Swiss Watchmaking Festival: at the heart of craftsmanship, independence and passing on knowledge

The Festival Suisse de l’Horlogerie offers a meeting place dedicated to sharing Swiss heritage and expertise. What sets it apart is its desire to open a simple, accessible dialogue between those who design, restore or decorate watches and those who want to understand what goes on behind the scenes.

1. The vitality of independent creation

The event offers a privileged showcase for the diversity of independent brands and creators. Recognised figures from the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI), such as Vincent Calabrese, rub shoulders with historic houses and contemporary Swiss projects (Milus, Elka Watch, Ba111od, Done Watches, Timeless, H992).

For enthusiasts and students, this setting encourages close technical exchanges: case architecture, calibre choices, display solutions and design philosophies can be discussed directly with founders and watchmakers.

2. Artistic crafts: materials in action

Another essential dimension of the festival is the space dedicated to artistic craftspeople, who give demonstrations before the public. It is a chance to observe the handwork that elevates mechanics:

• Hand decoration and bevelling: The art of bevelling edges, smoothing internal angles and working on finishes with a leather-covered buff.
• Enamelling (Grand Feu, miniature, grisaille): The meticulous layering of silica powders and repeated firings at over 800 °C.
• Jewellery, lapidary work and engraving: Cutting cabochon stones, engraving with a burin and the traditional working of findings and bracelets.

These workshops offer a practical view of demanding techniques, often studied in manuals but rarely seen being performed at such close quarters.

3. Schools and the next generation of watchmakers

By actively involving schools and training institutes, the festival highlights the passing on of expertise to future generations. Visitors and apprentices can discuss courses, the evolution of the skills required in the industry and the ongoing dialogue between traditional techniques and cutting-edge technologies.