In Saint-Imier, the Longines Museum traces the history of the winged hourglass brand since its founding in 1832. In the manufacture’s historic buildings, you’ll discover watches, archives, navigation instruments and timing devices.
Themed museums
Main highlights
- Over 400 watches, navigation instruments and timing devices on display
- Louis Brandt’s workbench, used more than 160 years ago, among the exhibits
- Olympic timekeeping : devices tracing the brand’s link with sport since 1932
Overview
The Longines Museum tells the story of the brand founded in 1832 in Saint-Imier by Auguste Agassiz. In 1867, his nephew Ernest Francillon opened the first factory to bring all stages of timepiece production together under one roof.
He chose the winged hourglass logo and named the watches after the locality “Les Longines”, meaning “long meadows” in the local dialect. The museum occupies the manufacture’s historic buildings, just below the centre of Saint-Imier, which also house the company’s headquarters and workshops.
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What to see and do
The tour follows the brand’s values : watchmaking tradition, innovation, adventure, sport and elegance. The area devoted to craftsmanship presents the company’s technical advances through iconic watches and archives, in a modern exhibition design. Highlights include Louis Brandt’s workbench.
The section on great feats shows how Longines watches accompanied exploration missions, withstood extreme weather conditions and helped open up air routes. The timing devices illustrate the brand’s Olympic history since 1932.
One room is dedicated to the slogan “Elegance is an attitude”, used since 1999. Advertisements from every era and elegantly designed models, some in precious materials, are on display.
Practical information
Getting there : the museum is located in the manufacture’s buildings, just below the centre of Saint-Imier.
Visits : by guided tour only, in French, German or English, booked at least 24 hours in advance.
Visit duration : about 1 hour 15 minutes for the guided tour.
Ideal for : enthusiasts of watchmaking, industrial history and sport.
Visitor tips
Book your visit in advance by phone or via the form on the museum’s website, as access is only possible with a guide. Take advantage of the guide’s explanations to ask questions about the exhibits.
Allow some time after the visit to explore Saint-Imier’s historic centre, a few minutes’ walk away.
Nearby
- Chasseral, a Jura summit accessible from Nods, offers a panoramic view of the Alps.
- The MIH International Museum of Horology in La Chaux-de-Fonds traces the history of timekeeping.
- The Les Cerlatez Nature Centre showcases the forests, ponds and peat bogs of the Franches-Montagnes.
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