World Tourism Day Special: A Watch Enthusiast’s Guide To Globetrotting
5 min read
It’s true that time waits for no one - but if you’re a watch lover, you’ll happily chase it across the globe. Well, for the 1.5 billion that make the annual international tourist traffic, it’s highly likely that vacations are all about beaches, cocktails and selfies at the very generic destinations. For the horologically inclined though, the former can be realized with a sufficing of watches-related endeavors as well.
When you are neck-deep into a passion for watches and obsessively enticed by its consequents, it makes up a serious aspect of everything you do, think and wish for. The traces of watchmaking and its wonderfully preserved realizations make up a surprising residence in almost every city you could ever travel to and thus, for those who seek something beyond the basic itinerary, every trip could possibly be a horological pilgrimage.
So, pack your bags and get ready for a new kind of travel, as we uncover the must-visit spots for watch lovers across the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
Tokyo, Japan
Japan, alongside Switzerland and Germany, makes the list of the most prominent watchmaking destinations globally. According to the statistics by the Japan Watch & Clock Association, the country produced 49.7 million watches in 2024. With a watchmaking history that can be traced back to the mid-16th century, Japan is rich in horological heritage.
Must-Do Activity: The capital city of Tokyo, with an annual tourist footfall of around 19 million visitors, is one of the most popular travel destinations in Japan. Beyond the beckoning sights and sounds of this city, rare spectacles of horological imperativeness find a lodging here. The Seiko Museum in Ginza, Tokyo is of particular horological interest and hosts a thorough collection of diverse timekeeping devices with sections dedicated to the brand Seiko alongside everything from ancient sundials to the groundbreaking quartz innovation.
Prague, Czech Republic
If you find interest in the history of horology and astronomy in particular, the city of Prague will surprise you beyond its romantic stone bridges and grand churches. Mounted on the southern wall of the city’s Old Town Hall is the world’s oldest preserved astronomical clock - the Prague Orloj.
Must-Do Activity: Dating back to 1410, the astronomical clock is one of the most iconic sites in Prague, a city that hosts around 8 million tourists annually. The Orloj displays Babylonian time, German time, Old Bohemian time, and Sidereal time, along with the phases of the moon and the sun’s journey across the constellations of the zodiac. It also contains a calendar dial which shows the day of the week and month, and feast days. For every hour between 8 am and 11 pm, there’s a parade of twelve apostles through two open windows.
As a true relic of horological history, a visit to the Prague Orloj must be on every traveler’s itinerary to “The City of a Thousand Spires.”
Geneva, Switzerland
Home to the greatest Maison’s, the city of Geneva is the holy grail of all watchmaking destinations. As a place of tourism interest, Geneva is a nice quiet city by the lake to hang around. While it’s no Paris, London or Berlin in regards to life-changing travel experiences, the lakeside municipality is undoubtedly the Mecca of horology and, for us watch nerds, that’s all that matters.
Must-Do Activity: For any horological pilgrimage, Geneva makes the obligatory top-spot and the Patek Philippe Museum is of particular interest in this regard. Built in 2001, here you can explore five centuries of horological history showcased via more than 2,500 watches and rare artifacts, along with a comprehensive library of over 8,000 publications dedicated to timekeeping. Being the birthplace of fine watchmaking, Geneva offers a horological-vibe like no other city and as its undisputed cradle, it’s going to be a humbling and awe-inspiring experience in equal measures.
Jerusalem, Israel
Jerusalem is one of the world’s oldest and most historic cities. It’s also where the oldest religions and cultures converge amongst a dense backdrop of historically significant sites.
Must-Do Activity: The Museum of Islamic Art in Jerusalem houses a comprehensive collection of Islamic art masterpieces from around the globe. It’s also where a rare selection of clocks, watches, and astrolabes resides. Founded in 2008, the museum curates more than 200 exquisite horological artifacts, hallmarked by 55 remarkable timepieces crafted by none other than Abraham-Louis Breguet. This extraordinary assemblage owes much to Sir David Lionel Salomons, one of Breguet’s most prolific collectors.
Among these treasures rests a piece of near-mythical renown - Breguet’s No. 160 “The Grand Complication,” immortalized as the “Marie Antoinette.” From its commission to completion, it took more than 40 years to develop the fabled timepiece with a somewhat tormented history. It was stolen, along with 108 pieces from Solomon’s collection, in 1983 from the then L.A. Mayer Institute for Islamic Art in Jerusalem, only to reappear more than two decades later in 2007. Created without a budget and featuring 823 components, the “Marie Antoinette” is believed to be the most valuable watch in the world (in 2013, the watch was valued at $30 million), and is for many, the only tangible realization of a “true holy grail.”
London, United Kingdom
London welcomes over 20 million visitors annually and best describes a two-fold narrative. Literally crowded with iconic landmarks and time-honored art, London is equally beckoning for its contemporary tourist draws and a unique multi-cultural vibe. London, one of the most visited tourist destinations on the planet (annual tourist footfall is over 20 million), serves as the capital of fashion, culture, and finance.
Must-Do Activity: Britain’s dominance in watchmaking is indomitable. In the 1800s, Britain produced around half of the world’s timepieces - that’s about 200,000 a year. Some of this peerless heritage is preserved in The British Museum and the Science Museum. The former curates a horological collection of over 900 clocks and 4,500 watches, while the latter is exhaustingly rich in the works of John Harrison and George Daniels and displays over 600 watches, 90 clocks, and 30 marine chronometers.
Timeless Journey’s Await
As we celebrate World Tourism Day, it’s ideal for watch lovers to plan travel adventures that tick-tock all the right boxes for their future trips. Just remember, the world’s most incredible stories are often told not just through iconic landmarks or natural wonders, but also by virtue of the incredible craft of horology.
