Help Disabled Vets Experience Swiss Watchmaking!

Dear Donors,

We are Israel Colon, Zach Scoular, and Vic Elder, 3 students currently studying to become mechanical watchmakers at Veteran's Watchmaker Initiative. (VWMI)

VWMI is a school where honorably discharged veterans can train to become either watch technicians in the short program or full mechanical watchmakers in the long course program, free of charge. This fundraiser is about funding 3 student watchmakers' dream trip to Switzerland!

We three are currently training in the long course program where we are learning the time-honored tradition of watchmaking in classic style, including learning micro-mechanics, fabricating our own tools, screws, and parts.

We learn how to repair, service, and finish watches ranging from vintage pocket watches to modern-day watches, including learning how to repair hair springs!

We have alumni at Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Tiffany's, private business owners, and more. We also spend weeks studying horology history, culture, and landscape.

One of the capstone highlights of the training program is receiving training in Switzerland at ETA (a well-known Swiss watch movement company) and a generalized tour of all of the important elements of the Swiss watchmaking companies, museums, and historic landmarks as part of our education. This brings us to the reason for this GoFundMe: While the training is covered, we 3 are running this fundraiser to cover flight, hotel, trains, as well as the costs of the museums, tours, and being able to get certain tools and books that are only available for purchase in Switzerland. This trip is about stepping into the most important place in the watchmaking world, which will tastefully season our hearts as well as our craftsmanship.

Here is a selection of the Museums we will be visting:

1. Patek Philippe Museum – Geneva

Located in Geneva, this museum showcases an extensive collection of timepieces from the 16th century to the present, reflecting the rich history of watchmaking.

• Address: Rue des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, 1205 Geneva

• Website: patek.com(Haute Horlogerie, Patek Philippe)

2. Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture – Le Sentier

Visit the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture in Le Sentier to witness the intricate process of watchmaking. Guided tours offer insights into their craftsmanship.

• Address: Rue de la Golisse 8, 1347 Le Sentier

• Website: jaeger-lecoultre.com(Jaeger-LeCoultre)

3. OMEGA Museum – Biel/Bienne

Explore OMEGA's legacy, including its role in space exploration and sports timekeeping, at their museum in Biel/Bienne.

• Address: Nicolas G. Hayek Strasse 2, 2502 Biel/Bienne

• Website: omegawatches.com(Omega)

4. Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet – Le Brassus

Experience the fusion of traditional watchmaking and contemporary architecture at Audemars Piguet's museum in Le Brassus.

• Address: Route de France 18, 1348 Le Brassus

• Website: museeatelier.audemarspiguet.com(Architectural Digest, Tripadvisor, Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet)

5. Breitling Pop-Up Museum – Zurich

Discover Breitling's history across air, land, and sea through interactive exhibits at their temporary pop-up museum in Zurich.

• Website: breitling.com(Breitling, Breitling)

6. Vacheron Constantin Boutique – Geneva

Visit the boutique of the world's oldest watch manufacturer in Geneva to explore their timepieces and heritage.

• Address: Place de Longemalle 1, 1204 Geneva

• Website: vacheron-constantin.com(Switzerland Tourism, Vacheron Constantin UAE)

7. Zenith Manufacture Visit – Le Locle

Take a guided tour of Zenith's manufacture in Le Locle to see the watchmaking process up close.

• Website: zenith-watches.com(Zenith Watches)

8. International Museum of Horology – La Chaux-de-Fonds

Home to over 4,500 timekeeping artifacts, this museum offers a deep dive into the history of horology.

• Address: Rue des Musées 29, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds

• Website: myswitzerland.com(Tripadvisor, Switzerland Tourism)

9. IWC Museum – Schaffhausen

Located at IWC's headquarters, the museum showcases the brand's iconic timepieces and history.

• Address: Baumgartenstrasse 15, 8201 Schaffhausen

• Website: iwc.com(Swiss Luxury Watches | IWC Schaffhausen)

10. Beyer Clock and Watch Museum – Zurich

This museum houses one of the world's most significant private collections of timepieces, spanning from 1400 BC to today.

• Address: Bahnhofstrasse 31, 8001 Zurich

• Website: beyer-ch.com(Switzerland Tourism, Beyer Watches & Jewelry)

11. TAG Heuer Museum – La Chaux-de-Fonds

Explore TAG Heuer's innovations and contributions to watchmaking at their museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

• Address: Rue Louis-Joseph Chevrolet 6A, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds

• Website: tagheuer.com(Tripadvisor, TAG Heuer)

12. Espace Horloger – Le Sentier

Dive into the world of fine watchmaking and its crafts at Espace Horloger in the Vallée de Joux.

• Address: Rue de l'Orbe 8, 1347 Le Sentier

• Website: espacehorloger.ch(Espace Horloger, Jaeger-LeCoultre)