Spiral showcase of horological mastery
Much like the watches they make, the museum-cum-workshop of Audemars Piguet is a meticulous work of art. Opened in 2020, the glass, spiral-shaped building in Le Brassus, Switzerland, was designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and is connected to the historic house where Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet established their workshop in 1875. The circular pavilion moves visitors in a gently sloping, fittingly clockwise direction through 300 timepieces made by the Swiss watchmaking company over more than two centuries. Held in metal cases that look like astronomical instruments, they are arranged around a central treasure — the Universelle — which is Audemars Piguet’s most complicated watch, made in 1899. The display also includes sculptures and models that reveal the inner workings of their timepieces alongside interactive displays where visitors can try out their own watchmaking skills. Since the space also functions as an atelier, there are two workshops where the company’s artisans can be seen assembling watches and setting gems.