ABOUT THE HOROPEDIA FOUNDATION
Missions and activities
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Horopedia Foundation was established in February 2023 and obtained public interest status. Its mission is to contribute to the preservation, transmission, and sharing of watchmaking knowledge and know-how, while promoting the technical, artistic, and cultural skills that shape watchmaking and its evolution.
As a non-profit organization, Horopedia is funded by donations in order to preserve its impartiality and independence.
To carry out this mission, the Foundation develops two complementary activities:
1) Horopedia.org, the video encyclopedia of watchmaking
Freely accessible to everyone, Horopedia.org aims to document the entire watchmaking ecosystem, with the exception of brands, through an encyclopedic, educational, and multilingual approach.
The platform now brings together nearly 1,000 pages and more than 100 films, devoted in particular to trades and expertise, tools and instruments, mechanical principles, components, manufacturing techniques, horological institutions, as well as the history of watchmaking. Educational videos, animations and 3D representations complement the definitions to make the topics covered easier to understand.
The content is aimed at professionals and students as well as enthusiasts and the general public. It is notably used by Swiss watchmaking schools as teaching materials.
2) The House of Watchmaking Arts & Culture (MACH)
In addition to its digital encyclopedia, the Foundation is currently developing its physical embodiment: the House of Arts & Horological Culture (the MACH).
Located in the heart of Geneva, the MACH aims to become a living place of discovery, transmission and exchange around watchmaking. More than a traditional museum, it will offer an immersive and educational experience connecting horological objects, heritage, professions, know-how, mechanical principles, training and innovations.
Conceived as the physical extension of the Horopedia.org encyclopedia, it will allow heritage and contemporary creation to engage in dialogue and will transmit watchmaking culture to new audiences.
Governance
La Fondation est administrée par un Conseil de Fondation, qui en constitue l’organe décisionnel. Il réunit notamment Philippe Dufour (Président), Marc André Deschoux (fondateur), le Dr Helmut Crott et André Colard.
Le Conseil de Fondation et le Comité exécutif sont accompagnés par deux organes consultatifs indépendants, composés d’experts externes non affiliés à des marques horlogères :
1) The Horologist (watchmaker) & Cultural Committee (CHC)
Made up notably of watchmakers, teachers, historians and heritage specialists, the Horologist (watchmaker) & Cultural Committee assists the Foundation with issues related to trades, know-how, training, and Horologist (watchmaker) heritage, both for the online encyclopedia and for MACH’s projects. It supports initiatives that preserve Horologist (watchmaker) heritage and actively contribute to future industry projects.
In 2025, the structuring of this committee was significantly strengthened, with intensified recruitment of its members. Particular attention was paid to appointing a representative within each of the Swiss watchmaking schools, in order to ensure a close link with training, the transmission of skills, and the pedagogical realities on the ground. The recruitment and formalization process continued in 2026, with a view to its official launch.
2) The Development and Projects Committee (CDP)
The Development and Projects Committee supports the Foundation in the development of its activities and projects. Made up of representatives from organizations and institutions sharing the Foundation’s values and objectives, it can be called upon by the Foundation Council or the Executive Committee to issue opinions and recommendations.
Partners
BLOG
BRUSH UP ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF CARBON COMPOSITES
For the start of the new school year, Horopedia is enriching its online encyclopedia with a series of three new educational films dedicated to carbon composites.
WATCH REGULATION / ADJUSTMENT TO DISCOVER ON HOROPEDIA
Horopedia unveils a series of four educational films on watch regulation, produced in collaboration with the Geneva School of Watchmaking and the Neuchâtel Vocational Training Centre.
THE ASSEMBLY OF A MECHANICAL MOVEMENT ON HOROPEDIA.ORG
A new film dedicated to the assembly of a mechanical movement is now available on the online encyclopedia horopedia.org.
This page has been automatically translated from the French reference version using an artificial intelligence tool. Errors or inaccuracies may remain. If you notice any, especially if this is your native language, please feel free to report them to us at info@horopedia.org. Your contribution helps us improve the quality of the encyclopedia.
Pending their translation, images and videos remain temporarily displayed in French.
Thank you for your understanding.