dk nkf - Nordisk Konservatorforbund Danmark

Polymers in watches manufactured in the Jura
region, Switzerland
The necessity of an anthropological approach for the conservation
of a new heritage
Introduction
Since the 18 th century Switzerland’s world famous
watch and clock industry has been concentrated in the
Jura Mountains, between Geneva and Schaffhausen (fig.
1). This industry has given rise to an important heritage
that is promoted through the “Watch Valley” concept
developed since the year 2000. The region is associated
with the image of traditional and luxury objects such
as high-class mechanical watches manufactured from
precious materials. The Jura watchmaking industry
abounds in ingenuity and aesthetic treasures. The constant
endeavour to conserve this heritage is illustrated by the
rich collection of the Musée International d’Horlogerie
(MIH) (International Watchmaking Museum) in La
Chaux-de-Fonds, which to date houses the largest
collection of watch and clockmaking related objects in
the world. Private companies have even developed their
own museums recently. These institutions also focus
on exhibiting exceptional watches manufactured from
traditional materials.
Arc Jurassien suisse
Figure 1. Map of the Jura region of Switzerland
agnès geLbert miermon
Figure 2. Girard-Perregaux quartz movement (1978 or 1979).
Only the battery support and the printed circuit are made of
plastic.
However the Jura region, particularly the Neuchâtel
Mountains, has been set apart for more than 200 years
by a diversified watchmaking industry, combining
prestigious watches with low-priced popular watches
featuring all types of materials. From the 19 th century
onwards, polymers have gradually been introduced
to the watchmaking industry for all ranges of clocks
and watches – including coatings, cover layers, wire
insulation and electric coils, watch faces, cases and
mechanical components. Except for the balance,
spiral and barrel, all parts of a watch can contain
plastics (fig. 2).
To explain this essential facet of the Swiss
watchmaking industry, the Applied Research
and Development division of the Haute école
de Conservation-restauration Arc (HECR Arc)
examined the conservation of plastics used in
timepieces. Through a research project named
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