Vacheron Constantin is the oldest watchmaker in Switzerland,
currently celebrating its 250th anniversary. Two years ago, the
company opened a large new headquarters, converting its previous
home, the Maison Vacheron Constantin, into a Heritage Museum and
boutique. Here you can explore a workshop devoted to the
restoration of antique watches, a collection of historically
valuable timepieces, watchmaking equipment and furniture from
previous centuries, and themed exhibitions that change
frequently.
Horological attractions continue as soon as you leave
Geneva, and
the Swiss Tourism board has mapped out a Watchmaker's Route for
visitors to follow, though it is not comprehensive. The first stop
of note is Franck Muller Watchland, the factory of one of the most
successful new brands in fine watches, just over a decade old.
Less than half an hour away, you cross the mountains into the Joux
Valley, also fittingly known as the Watch Valley, and almost
immediately upon descending the steep pass you enter the main
street of the twin villages of Le Sentier and Les Brassus. Several
heavy hitters of the fine-watch world sit here: Audemars Piguet on
the left, then Blancpain to the right, and Jaeger Le Coultre to the
left again - all within walking distance. Farther down the road
sits Breguet, whose founder,
Abraham Louis Breguet, was the most
renowned innovator in watch history and whose watches were worn by
Napoleon and
Marie Antoinette. Audemars Piguet has a small museum,
open by appointment, tracing the history of the company and its
signature Royal Oak line of watches, including one of the three
original special editions worn by
Arnold Schwarzenegger, an
Audemars collector, in
Terminator 3.