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After a devastating fire in the late 1700s, the Swiss town La Chaux-de-Fonds was rebuilt to capture sunlight, a critical element to support the local cottage industry: Watchmaking. Houses were fronted with large windows, and wide streets and gardens minimized shadows.

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Timely La Chaux-de-Fonds

After a devastating fire in the late 1700s, the Swiss town La Chaux-de-Fonds was rebuilt to capture sunlight, a critical element to support the local cottage industry: Watchmaking. Houses were fronted with large windows, and wide streets and gardens minimized shadows. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

After a devastating fire in the late 1700s, the Swiss town La Chaux-de-Fonds was rebuilt to capture sunlight, a critical element to support the local cottage industry: Watchmaking. Houses were fronted with large windows, and wide streets and gardens minimized shadows.

A row of window-dominant watchmakers homes. The city was also laid out in a grid to maximize light; it's unusual architecture and layout has earned La Chaux-de-Fonds a spot as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The town of La Chaux-de-Fonds does not have many tourist attractions, but its primary museum traces the history of timepieces large and small.

The only watchmaker in town that offers tours is Corum, and those only once a week, with advance reservations. A highly secretive business, no photos are allowed inside the actual workshops. The face of this Corum watch is made from a meteorite.

A sampling of the tiny pieces in one movement of a Corum watch.

Visitors can take a watchmaking lesson and actually make a watch while in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Above, Travel Weekly Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann assembles a watch, guided by a local instructor.

Tiny screws are handled with tweezers...

The inner workings complete, it was time to put on the band.