SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOROPEDIA FOUNDATION

UPDATES, FEBRUARY 2025

February 2025 marks the second anniversary of the Horopedia Foundation, the world’s first visual encyclopedia dedicated to horology.

Created in February 2023, the Foundation has obtained public interest status, allowing it to build strong ties with the watchmaking community in Switzerland and internationally.

Despite its young age, the Foundation has become a leading educational center, bringing together more than 100 multilingual films exploring a wide range of horological subjects — from Swiss watchmaking Museums to an in-depth technical analysis of Escapement Regulation / Adjustment.

In 2024, Horopedia strengthened its presence on the international stage by signing partnership agreements with the Horological Society of New York and Chronométrophilia, the Swiss association dedicated to horological history. This commitment resulted in a significant increase in visitors from Switzerland, France, and the United States.

Horopedia remains firmly committed to documenting and preserving horological expertise. Among its recent projects, the Foundation published a trilingual video about Zeitzentrum, the only German-speaking watchmaking school in Switzerland, as well as an immersive feature within the Neuchâtel Vocational Center for Applied Arts (CPNE) in La Chaux-de-Fonds. These films are part of Horopedia’s mission to support educational initiatives and ensure the future of watchmaking. Other videos shedding Light on Swiss watchmaking schools are currently in production.

Beyond visual transmission, Horopedia provides concrete tools for future Horologists (watchmakers). The new Training and Careers section of the site offers a comprehensive guide to watchmaking professions, detailing:

• The professions sought by the industry
• Where to apply for training
• The types of apprenticeships available
• The certifications and diplomas awarded

This initiative aims to help aspiring Horologists (watchmakers) make informed career choices, in line with their aspirations and the needs of the sector.

What else?

By March, Horopedia plans to further expand its collaborations, with a new partnership agreement currently being finalized. New videos will be released in the coming days, and many more announcements will follow.

Stay tuned for the next updates from Horopedia, which continues to document, transmit, and celebrate the art of horology.

ABOUT HOROPEDIA

The Horopedia Foundation was established in February 2023 and has been granted public interest status. The Foundation’s Board is composed of Philippe Dufour (President), Dr. Helmut Crott, André Colard and Marc André Deschoux. The Foundation manages Horopedia.org, the first online video encyclopedia on horology. The platform was launched in 2022 and quickly received unanimous support within the community.

To date, more than 100 multilingual documentary films on Museums, watchmaking schools, horological tools and components, and the mechanical principles behind their operation can be found on Horopedia.org. To reinforce its educational mission, the platform also integrates visual teaching materials to facilitate a better understanding of the information provided. The site offers nearly 900 pages with detailed definitions of horological terms and historical anecdotes about significant horological inventions.

Horopedia.org meticulously covers all aspects of the fascinating watchmaking industry in French, English, and German. It offers detailed definitions of tools and complications, 3D images of movements, and in-depth video explanations on the production of components, their history, and their functions in a watch. A dedicated section of the site lists horological institutions, including schools and Museums in Switzerland and around the world.