UPDATES, FEBRUARY 2025
February 2025 marks the second anniversary of the Horopedia Foundation, the world’s first visual encyclopedia dedicated to watchmaking. Established in February 2023, the Foundation was granted public interest status, enabling it to forge strong connections within the watchmaking community in Switzerland and beyond.
Despite its youth, the Foundation has grown into a key educational hub, curating over 100 multilingual films covering a vast range of horological topics — from features on Swiss watch museums to a detailed technical exploration of escapement adjusting.
In 2024, Horopedia strengthened its international reach, signing partnership agreements with the Horological Society of New York and Chronométrophilia, the Swiss association dedicated to horological history. This engagement has translated into significant increases in visitors from Switzerland, France, and the United States.
Horopedia remains committed to documenting and preserving horological know-how and craftsmanship. Among its latest projects, the Foundation has released a trilingual video on Zeitzentrum, the only German-speaking watchmaking school in Switzerland, as well as an in-depth walkthrough of the Neuchâtel Vocational Training Centre (CPNE) Applied Arts in La Chaux-de-Fonds. These films align with Horopedia’s mission to support educational initiatives and safeguard the future of watchmaking. More videos spotlighting Swiss watchmaking schools are currently in production.
Beyond visual storytelling, Horopedia is empowering future watchmakers with practical tools. The newly launched training and careers section of the website provides a comprehensive guide to watchmaking professions, detailing:
- Industry-required professions
- Where to apply for training programs
- Types of apprenticeships available
- Certifications and diplomas awarded
This initiative aims to help aspiring watchmakers make informed career choices aligned with both their passions and industry demands.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead to March, Horopedia is set to expand its collaborations further, with another partnership agreement currently in the final stages, and new videos will be released in the coming days.
Stay tuned for more updates as Horopedia continues to document, educate, and celebrate the art of watchmaking.
ABOUT HOROPEDIA
Horopedia Foundation was established in February 2023 and given the status of public interest. The Foundation Council is composed of Philippe Dufour (President), Dr. Helmut Crott, André Colard, and Marc André Deschoux. The Foundation governs Horopedia.org, the first online video encyclopedia on watchmaking. The platform was launched in 2022 and quickly gathered unanimous support within the community.
To date, over 100 multilingual documentary films on museums, watchmaking schools, watch tools and components, and the mechanical principles behind their work can be found on Horopedia.org. To enhance its educational mission, the platform also incorporates visual pedagogic materials to facilitate a better understanding of the provided information. The website features nearly 900 pages with detailed definitions of watchmaking terms and historical anecdotes about significant horological inventions.
Horopedia.org meticulously covers all facets of the fascinating horological industry in French, English, and German. It offers detailed definitions of tools and complications, 3D images of movements, and thorough video explanations of component production, their history, and functions in a watch. A dedicated section of the website lists horological institutions, including schools and museums in Switzerland and worldwide.