Sources
The foundation
Our source partners
The aim of the foundation is to bring together a growing number of diverse sources, with the aim of safeguarding the documentary heritage of watchmaking, making it available to the public and nurturing the passion for watchmaking that exists across the globe.
Thanks to our source partners, the horological "big data" repository takes form. The sources will allow The Watch Library to make available to watchmaking professionals and the general public, watchmaking documents that are today difficult to access, forgotten or even unknown. The platform thus establishes a link between the public and hundreds of documentary resources through digitization.
SOURCE / PARTNER
Musée international d'horlogerie
Musée international d'horlogerie (MIH) presents the most significant watchmaking collection in the world. It retraces in a lively and entertaining way the technical, artistic, social, economic and cultural history of Swiss and international watchmaking, in the heart of the watchmaking town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Musée international d'horlogerie
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
Musée d'art et d’histoire de Genève
The Museum of Art and History houses collections of archaeology and numismatics, applied arts, fine arts and graphic arts. The Horlogerie, Emaillerie, Bijouterie section houses a collection of watchmaking archives, including those of Louis Cottier, famous for his world time mechanism.
SOURCE / PARTNER
Horological Society of New York
Founded in 1866, the Horological Society of New York (HSNY) is one of the oldest continuously operating horological associations in the world. HSNY is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the art and science of horology through education.
Horological Society of New York
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
Federation of Swiss Watch industry (FH)
As a leading association, the FH represents around 500 members, or more than 90% of Swiss firms active in the production and sale of watches, clocks and components. Its main missions are to protect and develop the Swiss watch industry and to represent the entire sector, both in Switzerland and abroad.
Federation of Swiss Watch industry (FH)
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCES / PARTNERS
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
As the keeper of 40 million documents, the BnF collects, preserves and disseminates knowledge. An exceptional space for reading, study and research, it brings its collections to life through its museum, exhibitions and events, and its publications, online conferences, podcasts, and through its digital library Gallica with its 10 million documents available online.
Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF)
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
Le Temps
A general French-language daily newspaper founded in 1998, it brings together the archives of the Gazette de Lausanne (1798-1991), the Journal de Genève (1826-1998) and the Nouveau Quotidien (1991-1998)
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
Europa Star
Founded in 1927 in Geneva and still managed by the founding family, Europa Star reaches the global watch community through its portfolio of magazines and websites dedicated to watchmaking. The media’s key principle is adding editorial value, which means that its writing remains relevant over the long term.
LICENCE: ©Europa Star. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Europa Star HBM SA Geneva. Contact: [email protected] Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE
Swisstime
The Swisstime platform was developed by communication agency Darwel, supporting numerous Swiss and international brands in developing their media presence, particularly at major events such as the Basel fair. Its database includes original texts and pictures dating from 1963 to 2019. It has since been acquired and integrated into the Europa Star collections
LICENCE: ©Europa Star. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of Europa Star HBM SA Geneva. Contact: [email protected] Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
RTS
Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), an audiovisual enterprise belonging to the SRG Group, develops its public service programmes on four radio channels, two TV channels and several interactive platforms.
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
Bibliothèque de la Ville (City Library), La Chaux-de-Fonds
Since its foundation in 1838, the library has contributed to the cultural influence of La Chaux-de-Fonds. In addition to its public reading activities, it is responsible for the conservation and promotion of the audiovisual heritage of the canton of Neuchâtel, private archives and printed materials from the Neuchâtel mountains. Watchmaking occupies a prominent place in its collections: specialized magazines, posters, films and photographs allow us to grasp the history of this industry in all its richness.
Bibliothèque de la Ville (City Library), La Chaux-de-Fonds
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
e-rara
e-rara is the portal for digitised printed works from Swiss libraries. These works range from books and maps to illustrated materials – from the earliest days of book printing to the 20th century.
LICENCE: Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0
Rights of use reside with the partner institutions: Provided the source is stated, the published documents may be freely used for scientific, private, non-commercial and commercial purposes and passed on under the same conditions in the event of changes. The source can be found in the title view. The documents are licensed under Creative Commons BY-SA 4.0. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
Chronometrophilia
Chronométrophilia is a Swiss association of watch connoisseurs created in 1975. Its objective is to bring together watch amateurs, professionals and collectors and provide them with contacts, historical, scientific and artistic information on watchmaking and the measurement of time.
LICENCE: Public domain
Access to linked Documents and Metadata is permitted solely for personal, non-commercial, academic or scientific use and provided that the attached source information is retained. The Watch Library legal notice here
SOURCE / PARTNER
E-Periodica
ETH Zurich E-periodica : revues suisses en ligne. Un service de la Bibliothèque de l'ETH
LICENCE: The documents published on the E-Periodica platform are freely available for non-commercial purposes in teaching and research and for private use. Files or printouts from E-Periodica may be provided to third parties given the correct specification of sources and a reference to E-Periodica.
SOURCE / PARTNER
David Rumsey Maps collection
The historical map collection has over 131,000 maps and related images online. The collection includes rare 16th through 21st century maps of North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, the Pacific, the Arctic, and the World. The online map collection is a searchable database that allows you to make your own journeys into spatial representations of the past. The physical collection at the David Rumsey Map Center is at the Stanford University Library.
LICENCE: Images from this web site and database may be reproduced or transmitted and used without charge for personal use or in any publication, either in print or digital media, by any for profit or non profit publisher. Please contact us for permission if you intend to make reproductions of our maps as stand alone for sale facsimiles. Contact [email protected]
SOURCE / PARTNER
À La Clinique Horlogère
Created in 1987 by Christian Etienne, master watchmaker, specialized in the restoration of antique watches. At the Clinique Horlogère is a unique workshop offering the assembly of complicated movements for manufacturers, the restoration of antique watches and expertise for watch companies, museums and insurance companies. Design, prototyping and production of unique pieces. Christian Etienne is also eager to share the history of watchmaking through his own archival research.
SOURCE / PARTNER
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chronometrie (DGC)
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Chronometrie (DGC) was founded in 1949. Today, its focus is on historical and scientific work in all horological areas. Since its foundation, the DGC continuously publishes yearbooks with the results of research of its members. The DGC operates a comprehensive horological library open to the public with more than 26,000 records. Since 2009, the DGC has been working on the digitisation of its assets and is now covering more than 1 million digitised items.
PHILLIPS in Association with BACS & RUSSO (DGC)
Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo is the watch department at Phillips auction house, dedicated exclusively to the world's finest collectors' watches. Launched in November 2014 by Aurel Bacs and his partner, Livia Russo, the department was established in response to the ever-increasing need for today's collectors to easily access scholarship, guidance and quality across the board. The team of specialists at Phillips Watches is dedicated to an uncompromised approach to quality, transparency, and client service
SOURCE / PARTNER
Antiquorum (DGC)
Established in 1974 in Geneva, Antiquorum is the world's oldest watch auction house. It has distinguished itself with exceptional lots and record-setting results, making history. The selections at its auctions span the entire history of watchmaking, attracting collectors of all types. With regular auctions and offices worldwide, it continues to grow and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2024 as a leading force in the watch auction market.
berner
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