Caveman's Watch Forum

- A visit to Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle (Swiss trip 2011)

July 02, 2011 03:53PM

I mentioned this visit in not one but two earlier posts. If you missed them, it's probably worth going back to skim them. The second one, in particular, tells the story of how I came to visit only one of the major area horlogerie museums, and what is generally recognized to be the lesser one, at that.

And the same disclaimer that you first saw in the Musée Omega post applies:

Quote
Ricky Lee
I must apologize for the less-than-stellar quality of the photos. They're very much QnD.. shooting through the display case glass, there's not much choice in the matter. Even so, I discarded (many) photos I shot, as they were simply way too grotty to fool with. Out-of-focus, blinding reflections from the flash, etc.

Then, too, you'll find that these photos are smaller than the ones I usually post. But with (so many) photos, I'm thinkin' it's gonna take a while to load this post. Nor are there as many choices in hi-res links as I usually provide. To partially compensate for that I've left most of them in their native 7.1 megapixel (3072 x 2304) format, rather then resize them to 3.2 megapixels (2048 x 1536) as I customarily do.

I won't even attempt to comment on every photo, but I will say a word or two where I think it's beneficial.

Except that I discarded more than half the photos here! Photo by Ricky Lee

What can I say? The lighting at the Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle wasn't as good and, also, I learned a bit from this experience, and adjusted my technique at the Omega Museum.

But enough disclaiming! So, with those caveats, let's get On With The Show...

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

A not so random photo along the way. I never realized before that Landeron movements were named for a place. Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

The museum is housed in a very old country manor house called Château des Monts. It was built between 1780 and 1790 by one Samuel DuBois, who was himself a watchmaker (amongst other things).

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

There are some interesting exhibits on the grounds before you enter the museum proper..

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Entry is through the back door only, if you're a caveman... Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

The house is very nicely furnished, and I suspect that fans of antique furniture and furnishings, as well as woodworkers would enjoy it as much as any WIS.

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

This exhibit, "The Times Of The Watch", is devoted to the technical advancements in watchmaking from the 18th century to today. A fascinating display, I spent nearly an hour on it alone. I only wish my photos did it justice.. Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

The museum features some really nice antique advertising.

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

It should come as no surprise that there is a lot over overlap between watchmaking and other precision equipment. A machinist capable of making a watch can pretty much fabricate anything. Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Quite a respectable Photo by Ricky Lee

collection...

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

I believe it's a law that every Swiss horlogerie museum must have a Stuffed Watchmaker on display.. Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Photo by Ricky Lee

Click HERE for super-sized photo

Well, that's all they is and they ain't no mo'! Hope you enjoyed the tour!

Photo by Ricky Lee

-Ricky

"A watch should be worth looking at even when you already know the time" - vintage Omega ad

Messages In This Thread

- A visit to Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle (Swiss trip 2011)	Ricky Lee	272	July 02, 2011 03:53PM
Great tour Ricky. Pls remind to archive. (n/t)	Adam in NYC	100	July 02, 2011 04:29PM
I have a hard enough time keeping up with me own Personal . When it comes to the Official .. Sorry, y'all are entirely on yer own.	Ricky Lee	110	July 02, 2011 04:40PM
Fine, we won't archive it then. (n/t)	Adam in NYC	90	July 02, 2011 04:55PM
	Ricky Lee	87	July 02, 2011 05:12PM
Wow! That's a lot of stuff! Pretty Nifty! (n/t)	MCV	88	July 02, 2011 04:48PM
Bro. Marc. High praise indeed , coming from yourself.	Ricky Lee	105	July 02, 2011 05:29PM
Another amazing tour Ricky!!!! Lots of very wonderful timepieces there.... Not to mention.....FURNISHINGS!!! Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!!	dano0	99	July 02, 2011 05:30PM
Re: Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!! Sure, but some of that stuff you got to wonder turn of which century?	Ricky Lee	94	July 02, 2011 06:49PM
Excellent thread Ricky...various period works there such as Rococo, Guilded as well as Gothic revival & more of course. I throughly enjoyed the 2 previous leed ups to this fine thread and you did a wonderful job with it's evolutionary finale! Cheers & Congrats on having a fine trip & tour, Jim	Poseidon-Jim	108	July 02, 2011 11:01PM
You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character. The evil and insidious Rocky Rococo^. I'll go out on a limb and say we have at least one other PMWF member who recalls Rocky, since he was a chief nemesis of Nick Danger. Quote Poseidon-Jim* Cheers & Congrats on having a fine trip & tour. Thanks mate , I do appreciate the kind words. -Ricky ^* P.s. for Chris Larson - yeah, I know about the Wisconsin pizza purveyors who stole the name.	Ricky Lee	104	July 03, 2011 09:17AM
Re: You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character. Same here Ricky, Rococo seems to be a drug to people sometimes, it makes them take on the arch nemesis role. The trouble is, there are many Rococo's out there! LOL Cheers, Jim	Poseidon-Jim	70	August 10, 2011 09:30AM
Nice tour man >> The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece!	wodo	90	July 03, 2011 01:47AM
Re: The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece! Indeed it is. There was so much nice/rare stuff there that, after a while, sensory overload sets in. Quote wodo Nice tour man	Ricky Lee	87	July 03, 2011 09:28AM
One more wow! and one more precioustopic! Bravo Ricky! (n/t)	IF	83	July 03, 2011 06:54AM
Thanks Bro. Yannis! I still regret.. ..missing the main attraction. But that only means I have the perfect excuse for a return visit!	Ricky Lee	110	July 03, 2011 09:33AM
Beautiful! Thanks for sharing (again!). (n/t)	DJM	88	July 03, 2011 08:37AM
I assure you 'twas my pleasure. (n/t)	Ricky Lee	93	July 03, 2011 09:34AM
sensory overload is right, thanks again (n/t)	Cleans Up	89	July 03, 2011 01:56PM

Part One - Prequel	Part Ten - Travel Day, Giant Swiss Knife
Part Two - Arrival / Fribourg	Part Eleven - More Window Shopping
Part Three - Biel / Bienne	Part Twelve - Swiss vehicles
Part Four - Window Shopping	Part Thirteen - Homeward Bound
Part Five - Neuchatel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Jura mountains	Part Fourteen - Bumotec and Hysek tours
Part Six - Swiss Cows, Misc.	Part Fifteen - Musée Omega
Part Seven - Starting Gun	Part Sixteen - Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle
Part Eight - Side trip	Part Seventeen - Martin and Ueli do Memphis
Part Nine - M-Z factory, Patek	< Return to Watch Blog Index >

< Next installment is HERE >

Caveman's Watch Forum

- A visit to Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle (Swiss trip 2011)

- A visit to Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle (Swiss trip 2011)

Great tour Ricky. Pls remind to archive. (n/t)

I have a hard enough time keeping up with me own Personal .
When it comes to the Official .. Sorry, y'all are entirely on yer own.

Fine, we won't archive it then. (n/t)

Wow! That's a lot of stuff! Pretty Nifty! (n/t)

Bro. Marc.
High praise indeed , coming from yourself.

Another amazing tour Ricky!!!! Lots of very wonderful timepieces there....
Not to mention.....FURNISHINGS!!! Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!!

Re: Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!!
Sure, but some of that stuff you got to wonder turn of which century?

Excellent thread Ricky...various period works there such as Rococo, Guilded
as well as Gothic revival & more of course.

I throughly enjoyed the 2 previous leed ups to this fine thread and you did a wonderful job with it's evolutionary finale!

Cheers & Congrats on having a fine trip & tour,

Jim

You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character.
The evil and insidious Rocky Rococo^*.

I'll go out on a limb and say we have at least one other PMWF member who recalls Rocky, since he was a chief nemesis of Nick Danger.

Re: You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character.
Same here Ricky,

Rococo seems to be a drug to people sometimes, it makes them take on the arch nemesis role. The trouble is, there are many Rococo's out there! LOL

Cheers, Jim

Nice tour man >>

The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece!

Re: The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece!
Indeed it is. There was so much nice/rare stuff there that, after a while, sensory overload sets in.

One more wow! and one more precioustopic! Bravo Ricky! (n/t)

Thanks Bro. Yannis! I still regret..
..missing the main attraction.

But that only means I have the perfect excuse for a return visit!

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing (again!). (n/t)

I assure you 'twas my pleasure. (n/t)

sensory overload is right, thanks again (n/t)

Caveman's Watch Forum

- A visit to Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle (Swiss trip 2011)

- A visit to Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle (Swiss trip 2011)

Great tour Ricky. Pls remind to archive. (n/t)

I have a hard enough time keeping up with me own Personal . When it comes to the Official .. Sorry, y'all are entirely on yer own.

Fine, we won't archive it then. (n/t)

Wow! That's a lot of stuff! Pretty Nifty! (n/t)

Bro. Marc. High praise indeed , coming from yourself.

Another amazing tour Ricky!!!! Lots of very wonderful timepieces there.... Not to mention.....FURNISHINGS!!! Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!!

Re: Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!! Sure, but some of that stuff you got to wonder turn of which century?

Excellent thread Ricky...various period works there such as Rococo, Guilded as well as Gothic revival & more of course. I throughly enjoyed the 2 previous leed ups to this fine thread and you did a wonderful job with it's evolutionary finale! Cheers & Congrats on having a fine trip & tour, Jim

You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character. The evil and insidious Rocky Rococo*. I'll go out on a limb and say we have at least one other PMWF member who recalls Rocky, since he was a chief nemesis of Nick Danger.

Re: You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character. Same here Ricky, Rococo seems to be a drug to people sometimes, it makes them take on the arch nemesis role. The trouble is, there are many Rococo's out there! LOL Cheers, Jim

Nice tour man >> The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece!

Re: The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece! Indeed it is. There was so much nice/rare stuff there that, after a while, sensory overload sets in.

One more wow! and one more precioustopic! Bravo Ricky! (n/t)

Thanks Bro. Yannis! I still regret.. ..missing the main attraction. But that only means I have the perfect excuse for a return visit!

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing (again!). (n/t)

I assure you 'twas my pleasure. (n/t)

sensory overload is right, thanks again (n/t)

I have a hard enough time keeping up with me own Personal .
When it comes to the Official .. Sorry, y'all are entirely on yer own.

Bro. Marc.
High praise indeed , coming from yourself.

Another amazing tour Ricky!!!! Lots of very wonderful timepieces there....
Not to mention.....FURNISHINGS!!! Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!!

Re: Man, I'd love to have some of that turn of the century furniture!!!
Sure, but some of that stuff you got to wonder turn of which century?

Excellent thread Ricky...various period works there such as Rococo, Guilded
as well as Gothic revival & more of course.

I throughly enjoyed the 2 previous leed ups to this fine thread and you did a wonderful job with it's evolutionary finale!

Cheers & Congrats on having a fine trip & tour,

Jim

You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character.
The evil and insidious Rocky Rococo^*.

I'll go out on a limb and say we have at least one other PMWF member who recalls Rocky, since he was a chief nemesis of Nick Danger.

Re: You have managed to remind me of a favorite National Lampoon character.
Same here Ricky,

Rococo seems to be a drug to people sometimes, it makes them take on the arch nemesis role. The trouble is, there are many Rococo's out there! LOL

Cheers, Jim

Nice tour man >>

The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece!

Re: The top left One hand only pocket watch is a nice/rare piece!
Indeed it is. There was so much nice/rare stuff there that, after a while, sensory overload sets in.

Thanks Bro. Yannis! I still regret..
..missing the main attraction.

But that only means I have the perfect excuse for a return visit!