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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Neuchâtel, Switzerland

École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel

Partially verified

Training of watchmakers and production of precision school watches

History

The École d’Horlogerie Neuchâtel was established in 1871 within the Swiss city of Neuchâtel to advance the training of horologists.

The institution was created to modernize educational practices and defend local industry standards against the rise of mechanized production methods. Students at the school frequently demonstrated their mastery by constructing complex pocket watches, often referred to as graduate's work or masterworks. These timepieces were often produced using high-quality components, including bridge movements and gold-screw compensation balances, and are now sought by collectors.

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Known markings

  • The school marked its creations as École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel to signify their origin as graduate watchmaking pieces.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • Full view of the open-faced pocket watch, showing the skeletonised dial and internal bridge movement.
  • The silver case featuring a bas-relief of Helvetia and the year 1914.

Sources & references

  1. Picture gallery movements Uhrmacherschule Neuchâtel - Watch-Wiki - Das Uhrenlexikon, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. École d'horlogerie Neuchâtel - M... | Taschen- und Zwickeluhren: gebote, Drouot, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Lot N°104 – École d'horlogerie Neuchâtel - Montre École – Auktionen Dr. H. Crott, vente du 31/10 | Auction House, auctionhouse.fr, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. École d'Horlogerie Neuchâtel - Paul M... | Fob and pocket watches: bids, Drouot, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.