Corum Coin 18kt Yellow Gold Coin Ladies Watch 049 357 56 M500 MU36

Geneva, September 5th 2011 - The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) exists to promote the values and culture of Fine Watchmaking in the main international markets, and for the past several years has organised prestigious exhibitions around the world to deliver this message. This autumn, from October 21st to November 10th, will see the turn of the prestigious Kremlin Museum to host a selection of exceptional timepieces that will trace "500 years' history of the European watch."

Historically, Russia has provided the culture of time measurement with fertile ground, and Swiss firms were welcomed by the imperial families as of the sixteenth century. From Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612) and his famous Cabinet of Curiosities, from Mikhail of Russia (1596-1645), founder of the House of Romanov who had more than 20,000 clocks imported, to Catherine the Great (1729- 1796) who encouraged the opening of watchmaking workshops in Russia, timepieces from Switzerland, the cradle of time measurement, more than fascinated the era's great names.

These landmarks in history, fuelled by centuries of intense trade, have inspired the exhibition which the FHH has curated especially for the Kremlin Museum. More than sixty important timepieces from Swiss museums, private collections and the foremost watch companies will be presented in the Armory Chamber, by theme and by period. They magnificently illustrate the milestones in the adventure of time, and the unique expertise of watchmakers who found, in Russia, a venue for their art.

An illustrated brochure will provide visitors with commentary. The full catalogue is available on request.

Structure of the exhibition 

• 16th c. Fantasy and enamelled, the first watches. 

• 1657 - 1675. The invention of precision. 

• 19th c. The Industrial Revolution. 

• 1821. The invention of the chronograph. 

• 19th c. The return of the fantasy watch. 

• Early 20th c. The creation and development of the wristwatch. 

• 1930s. Protection against shocks. 

• Late 1920s to 1950. Water-resistance and watches for sport. 

• 1950s to 1980. The triumph of the electric watch. 

• 1970s to 1980. The revival of the mechanical wristwatch. 

• 1980s to 2000. Technical and precious fine watchmaking. 

• European watches for the Russian market.

Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) 

The FHH was founded in Geneva in 2005 to disseminate the innovation and expertise that are the foremost values of technical and precious Fine Watchmaking. The FHH is active in Switzerland and internationally through multiple initiatives to make this uniquely creative sector, with its own culture and traditions, more widely known. With 27 partner-brands and firmly established in the international markets, the Foundation is recognised as the think tank for the profession with a mission to inform, educate and lead the fight against counterfeiting. www.hautehorlogerie.org

Partner Brands A.Lange & Söhne: 

Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Bovet, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Corum, Girard-Perregaux, Greubel Forsey, Harry Winston, Hermes, Hublot, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, JeanRichard, Montblanc, Panerai, Parmigiani, Perrelet, Piaget, Richard Mille, Roger Dubuis, Tag Heuer, Vacheron Constantin, Van Cleef & Arpels, Zenith.

Partner Institutions and Museums:

Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry Museum of Horology and Enamel, Geneva Beyer Clock and Watch Museum, Zurich Le Locle Museum of Horology, Château-des-Monts International Horology Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds