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Joshua Hendren

Contributing writer for Style by SCMP, specialising in jewellery, watches and pop culture


Whether you’re a collector or simply curious about watchmaking, travel can offer a way to connect with horology beyond boutiques. From specialist museums to historic workshops and brand archives, these destinations reveal the places and stories that have helped shape the craft.
German Watch Museum, Glashütte, Germany

The small town of Glashütte has been synonymous with German watchmaking since the mid-19th century, and its dedicated museum presents a thorough review of that legacy. The German Watch Museum contains more than 500 pieces spanning pocket watches, wristwatches and pendulum clocks, including pieces from brands such as Glashütte Original, a founding partner of the museum. Interactive stations allow visitors to explore how mechanical movements work, while a walk-in encyclopaedia and hands-on exhibits help demystify the craft. A highlight is the historic restoration workshop where visitors can observe trained watchmakers at work.
Musée International d’Horlogerie, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

Built directly into the hillside of La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss Jura Mountains, the Musée International d’Horlogerie is the world’s largest museum dedicated to the history of timekeeping. It houses thousands of watches, clocks, automata and horological tools, ranging from sundials to atomic clocks. The museum’s award-winning subterranean architecture creates a quiet, immersive environment, while themed exhibitions explore the technical, social and artistic dimensions of measuring time. Each November, the museum hosts the one-day Bourse Suisse d’Horlogerie fair, where collectors, watchmakers and dealers gather to trade timepieces, tools, books and other horological objects.
Panerai Boutique, Florence, Italy

The historic headquarters of Panerai in Florence reopened in 2019 as both a flagship boutique and a museum space, celebrating the brand’s Italian roots and naval heritage. Located on Piazza San Giovanni, the space combines original furniture and archival materials with contemporary displays that highlight Panerai’s signature models – including the Radiomir and Luminor. Each display is rendered in Panerai’s distinctive visual language, drawing inspiration from the brand’s early ties to the Italian navy. Upstairs, visitors can view historical instruments and documents, along with a wax figure of founder Giuseppe Panerai seated at his desk, created by the Musée Grévin in Paris.
Seiko Museum Ginza, Tokyo, Japan

In Tokyo’s Ginza district, the Seiko Museum offers a detailed look at the origins of Japan’s watch industry, told through the life and work of Seiko founder Kintaro Hattori. The multi-floor exhibition leads you up through a rich archive of innovations, from early wall clocks to Japan’s first domestically produced wristwatch, the Laurel. Later floors highlight the rise of Grand Seiko and the brand’s most technically ambitious timepieces. A nearly six-metre-tall pendulum clock stands at the entrance, and the top floor of the building is home to the atelier where Grand Seiko’s most complex watches are assembled – including the Kodo Constant-Force Tourbillon, the brand’s first mechanical complication watch.
Clockmakers’ Museum, London, United Kingdom

Tucked inside the Science Museum in London’s South Kensington, the Clockmakers’ Museum holds the world’s oldest surviving collection of watches and clocks. Assembled by the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers – an institution founded in 1631 – the collection spans more than five centuries of horological development, with significant pieces from figures such as David Ramsay, who served as clockmaker to King James I; John Harrison, whose marine timekeepers revolutionised navigation in the 18th century; and George Daniels, one of the most important British watchmakers of the 20th century. Among the highlights are the fifth marine timekeeper made by Harrison in 1770; a watch used on Captain George Vancouver’s 18th-century Pacific expedition; and the Rolex worn by Sir Edmund Hillary during his Everest ascent in 1953. The museum is compact but rich in historical detail, and offers an excellent overview of Britain’s contribution to the craft.
National Watch and Clock Museum, Columbia, United States

In the quiet town of Columbia, Pennsylvania, the National Watch and Clock Museum offers a sweeping journey through the history of timekeeping with over 12,000 objects in its collection. From early sundials to Cold War-era atomic clocks, the pieces show how humans have measured time across cultures and centuries. Central to the museum’s appeal is the Engle Monumental Clock – a massive automaton built over two decades – and interactive exhibits that demystify the mechanics of watchmaking for visitors of all ages.
Vacheron Constantin Clock Tower, Geneva, Switzerland

The Tour de l’Île is a meaningful site for any fan of Vacheron Constantin. The maison established its headquarters in Geneva in 1843 and the building’s 13th-century tower still bears the brand’s name on its stone facade – a rare and historic public-facing symbol in the world of haute horlogerie. Though closed to visitors, the site remains an important landmark, representing the legacy of the oldest continuously operating watch manufacturer in the world.
Kurono Tokyo Aoyama Salon, Tokyo, Japan

Tucked into the streets of Tokyo’s Aoyama district, the Kurono Tokyo Aoyama Salon is more than a boutique, but rather a gathering space for watch lovers. Designed by independent watchmaker Hajime Asaoka, the salon offers a tranquil experience in keeping with the brand’s ethos. It isn’t a typical storefront – many launches remain online-only – but visiting lets collectors soak in the world of Kurono up close, from curated displays to the subtle atmosphere Asaoka intended for friends of the brand.


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Timepieces

The world’s best watch museums, workshops and archives, from Panerai to Seiko

A fresco at the Musée International d’Horlogerie in Switzerland. Photo: Handout

The German Watch Museum in Glashütte has more than 500 pieces on display. Photo: René Gaens

A fresco at the Musée International d’Horlogerie, which is dedicated to timekeeping history. Photo: Handout

Panerai Boutique is a flagship store with a museum space. Photo: Handout

The world’s first quartz watch, the Seiko Astron, at the Seiko Museum Ginza. Photo: Handout

A watch created by John Arnold at The Clockmakers’ Museum. Photo: Handout

The National Watch and Clock Museum has over 12,000 items in its collection. Photo: Handout

The Vacheron Constantin clock tower is a historic site. Photo: Handout

Kurono Tokyo Aoyama Salon in Tokyo features curated displays. Photo: Handout

Nadine Ghosn on her US$41k Toothbrush Bracelet and her love of watches, starting with Chanel

Nadine Ghosn on her favourite watches, and how her popular and quirky designs, including her Toothbrush and Crayola jewellery, came to be. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Nadine Ghosn pairs a Patek Philippe Nautilus watch with her instantly iconic Toothbrush Bracelet. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Nadine Ghosn pairs a Patek Philippe Ellipse with an Audemars Piguet Mini Royal Oak on her left wrist, and stacks her own bracelets on the right. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

The Toothbrush Bracelet is an intricate piece featuring ruby cabochons and three lines of gold. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Audemars Piguet black ceramic limited edition Carolina Bucci. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Nadine Ghosn’s Berneron Mirage Viridian (foreground) and JAR watch. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Nadine Ghosn’s collaboration with Crayola inspires nostalgia for childhood. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

Nadine Ghosn’s beloved watch collection. Photo: Jocelyn Tam

2025 in timepieces: 9 top moments in watches this year, from Donald Trump’s tariffs to the return of Urban Jürgensen

From left: Watches and Wonders; GPHG caps off the year by announcing winning watches in Geneva; Urban Jürgensen was relaunched. Photo: Handout

Daniel Roth’s Extra Plat Souscription at LVMH Watch Week 2025. Photo: Handout

Bulgari’s Serpenti Tubogas with the new Calibre BVS 100 Lady Solotempo. Photo: Handout

Gérald Genta’s Gentissima Oursin Fire Opal. Photo: Handout

Louis Vuitton Tambour Convergence. Photo: Handout

The opening day of Watches and Wonders in Geneva, in April. Photo: EPA-EFE

Jay Chou at the Tudor booth at Watches and Wonders 2025 in Geneva. Photo: Handout

A Cartier Tank à Guichets watch at Watches and Wonders 2025 in Geneva. Photo: AFP

Donald Trump delivers remarks on tariffs at the White House, in April. Photo: Reuters

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s booth at Watches and Wonders 2025 in Geneva. Photo: AFP

Christopher Ward’s C12 Loco. Photo: Handout

Omega ambassador Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Photo: Handout

Co-CEOs Kari Voutilainen (left) and Alex Rosenfield are at the helm of the revived Urban Jürgensen. Photo: Handout

Urban Jürgensen UJ-3. Photo: Handout

Rashida Jones at Skål and Fejre – Urban Jürgensen: The Next Generation in June. Photo: Getty Images

Taylor Swift’s engagement ring from Travis Kelce was designed by Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry. Photo: @taylorswift/Instagram

Rihanna holds her new daughter Rocki Irish Mayers in September while wearing an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Lady. Photo: Instagram

Josh Safdie and Timothée Chalamet at the 63rd New York Film Festival in October, in New York City. Photo: Getty Images

A timepiece from Metrical Watch. Photo: Handout

Nectere’s Order From Chaos (from left to right) The Forest, The Dune and The Mist. Photo: Handout

Earthen & Co’s inaugural model, The Summit. Photo: Handout

Watch Ho & Co x Selten’s Jui, which celebrates the watch club’s second anniversary. Photo: @enthuseddad/Instagram

Temporal Works Series A, designed by The Armoury duo Mark Cho and Elliot Hammer. Photo: Handout

Geneva Watch Days. Photo: Handout

The 25th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), widely regarded as the “Oscars of the watch industry”. Photo: Xinhua

Breguet’s Classique Souscription 2025. Photo: Handout

Mughal jewellery shines bright at Hong Kong Palace Museum exhibition

Red grid and chevron enamel heritage hoop earrings, on display at the Hong Kong Palace Museum till February 2026. Photo: Handout

Sagiri Dayal Jewellery necklace. Photo: Handout

A 15th-century-inspired hexagon aquamarine and enamel ring. Photo: Handout

An aquamarine enamel ring. Photo: Handout

The Hong Kong Palace Museum, where artefacts from India’s Mughal dynasty are on display until February 2026. Photo: Handout

Here’s why the white gold Rolex Day-Date is US$17,000 cheaper than the platinum version

The 40mm Rolex Day-Date in white gold and platinum are mechanically identical – but the different metals result in a US$17,000 price difference. Photo: Handout

The Rolex Day-Date 40mm in platinum. Photo: Handout

The Rolex Day-Date 40mm in white gold. Photo: Handout

How silver jewellery is redefining luxury, from Saint Laurent to rising indie labels

The founder of up-and-coming London-based jewellery brand Shuwuu is from Mongolia. Photo: Handout

Ursuuna pieces are inspired by the Turkic ethnic group, Sakha. Photo: Handout

Mano Vintage Jewellery bracelet. Photo: Handout

Georg Jensen Vivianna Plume brooch. Photo: Handout

Georg Jensen Torun bangle. Photo: Handout

Georg Jensen, the Danish luxury brand, has worked with silver for more than a century. Photo: Handout

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These locales, from museums to brands’ own premises, are hallowed grounds for watch fans, giving them insights and a peek into timekeeping history


These locales, from museums to brands’ own premises, are hallowed grounds for watch fans, giving them insights and a peek into timekeeping history.


The world’s best watch museums, workshops and archives, from Panerai to Seiko

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}These locales, from museums to brands’ own premises, are hallowed grounds for watch fans, giving them insights and a peek into timekeeping history

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}German Watch Museum, Glashütte, Germany

These locales, from museums to brands’ own premises, are hallowed grounds for watch fans, giving them insights and a peek into timekeeping history

German Watch Museum, Glashütte, Germany