See the actual manufacturing process at a watch workshop.

How are the beloved watches you wear every day made? You can learn more about the passion of the craftsmen who put into watches and the depth of their manufacturing by visiting watch workshops and museums. Here we introduce workshops in Japan and museums in Switzerland where you can tour and experience making a watch.

The appeal of watch workshops

When you are impressed by the mechanism of a watch, have you ever wondered who made it and how?

A visit to a watch workshop gives you a glimpse of this, and in some workshops you can even experience what it's like to be a watchmaker.

You can actually see the manufacturing process

One of the great attractions of watch workshops is that you can see up close the watch manufacturing process, such as assembling the movement and casing. Some of the workshops of leading Japanese brands, such as Grand Seiko, allow visitors to tour the workshops.

You can see some of the most skilled craftsmen in the country at work, and the watches being made right before your eyes will actually be sold as high-end domestic watches. It's definitely worth a visit for fans of the brand, and for anyone who loves watches.

There is also a workshop where you can try out the crafts

In addition to tours, there is also a watch workshop where you can experience watchmaking under the guidance of a watchmaker.

In some workshops, visitors can experience polishing cases and disassembling and assembling movements, and the parts and equipment they come into contact with are the same as those used in actual manufacturing.

There are also watch workshops where you can create your own original watch by combining your favorite parts, such as the case and dial. It would be fun to add a watch you have made to your collection.

Factories and workshops of major Japanese brands

When it comes to Japan's most famous watch brands, the names Citizen and Grand Seiko undoubtedly come to mind. Let's take a look at these manufacturers that Japan is proud of.

Citizen Watch Manufacturing Iida Tonooka Factory, which carries out integrated in-house production

The Citizen Watch Manufacturing Iida Tonooka Factory in Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, has an automated assembly line for mass-produced movements, as well as the Minami Shinshu Luxury Watch Workshop, where luxury watches are assembled by hand.

You can see how Citizen Watch Manufacturing Co., Ltd. carries out its in-house integrated production process, from watch movement parts to finished watches, on its official website below.

Official link: Citizen Watch Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Shizukuishi Luxury Watch Workshop, where Grand Seiko watches are manufactured

The Shizukuishi High-End Watch Workshop in Shizukuishi, Iwate Prefecture, is one of Grand Seiko's manufacturing bases and is known as a mecca for mechanical watches. It is a manufacture that handles all aspects of Grand Seiko's mechanical models, including parts manufacturing, assembly, adjustment, and casing.

On July 20, 2020, a new facility for manufacturing Grand Seiko mechanical watches, Grand Seiko Studio Shizukuishi, opened within the same workshop.

The studio will include a specialized workshop where dedicated watchmakers assemble and adjust watches, an exhibition space where you can learn about the brand's history, and even a lounge with a panoramic view of the famous Mount Iwate. It will be a place where you can fully enjoy Grand Seiko's manufacturing and the beautiful nature that gives rise to it.

Official link: Contact Us | Morioka Seiko Instruments Co., Ltd.

Recommended workshops where you can experience

Many watch enthusiasts believe that the appeal of watches lies in their profound mechanisms. Have you ever felt this desire grow and wished you could make one yourself? Next, we will introduce a hands-on workshop where you can create your own watch.

ATELIER SAZANCA can make anything from wood to metal

ATELIER SAZANCA in Funabashi City, Chiba Prefecture is a watch workshop where you can create a wooden quartz watch in about three hours by combining the case and dial.

If you are particular about the case shape and original design, you can also take the two-day professional wooden watchmaking class or the three-day metal watchmaking class.

Official link: Wooden watch ATELIER SAZANCA

"Gishodo Watch Workshop" where you can experience mechanical watches

Gishodo Clock Workshop in Suwa County, Nagano Prefecture, is a clock workshop where you can experience assembling quartz and mechanical clocks under the guidance of a former Seiko Epson watchmaker.

You can experience assembling the movements of both quartz and mechanical three-hand models. This is a rare watch workshop where you can get a taste of what it's like to be a watchmaker.

Official link: Gishodo Watch Workshop

Visit the authentic Swiss museum

When pursuing advanced mechanisms, it is inevitable to mention the presence of top Swiss watchmakers. Here, we will introduce museums owned by Patek Philippe and IWC, which are a must-visit for anyone wanting to learn about the history of watches.

Patek Philippe Museum

The Patek Philippe Museum in the Plainpalais district of Geneva, Switzerland, displays valuable antique watches and documents owned by Patek Philippe.

Exhibits include over 2000 clocks and objects from the 16th century to the present day, as well as over 8000 books on time and time measurement.

The museum also has an antique watch repair workshop where you can see the skills of skilled craftsmen up close. You can book a private guided tour with a Japanese guide through the Patek Philippe official website.

Official link: Patek Philippe Museum

IWC Museum

The IWC Museum, located inside the IWC Schaffhausen headquarters, displays a selection of over 230 IWC masterpieces, as well as ledgers containing detailed information about the collection.

The museum is packed with valuable historical documents that will be coveted by IWC fans, including numerous "Jones movements" created by founder Florentine Ariosto Jones.

The museum in the east wing also hosts special exhibitions featuring catalogs and blueprints published after 1900.

Official Link: Journey Through History | IWC Museum

Let's visit a watch workshop

Watch workshops in countries such as Japan and Switzerland are places that watch enthusiasts should visit at least once.

Seeing the actual production of a watch increases the joy of owning a new model, and coming into contact with historical documents deepens your understanding of watches. One way to appreciate the appeal of watches is to approach them from the perspective of their actual production site and history.