202 Jewellers
Claude Bernard





In the mid-16th century, to avoid religious persecution the 27-year-old Frenchman John Calvin left Noyon France to move to Geneva, Switzerland, followed by numerous French Huguenots.


Religious policies of the time championed byCalvin meant that all jewellery, such as beads, bracelets, gold and gemstones, was banned because they had no place in the worship of God.  For this reason, goldsmiths and jewellers were forced to turn to a new craft.


This New Craft – Watchmaking - It was the perfect thing to do for these highly skilled fabricators.


Many of these Watchmakers moved north and master mechanic Claude Bernard was one of them.  He discovered the gorgeous, almost divine, high-plateau in the midst of the Jura headlands, a secluded mountain range along the French border. As a tribute to his hometown Geneva (French Genève) he called this charming hideout "Les Genevez".


At this time, the mechanics and skilful builders started to reinvent the innards of all kinds of timepieces.




The original 16th century house where these skilled artisans used to gather and share their tools and idea still exists. It has been carefully restored and today serves as a public museum.


Swiss watch manufacturer, Claude Bernard is now an honoured a patron of this 450-yearold institution, which is so closely related to their own history, Switzerland.


Brave innovators, with groundbreaking ideas is the reason why "Les Genevez in the Jura" is labelled the "birthplace of Swiss watchmaking in the northeast of Switzerland" and a pioneer of highly acclaimed Swiss quality and ingenuity.


Today, the professional watchmakers working for Claude Bernard, the Swiss watch factory in "Les Geneves - Le centre du Jura", are still filled with pride of their heritage and eager to make the best wristwatches money can buy.
