THE WORLD CELEBRATES THE ART OF TIME – THE HOROPEDIA FOUNDATION AMONG THE FOUNDING MEMBERS
On October 10, 2025, the first International Watchmaking Day brought together enthusiasts, professionals, and institutions around a shared passion: time. Celebrated in more than 25 countries through physical and digital events, this global day marked a historic milestone in the recognition of watchmaking as universal cultural heritage.
A worldwide celebration of the art of watchmaking
From Geneva to New York, from Paris to Shanghai, from Lisbon to Istanbul, the day showcased the creativity, expertise, and diversity of the watchmaking world. Nearly 6 million people were reached through exhibitions, conferences, panel discussions, and local initiatives, all united under one symbol: 10/10, that emblematic hour when the watch hands draw a perfect balance — a symbol of harmony, beauty, and the art of timekeeping.
World Horology Day is much more than just a date: it is a tribute to everything that makes horology extraordinary. It is the recognition of the hands that shape each piece, of the knowledge passed down from generation to generation, and of the importance of preserving this heritage.
An initiative echoing the mission of the Horopedia Foundation, founding member
Since its creation in 2023, the Horopedia Foundation has been working to preserve, pass on, and promote watchmaking culture in its entirety, while making it accessible to all. Through its online video encyclopedia, horopedia.org, it offers free, neutral and independent access to hundreds of educational contents dedicated to the trades, techniques and know-how of watchmaking. Today, the Foundation is preparing to take a new step with the creation of the House of Watchmaking Arts & Culture (MACH) — an iconic venue in Geneva that will complement its digital mission with a physical, immersive and educational experience.
For Horopedia, the International Watchmaking Day is a natural continuation of this commitment. As a founding member of this international initiative, the Foundation reaffirms its public-interest mission: to pay tribute to all those who bring watchmaking to life — Horologists (watchmakers), technicians, polishers, engravers, gem-setters, designers — and to help the general public discover the human and cultural dimension of this art.
An event that is built to last
This first edition was carried by an unprecedented alliance of major players in the horological world: the Foundation of High Horology (FHH), the Fondation du Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), the Watch Library Foundation, the Horological Society of New York, Europa Star, Le Figaro, Hantang Culture, Arc Horloger, and of course Horopedia.
The success of this first edition lays the foundation for an annual event. Every October 10, the world will now celebrate International Watchmaking Day, a symbol of creativity, heritage, and unity around time.
See you on October 10, 2026 for the second edition of International Watchmaking Day — and until then, let’s continue celebrating the culture of time together.
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ABOUT HOROPEDIA
The Horopedia Foundation was created in February 2023 and received 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 watchmaking. The platform was launched in 2022 and quickly received unanimous support within the community.
To date, more than 100 multilingual documentary films on museums, horology schools, watchmaking tools and components, and the mechanical principles behind their operation can be found on Horopedia.org. To reinforce its educational mission, the platform also includes visual teaching materials to facilitate a better understanding of the information provided. The site offers nearly 1000 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.
More recently, the Foundation unveiled its ambitious project: the Maison des Arts & de la Culture Horlogère (MACH). More than a museum, the MACH will be a living space for exhibition, transmission, and exchange around the art of watchmaking. Located in the heart of the Banking District, this house of 1,250 m² will span four floors, offering didactic, thematic, and chronological exhibitions, complemented by a space dedicated to temporary exhibitions. Visitors will also be able to enjoy a shop, an auditorium, and various interactive spaces designed to spark curiosity and encourage discovery. Open and lively, the MACH aims to become the crossroads of watchmaking in Geneva.
This page has been automatically translated from the reference French 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 info@horopedia.org. Your contribution helps us improve the quality of the encyclopedia.
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