Clock and Watch Museum NEW ACQUISITIONS 2024
This year, there are once again fascinating new additions to discover at the Beyer Clock and Watch Museum! In our 2024 special exhibition, we are showing selected masterpieces that combine history, craftsmanship and design in the most attractive way. From the sporty Rolex Daytona – launched to mark the 100th anniversary of the legendary Le Mans race – to delicate ladies’ and pendant watches from the 18th and 19th centuries: each piece is a masterpiece in its own right. You can look forward to classics from IWC, Patek Philippe, Chaumet and Ulysse Nardin, the finest enamel painting and technological rarities. Pay us a visit and let yourself be enchanted by the magic of time!
“OUR NEWCOMERS 2024”
Special exhibition: 23.06 - 31.10.2025
EFAP steering-wheel watch, 1950s, Neuchâtel, Zenith
This steering-wheel watch from EFAP (Eigenheer Fabrique d’Appareils de Précision) is wound by turning the glass front of the dial. The time can be set by pulling up the bezel and turning it. This is a mechanical watch with an 8-day power reserve; the movement is from Zenith. The seconds display is positioned at 6 o’clock. Such steering-wheel watches were found in postal buses and other vehicles.
Wall clock, ca. 1970, Geneva, Patek Philippe
Unostentatious wall clock with a white dial and a simple hour and minute display with indices. The case is made of metal and the clock has a quartz movement.
Ladies’ pendant watch, 1905, Geneva, Patek Philippe
Small pendant watch for ladies by Patek Philippe. Simple white dial with gold hour and minute hands, inner circle with black numerals and outer circle with gold numerals in five-minute intervals. Bezel decorated with floral motifs, back with monogram.
Enamel pocket watch, ca. 1800, Paris, Robert Robin
This beautiful pocket watch bordered by pearls on front and back is signed “Robin à Paris”. The movement bears the number 13705, while the winding mechanism comprises a very thin verge escapement and fusee. The back is adorned with an intricate enamel painting on a guilloché ground, depicting a lady with a man kneeling in front of her and holding her hand. In the 18th century, such thin movements could only be produced by top-class watchmakers. The movement is in its original condition and was overhauled in April 1998.
Pocket watch, 1782, Holland, GA Boumeester
Precisely crafted pocket watch with an ornately pierced double case and chased decoration depicting biblical scenes. The inner case bears London hallmarks for the year 1782 and the master’s mark “RP”. The dial features Roman hours, Arabic minutes and a 31-day central date display. The watchmaker GA Boumeester signed both the dial and the movement (no. 949). The mechanical movement with verge escapement, balance spring and chain was intended for the Dutch market. The watch is stored in a green stingray leather case with a glass cover.
Apple pendant watch, ca. 1800, Paris, Marchand Fils
Spherical pendant watch in the form of an apple. The simple, white, enamelled dial with Roman numerals contrasts with the ornately decorated case. The movement is wound with a key and is driven by a chain and fusee. The case is enamelled in green and red, with golden leafy tendrils and light-blue flowers, and even a small fly.
Egg pendant watch, mid-18th century, Geneva, J. Patron
The case of this special oval pendant watch is decorated with alternating stripes of light- and dark-blue enamel and volutes using the cannetille technique. This involves forming a framework of tendrils and intricate shapes from very fine gold wire, which is then attached to a surface. The inscription “J. Patron” on the dial cannot be conclusively attributed to a maker; both Jean-Louis and Jacques Patron worked as watchmakers in Geneva in the mid-18th century.
Ladies’ watch, after 1900, Paris/London, Chaumet
Small watch from Chaumet with a metal clip on the back so that it can be attached to clothing. The Chaumet company was founded in 1780 and, after several difficult decades, is now part of the LVMH Group (Louis Vuitton – Moët Hennessy SE), the world leader in the luxury goods industry. We can no longer determine exactly when the watch was produced. The “Londre” inscription on the dial points to the time after 1848, as the boutique in London did not open until then.
Wristwatch, 1960s, unsigned
This delicate white-gold wristwatch comes from the estate of Annette Beyer. She was the wife of Theodor Beyer, who began collecting timepieces and opened the Clock and Watch Museum in 1971. The dial only bears the dealer’s signature “Beyer”; the maker of the watch is unknown. It probably dates from the time around the 1960s.
Pendant watch, 1895, Geneva, Patek Philippe
Small Lépine pendant watch by Patek Philippe & Cie. Black hour and minute hands on a plain white dial with Roman numerals, with additional red Arabic numerals in increments of five minutes around the outside. The back of the watch is monogrammed with the letter “W”.
Pocket watch, ca. 1913, Le Locle, Ulysse Nardin
This chronometer pocket watch by Ulysse Nardin was sold in the clock and watch shop, A. Türler, on Paradeplatz in January 1913; it is accompanied by the guarantee certificate for the watch with movement number 14743. According to the engraving on the cover, the watch was a gift for Mr Johannes Maag in recognition of his services to Maggi GmbH between 1887 and 1912.
Pocket watch, ca. 1972, Schaffhausen, IWC
Elegant pocket watch with manual winding, equipped with the 952 calibre. The 750 yellow-gold case is fitted with Plexiglas; the silver-coloured dial features slim indices and small seconds at 6 o’clock. A classic example of IWC watchmaking from the early 1970s. The back is engraved with “W B Anika 4.3.75”.
Regulator with calendar movement, ca. 1880, Villingen, Germany, Wilde Brothers
This regulator with calendar movement was a gift from a customer. The clock and calendar movements needed to be carefully overhauled. The brass movement controls a separate calendar movement featuring two rollers with the weekdays and month names, as well as a winding spool for the date. The latter was particularly prone to malfunction – the ribbons frayed and tore easily, and were costly to replace. These weaknesses prevented series production. As a result, today such pieces are rare and highly sought-after. During restoration, the watchmaker had to draw on all his creative skills to solve the problem with the silk ribbons.
Men’s chronograph wristwatch, 1940s, St. Imier, Excelsior Park
This chronograph from the 1940s features a tachymeter and a telemeter scale. From the 1930s, Excelsior Park mainly produced sports watches and was soon so successful that it produced its own movements, which were used in Zenith watches, among others. Despite this success, the company went bankrupt in 1984.
Men’s wristwatch, ca. 1960, Schaffhausen, IWC
Men’s wristwatch by IWC, dating from around 1960. The 853 calibre was produced from 1958 to 1963. The movement has a 44-hour power reserve.
Men’s Cosmograph Daytona wristwatch, 2023, Geneva, Rolex
This special Rolex Cosmograph Daytona was launched to mark the centenary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race –recognisable by the red “100” on the bezel. Le Mans is considered the most famous long-distance race in the world and the ultimate challenge for man and machine. It combines technical innovation, endurance and team spirit and enjoys an iconic position in motorsport due to its history and drama. For many car manufacturers and drivers, a win at Le Mans is the greatest triumph of their career. The watch is a limited edition.
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