Close
  • FHH Academy
  • FHH Forum
  • Watches and Culture
  • FHH Academy

    Train and Certify, The Academy masters, delivers and measures watchmaking knowledge worldwide.

    More information

  • FHH Forum

    The Watch Forum provides a platform for debate to help craft the industry of tomorrow.

    More information

  • Watches and Culture

    Attract new audiences and present watchmaking in a new light.

    More information

Who are we

A not-for-profit foundation set up under private law in 2005 by Audemars Piguet, Girard-Perregaux and Richemont, the objective of the FHH is to promote and spread the reputation of watchmaking excellence around the world.

It provides information on the latest news, history and skills within the watchmaking professions. It trains, assesses and certifies horological knowledge. It organises events and encounters intended for both the general public and professionals. A creator of content, competencies, connections and experiences, the FHH is supported by leading names in the watch industry and independent creators, all actively contributing to its activities.


Head office

Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Pont de la Machine 1

1204 Geneva | Switzerland

T +41 22 808 58 60

Watches and Culture: Did you know?

  • Famous watchmakers

    Ferdinand Berthoud

    Swiss clockmaker and chronometer maker. Served his apprenticeship with his brother, Jean-Henri, a pendulum maker. Established in Paris in 1745. Disciple of Julien Le Roy. Clockmaker to the Navy (nominated in...

    More informations

  • History

    1960

    Strapped to the hull of Professor Auguste Piccard's "Trieste" bathyscaphe, a special Rolex Oyster was submerged 10,916 metres in the Mariana Trench (Pacific).

    More informations

    • a

      A

    • b

      B

    • c

      C

    • d

      D

    • e

      E

    • f

      F

    • g

      G

    • h

      H

    • i

      I

    • j

      J

    • k

      K

    • l

      L

    • m

      M

    • n

      N

    • o

      O

    • p

      P

    • q

      Q

    • r

      R

    • s

      S

    • t

      T

    • u

      U

    • v

      V

    • w

      W

    • y

      Y

    • z

      Z

    Prev Next
  • Glossary

    • À tact watch

      Repeater watch (see complication) in which hammer and bell are replaced by a sharp pin which protrudes from the case to prick the finger once for each hour.A type of watch made after...

    • Brace (Bridle)

      Part that holds or retains. Clamp, Winding-stem brace, Mainspring bridle, Slip spring, pivoting brace

    • Case

      Container that protects the watch movement from dust, damp and knocks. The case is part of the watch's appearance and, influenced by fashions and buyers' personal taste, must have visual...

    • Display lighting

      A means of lighting the dial and/or hands, using either an electroluminscent substance or an electrical system.

    • Engraving

      The art of forming patterns either by hand, using a graver, or by machine such as a rose engine.

    • Frame

      J.C. Nicolet defines the frame as the chassis inside which all the parts of the watch movement are housed. A clock frame comprises two plates whereas a watch, and in particular wristwatch,...

    • Grande complication

      See complication.

    • Horology

      The science of measuring time.

    • Impulse

      In a lever escapement, the action of the escape-wheel tooth on the impulse-face of the pallet.

    • Jumping hour

      A means of display in which the hour, shown through an aperture, instantly changes every 60 minutes.

    • Knot

      A raised mineral inclusion in a diamond found at the surface.

    • LumiNova®

      A new-generation luminous substance, used to coat hands and numerals. It stores light which it then emits in the dark causing the hands and numerals to glow and continue to be visible. Previously,...

    • Malachite

      An opaque ornamental stone with striations of deep and light green- Used by the ancient Egyptians in jewellery, today it is sometimes found on watch dials. Malachite has a hardness of 4 and a...

    • Nickel silver (German silver)

      A silver-white alloy of copper, nickel and zinc developed in France circa 1820 by Maillot and Chorier from whom it takes its name.

    • Opale

      An amorphous gemstone that shows the spectral colours called fire on either a white or black background. An orange variety called Fire Opal comes from Mexico and does not always have the fire of...

    • Platinum

      A heavy metal, greyish white, that is highly resistant to corrosion and difficult to work with.Jewellery and watch cases can be made from platinum.

    • Quartz

      Silicon dioxide. Also called rock crystal. Quartz has the specific property of vibrating at a very high frequency (32 MHz) placed under electric current. Under certain conditions, it...

    • Regulating parts

      The regulating organ (balance and spring) with the escapement.

    • Spinel

      A gemstone found in every pastel colour. The red variety was often mistaken for ruby. It has a hardness of 8, a specific gravity of 3.58-4.06, and a refractive index of 1.72.

    • Timer

      A watchmaker who carries out timing operations.

    • Under-dial work

      Collective term for the mechanisms, such as for striking, a calendar or motionwork, between the dial and the dial plate.

    • Vagues de Genève

      Synonym of Côtes de Genève. A decoration of undulating lines, like waves, frequently used to embellish superior quality movements.

    • Water-Resistant

      Describes a watch which, in theory, will not let in water at a depth of up to 3 atm or 30 metres. See Waterproof

    • Year

      A four-digit indication of the current year that changes automatically at midnight on December 31st.

    • Zinc

      A metal applied by electrodeposition (electroplating) to protect iron and steel.

    Expand Glossary

Glossary

From A to Z, we've got watchmaking covered!