Disassemble a Mechanical Watch in Zurich: À Maurice Workshop

Take apart a mechanical watch and put it back together under a watchmaker's eye

At À Maurice atelier in central Zurich, you disassemble a Unitas pocket watch movement and reassemble it under instruction from a professional watchmaker. The Dreifuss family welcomes you with the history of Maurice de Mauriac watches and an overview of Swiss watchmaking, then you sit at the workbench in an original watchmaker's dress, magnifying glass in hand, while the watchmaker guides each step. You leave with a gift and photographs of the process.

Step-by-step itinerary

Watch workshop and assembly experience

• Arrive at Atelier in Zurich
• Learn history of Maurice de Mauriac
• Introduction to Swiss Watch Industry
• Watchmaker explains mechanical watch
• Assemble watch parts yourself
• Receive gift to remember workshop

The experience

The workshop begins at the atelier in the middle of Zurich with a welcome from the Dreifuss family and a walk through the Maurice de Mauriac brand story. You'll learn how the atelier produces its watches and get an introduction to the Swiss watch industry: how it started and how it works. This foundation takes 15 to 30 minutes and sets up what comes next.

Then you sit down with the watchmaker at the workbench. They show you in detail how a mechanical watch actually works, breaking down the Unitas pocket movement piece by piece. After the demonstration, it's your turn. You put on an original watchmaker's dress and pick up a magnifying glass, and you begin assembling parts of the watch while the watchmaker watches over your work. Photos are welcome throughout, so you can document the moment your hands learned what a watch is made of.

The whole experience runs one to two hours. You receive bottled water and snacks during the session, along with coffee or tea. At the end, you get a gift to take home: a tangible reminder of the afternoon you spent learning to read a mechanical watch from the inside.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or German.
• private workshop with a professional watchmaker.
• introduction to Maurice de Mauriac brand history and Swiss watchmaking.
• use of original watchmaker's dress and magnifying glass.
• bottled water, snacks, coffee and tea.
• commemorative gift.
• photography permitted throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Friday and Sunday5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (4 to 15 years) · Infant (under 4)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by MDM | Maurice de Mauriac | Watches made by Zurich

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or German, so choose this workshop if you're comfortable following instruction in one of those languages. The small group size and one-on-one attention from the watchmaker make it accessible whether you're solo or with a companion, and the hands-on pace suits anyone curious about how things work rather than someone seeking a fast-paced tour.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 15 years); Infant (under 4).

What exactly do I disassemble and reassemble during the workshop?

You work with a Unitas pocket movement, the mechanism that powers a manual watch. The watchmaker shows you how it functions, then guides you through assembling its parts at the workbench.

Do I need any watchmaking experience to join this workshop?

No experience is required. The watchmaker provides full instruction and oversees the process, so you learn as you work, whether you've handled a watch before or not.

What's included in the workshop besides the hands-on work?

The session includes an introduction to Maurice de Mauriac and Swiss watchmaking history, use of professional watchmaker tools and dress, bottled water, snacks, and coffee or tea. You also receive a commemorative gift at the end.

Can I take photos during the workshop?

Yes, photography is allowed throughout the entire experience, so you can capture your work at the bench and the details of the watch movement.

Where is the atelier located, and how do I get there?

À Maurice atelier is located in central Zurich. Public transportation options are available nearby, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.