Watch museums
Zenith Manufacture in Le Locle: The Public Tour
Zenith has made watches on the same site in Le Locle, in the Swiss Jura, since Georges Favre-Jacot founded the company there in 1865. The brand describes itself as the first watch manufacture to open its original site to the public, with a weekly public tour.
- Location
- Le Locle, Switzerland
- Address
- Rue des Billodes 34, 2400 Le Locle
- Type
- Manufacture visit
History of the manufacture
Zenith was founded in 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, in the canton of Neuchâtel, and has been at the same site ever since. The town is often described as a birthplace of Swiss watchmaking, and together with La Chaux-de-Fonds it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 for its watchmaking town planning. The Zenith factory building is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance.
On 10 January 1969 Zenith unveiled the El Primero, one of the first automatic chronograph movements, running at 36,000 vibrations per hour. During the quartz era, when the owners turned away from mechanical chronographs, employee Charles Vermot kept the El Primero tooling and hid it in the attic of the Ponts-de-Martel facility while other tools were being discarded or sold. Since 1999 Zenith has been part of LVMH, and it has won more than 2,300 chronometry prizes.
What you can see on the tour
According to Zenith, more than 200 craftspeople work at the manufacture in 80 different professions. The public tour is a journey through watch production that shows the craftsmanship and precision involved, with interactive displays on the brand's history and the El Primero movement.
- Public tour: a guided visit of the working manufacture for individual visitors.
- Private tour: covers movement design through component assembly, the history of the El Primero, and time with expert craftspeople.
- Chronometry workshop: hands-on work with the 5011 movement under a Zenith master watchmaker, including regulating a movement and disassembling and reassembling the balance spring.
Why it matters for watch collectors
The El Primero is one of the most important chronograph movements in watch history, and the manufacture where it was developed is a key site for collectors. Owners of a Zenith chronograph can see where their movement comes from and how in-house production works. The tour also fits well into a wider visit of Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds, where the UNESCO-listed town planning shows how watchmaking shaped entire cities.
Visiting (as of 2026)
The manufacture is at Rue des Billodes 34, 2400 Le Locle. Le Locle station is on the Neuchâtel–Le Locle-Col-des-Roches line, with frequent trains to La Chaux-de-Fonds and Neuchâtel, and the Le Remontoir inclined elevator links the station with the town center. Bookings are handled by Explore Swiss Watchmaking (Neuchâtel tourism) in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- Public tour: Fridays at 9:00 a.m., 3 hours, CHF 50 per person, maximum 8 people. Offered in French, Italian and German, and in English, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese with an audio guide. Registration only; last-minute bookings until 5 p.m. on the Thursday before.
- Private tour: Monday to Thursday subject to availability, 3 hours, CHF 500 per group of 1 to 8 people, in French, German or English.
- Chronometry workshop: last Friday afternoon of each month at 2 p.m., 3 hours, CHF 190 per person, maximum 6 people, in French and English.
- Minimum age: 14 years for all formats.
- Accessibility: the tours involve walking and are not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
If you have more time, the Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle at the Château des Monts is also in town.
Related brands
Opening hours, prices and exhibitions change. Please check the official website before your visit.
Sources (7)
Frequently asked questions
When was Zenith founded?
In 1865 by Georges Favre-Jacot in Le Locle, canton of Neuchâtel. The manufacture is still on the same site.
What is the El Primero?
An automatic chronograph movement presented by Zenith on 10 January 1969, one of the first of its kind, running at 36,000 vibrations per hour.
When does the Zenith public tour take place?
As of 2026, on Fridays at 9:00 a.m. The tour lasts 3 hours and costs CHF 50 per person, with a maximum of 8 people.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes, visitors must be at least 14 years old. The tours are not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
How do I book?
Through Zenith's 'Visit the Manufacture' page; bookings are handled by Explore Swiss Watchmaking. Last-minute bookings are possible until 5 p.m. on the Thursday before.
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