two very talented founders. Afterward, it was time for sightseeing and indulging in food!
Pictures of Lake Joux and Lake Geneva now serve as the wallpapers for my iMac. I already miss the beautiful country and the new and old friends I made there. Our shared love of watches will keep us connected!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
Looks like a fun trip!
Thak you for sharing! Great pics and I enjoyed learning about your trip.