It was 1865 when Georges Favre-Jacot built in Le Locle, in the mountains of Neuchâtel, an industrial site with large buildings where he brought together all the watchmaking professions under one roof. At that time he not only founded Zenith but also created what is considered by many to be the first manufacture (in the modern sense of the term) with a vertical integration system in the history of watchmaking. And it is in that same place that the Swiss company continues to produce its timepieces today.
A space of more than 9,000 square metres, the current one now includes several buildings: from the outside, it stands out for its red and white brick façade, which gives shape to the brand's name and the initials of its founder; inside, on the other hand, it combines tradition with a modern atmosphere and accommodates 191 employees, 53 of whom are watchmakers, guaranteeing the efficiency and total independence of the Maison.
Zenith's is an 'open' manufacture that allows guided tours (booking required) and interesting immersive experiences. Such as the tour that recounts its history, passing through the vast archives and the reconstruction of the secret attic where watchmaker Charles Vermot, during the quartz crisis of the 1970s, hid the instruments and projects needed to make the El Primero movement in order to protect them. Or the Watch Clinic, with a basic course on how mechanical movements work, a course on chronographs and one on watch restoration and how Zenith preserves its historical pieces.
Last but not least, the new 'in-house' boutique, where warm, neutral tones are contrasted with a backlit blue central element that stretches from the floor to the spiral staircase, evoking the starry night sky: a symbolic element of Zenith's tradition, always faithful to its origins, and a reference to its philosophy, its motto 'It's time to aim for the stars'.
