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THE INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM OF HOROLOGY

The International Museum of Horology of La Chaux-de-Fonds (MIH) through six emblematic objects.

The International Museum of Horology of La Chaux-de-Fonds (MIH) presents the largest horological collection in the world. From the gnomon to the latest Hobbing atomic clocks, all eras are represented through objects of all origins. The MIH does not only present objects; certain processes and certain themes related to the measurement of time are explained there in a didactic manner. With its restoration workshop and its documentation center (Man and Time), the MIH is a major player in the conservation, culture and horological education on an international scale.

Website: International Museum of Horology – La Chaux-de-Fonds – Neuchâtel

The institution originated from the didactic collection assembled from 1865 by the La Chaux-de-Fonds School of Horology; its founding act, under the name Musée d’horlogerie, was signed on March 24, 1902. It took its current name, with the subtitle “L’Homme et le Time,” in 1968. The current building, largely underground, was designed by architects Pierre Zoelly and Georges-J. Haefeli and built from 1972 to 1974; it received the European Museum of the Year Award in 1977. Since 1993, the museum has awarded the Gaïa Prize each year, an international distinction recognizing figures in research, craftsmanship, and the watchmaking industry. Its collections today comprise more than 10,000 objects. To learn more: official museum page.