Time was when Great Britain made the world's finest watches. Indeed, by 1800, half of the world's watches were produced in Britain by British watchmakers. So admired was its reputation, that Abraham Louis Breguet, widely regarded as one of the greatest watchmakers of all time, entrusted the apprenticeship of his son to British watchmaker John Arnold.

Sadly, rather like our sole World Cup win in 1966, the glory has gone to other nations in recent years, and in the case of watchmaking, make that centuries. As if to compensate for this, British entrepreneur Roy Slater Hill of Neuchatel based Swiss Watch Tours offers not British Watch Tours, but the next best thing, and that is, well, Swiss watch tours - tours of fine Swiss watchmaking manufactures that afford the watch enthusiast a genuine understanding of the process involved in creating the sparkling, ever twirling and ticking timepiece upon his or her wrist.

The company has recently issued gift certificates which can be purchased on the company website. Armed with a certificate, the lucky watch lover in your life can enjoy two full days and three nights in the heart of the Swiss watchmaking community in La Choux de Fonds, Switzerland.

The next available tour is from March 10 to March 13. All the thinking is laid on, from the chauffeur driven pick-up at either Zurich, Bern or Geneva, to the lavish attentions of a five star hotel.



The tour allows the visitor to see the highly skilled and elaborate processes involved in watch making at its finest. Luxury brands displaying their skills and their fine collections include luminaries such as Jaeger Le-Coultre, Parmigiani, Girard-Perregaux, Tag Heuer and many more. The trip also includes a visit to Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC), the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, which is the institute responsible for certifying the accuracy and precision of wristwatches in Switzerland, as well as the International Time Museum.



There's even an opportunity to indulge in that other great Swiss export, chocolate.

"Because the tours are such intimate experiences they are ideal for those who are looking for a new and rare opportunity to learn how their watches are made and meet the skilled craftsmen and women behind each piece." Roy Slater Hill, Founder, Swiss Watch Tours

Of course you don't have to shell out for the full trip as your gift. Each gift certificate purchased can be for any amount in Swiss francs, bought via electronic banking or via credit card, and sent by post or as an e-gift. To find out more, email the company at info@swisswatchtours.com.

Visit the Swiss Watch Tours website