Horological Meandering

The total cost was CHF 1,000 (about $1050) including the instruction and the watch components.

As for the watch alone, it's not quite worth that. It's made of good components but the movement is basic and totally undecorated and the case isn't that special. The dial and hands are nice, but they don't get the piece up to $1k. I'd say this exact watch from a no-name brand would be more like $600 retail, if anyone sold such a thing.

But the experience was priceless, as is the value of saying "I made this watch in Switzerland!" That alone easily makes up the difference.

The instructors and the school are the real deal - they train watchmakers from the local companies (presumably Tissot and perhaps also Zenith) all week long in movement assembly and repair, watch assembly, and case polishing. And they really know their craft, if not their watches. I was surprised that I knew a lot more about the movement and the watch industry in general than my instructors. But I'm a watch nerd and they just live in the industry. Who's to begrudge them for not knowing that Zenith and Jaeger-LeCoultre and the high-end brands don't use ETA movements?

I would strongly recommend any PuristS set up a watchmaking workshop if they get to La Chaux-de-Fonds or Le Locle. Just contact the Neuchâtel Tourism office and they'll take it from there - TimExplorer.ch

It would be great to put together a group!

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