In view of its 50th anniversary in 2009, the Watch Museum of Le Locle, Château des Monts, will organize the first international chronometry contest of the 21st century.



This contest is based on the observatory contests of the 19th century, which stopped in the second half of the 20th century. The contest will proceed with a scientific, technical and cultural approach intended to promote the know-how of the watchmakers, craftsmen and manufacturers, who share the passion for perfection which grounded the history of watch making.

Our goal is to relaunch the interest of the chronometry in the contemporary watch-making while leading an innovative experience experiment, it to take up with a know-how by adapting it to the modern techniques of control of watches presented to the competition.

The international chronometry contest is jointly organized by the Swiss Official Chronometry Control Office (COSC), the Observatory in Besançon (France), the University of Applied Science ARC Engineering in Le Locle (Switzerland), with assistance from the Swiss Chronometry Society and in partnership with the French Watch Forum, Forumamontres.

The jury will be composed of independent personalities who guarantee the scientific validity of the test results.

Dr. Claude Nicollier will be the President of the honorary committee of the international chronometry contest.

The contest is open for all mechanical wristwatches fulfilling the category 1 of the ISO 3159 norm (maximal height: 15 mm; maximal diameter: 36 mm). The watches will undergo the ISO 3159 tests at the observatory of the COSC in Le Locle and at the observatory in Besançon. The magnetism and vibration tests will be done at the University of Applied Science ARC Engineering in Le Locle.

The participants can apply in the following categories:

 private individuals

 Schools

 Watch brands and movement manufacturers

The contest is open for participants from Switzerland, the European Union member states, and the Russian Federation.

The rules will be finalized officially in May 2008; the applicants will be able to apply then.

The deadline for applications is September 5, 2008 at 12 o’clock noon Swiss time (10 am GMT). The name of the participants will be announced at the annual meeting of the Swiss Chronometry Society on the 17th of September 2008.

The contest will start officially on May 23, 2009 during the festivities of the 50th anniversary of the watch museum of Le Locle, Château des Monts. The results will be presented in 2010 together with a special exhibition at the museum.



More information:
www.chronometrie2009.ch

Contact:[email protected]

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