Have you ever seen a woman on stilts walking around with a giant clock on her back? Because I have now. And somehow, that wasn’t even the most surprising part of the day.

By Amandine, the youngest Swiss Watch Passport columnist
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I was invited to the 200th anniversary celebration of Geneva’s watchmaking school, and honestly? It was impressive. The school recently moved into a brand-new, beautiful premises. It’s modern, stunning and superbly well-equiped. Honestly il feels more like a museum than a classroom (but in the good way). Everything is clean, polished, and carefully thought through. You can tell this place was designed for students who actually care about what they’re learning.

Panel discussion moderated by the editor-in-chief of Swiss Watch Passport

One of my favorite parts was the Panel Discussion, a roundtable talk about the school between a few graduating students and some alumni who are now experienced watchmakers. Each person had their own way of thinking, but it was truly fascinating to see how deeply passionate they all were about the same craft. As someone who’s both a bit of a watch nerd and likely future student of the school (starting in 2026), I loved hearing both perspectives between watchmakers and micromechanics. But what really reassured me was seeing how they all emphasized the quality of the teaching and spoke about the great atmosphere both during and outside of class. Nothing felt forced or dull—just brilliant people talking about what they love.

There were also various activities, including a watchmaking-themed escape game, followed by a very moving speech from the Dean, Mr. Stéphane Cruchaud. You could feel how proud everyone was to be—or to have been—a part of this place. The school may have moved, the buildings may be brand new… but it’s still the same story being told, just with new people.

And maybe one day, I’ll be part of it too…