Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich, a journey through time

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich, Switzerland is an extraordinary place, filled with timepieces of such immense value that it takes your breath away.

Switzerland is primarily associated with cheese, chocolate, Swiss Army knives, and, of course, watches. During our numerous travels through Switzerland, we visited the famous Appenzeller Schaukaserei, where exquisite Appenzeller cheeses are crafted, considered by connoisseurs to be the most delicious in the world.

We also explored the Lindt chocolate factory in Zurich, which has fans across all continents. Switzerland is also at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and science, something we experienced first-hand during our visit to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN).

Continuing our exploration, during our recent visit to Zurich, we had the opportunity to visit the renowned Clock and Watch Museum Beyer. Allow me to share more about this fascinating place.

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum is located in the heart of Zurich, Switzerland, and is considered one of the most important and richest private museums dedicated to timekeeping instruments.

The museum is just a small part of the activities of the large company, and you will find it at Bahnhofstrasse 31 on the lowest floor of an impressive building in the prestigious part of the city. The Chronometrie Beyer company and the watch museum have been run by the same family for generations. They are sellers of high-quality watches, jewellery, and many other luxury goods, with clients being the wealthiest people from around the world.

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich and its history

The Beyer company was founded in 1760 in Feuerthalen, and the first luxury watch shop was established in 1800 on Niederdorfstrasse in Zurich. After several years, the company headquarters and shop were relocated to the most prestigious part of the city, and in 1927, the company completed the construction of a new headquarters at Bahnhofstrasse 31, where it is still located today.

The company building has been extensively renovated multiple times to adapt to new times and meet the expectations of affluent clients. In 1982, the old interiors were demolished and replaced with chrome, gold, and glass. Showrooms, shop windows, offices, and charming, small spaces where clients can meet over coffee or champagne with consultants and company salespeople were designated within the vast areas.

The exterior of the building underwent a significant renovation at the end of the 20th century to align with changing fashion trends and the overall appearance of the prestigious neighbourhood.

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich tour, collections, and exhibits

The Beyer family has been involved in the trade of watches and clocks for over 250 years, and the museum you are visiting today was opened in 1970. The collection and all the chronometers housed within it are owned by the Beyer family and constitute the most valuable collection of clocks in the world.

The oldest part of the Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich consists of exhibits purchased by Theodore Beyer, one of the first collectors of watches and various chronometers.

In this part of the collection, you will see sundials, hourglasses, an Egyptian water clock, and an incredible oil lamp from the Far East, which measured time by the decreasing level of oil. This part of the museum appealed to me particularly because it contains the oldest instruments through which people thousands of years ago tried to understand and tame the passage of time.

In the other parts of the museum, you will see a rich collection of clocks and watches from almost all epochs, including the Gothic and Renaissance periods. Some mechanisms are so intricate and delicate that the mere thought of the manual labour involved in their creation is overwhelming and humbling.

Many of the watches in the Beyer family collection are unique pieces of immense significance to the history of horology. Many of them are loaned to the largest museums in the world.

The museum is not large, and all the exhibits are housed within the space of a small flat, but the value and beauty of the items displayed here are beyond description. You must visit the Beyer Watch Museum in Zurich whenever you have the opportunity.

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich, the most valuable and interesting exhibits in the collection

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich includes one of the early marine chronometers by Breguet. This invention revolutionized navigation methods and the principles of maritime expeditions. Another interesting and groundbreaking clock is the first reversible pendulum by Breguet, which was used in subsequent years to synchronize clock mechanisms.

Right next to it, in one of the display cases, you will see a pocket watch with astronomical indications by Auch. There are also several watches made to order at the end of the 20th century by George Daniels, an English watchmaker and inventor.

Adjacent to one of the museum walls stands a functioning replica of the Astrarium by Giovanni Dondi dell’Orologio. It was a complex astronomical clock built in the 14th century in Padua, Italy, by the physician and clockmaker Giovanni Dondi dell’Orologio. The device has seven faces and 107 moving parts. It shows the positions of the sun, moon, and five other known planets of our solar system at that time. In addition, it indicates religious holidays celebrated in Italy at that time. The original was the first fully mechanical clock built in Europe.

Further into the collection, you will see exquisitely expensive pocket and wristwatches, including a pocket watch constructed of nearly 90 percent wood and ivory.

Among the exhibits in the museum, you will find true works of art made of gold and adorned with precious stones. There are watches belonging to the crowned heads of many countries, as well as to famous and well-known individuals; just reading the descriptions accompanying each watch is enlightening.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the Beyer Watch and Clock Museum in Zurich. Fantastic exhibits, extraordinary mechanisms, and a knowledgeable and very friendly staff create a place you want to revisit, which we will certainly do at the next opportunity.

Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich information, and interesting facts

The museum is located at Bahnhofstrasse 31, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland, and is open from Monday to Friday from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Ticket prices range from a few to several francs. Guided tours are available for both groups and individuals, as well as self-guided tours. Children under 12 years old enter for free. For detailed information regarding ticket prices, I refer you to the official museum website.

If you’re planning an extended stay in Switzerland, consider purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, an all-in-one pass for trains, buses, and boats. It will help you save a lot of money and time. However, if you intend to explore only Zurich during your stay in Switzerland, think about the Zurich Card, which will save you money on transportation and museum visits (including entry to the Beyer Watch and Clock Museum). Additionally, you’ll receive discounts at restaurants and other tourist attractions in Zurich.

• Beyer Chronometrie AG is the oldest watchmaking company in Switzerland, founded in 1760.
• The company has been in the hands of the same family for generations. In 1996, a member of the family from the eighth generation took over control of Beyer Chronometrie.
• The first shop owned by Beyer Chronometrie was opened in Zurich in 1800.
• Since 1948, the company has been a joint-stock company, with all shares owned by family members.
• Currently, the company employs 46 workers who are engaged in sales, servicing, administration, and workshops.
• In addition to luxury watches from renowned manufacturers, Beyer also sells watches under its brand.
• Beyer Clock and Watch Museum in Zurich houses over 500 watches, clocks, and various mechanisms.
• According to information found in the museum, it took 4,000 years from the creation of the first sundial to the invention of the quartz clock.
• Among the museum’s collections is the smallest wristwatch ever produced. It is so tiny that it is truly difficult to read the time it indicates.
• In the shop located on the floor above the museum, you can buy jewellery and watches from brands such as Patek Philippe, Rolex, and Breguet.
• In one of the display cases, you will see a replica of a Rolex watch that was taken to the bottom of the Mariana Trench by James Cameron, as mentioned in our article about deep-sea expeditions and bathyscaphes.

Polish version