Quiz
In 1541, which religious reformer banned the wearing of jewelry in Geneva, inadvertently starting the Swiss watch industry?
Chapter 1
The outlaws of bling
Chapter 2
The heart of brass and steel
Chapter 3
The great electronic storm
Chapter 4
The seal of perfection
Ch 1 · The outlaws of bling
Quiz
Why were watches allowed in Geneva during the 1541 ban on jewelry and decorative items?
Quiz
What was the name of the French Protestant refugees who brought advanced clockmaking skills to Switzerland in the 16th century?
Quiz
Which tragic historical event in 1572 triggered the mass migration of French Protestant watchmakers to Switzerland?
Fun Fact
Geneva's jewelry ban: John Calvin's 1541 ban on jewelry accidentally created the world's most luxurious watch industry.
Quiz
Why did the elite watchmakers of 18th-century Geneva set up their workshops, called cabinets, in attics?
Quiz
What were the highly educated, elite watchmakers of Geneva's attic workshops called?
Glossary
goldsmith (noun)
An artisan who makes and repairs articles of gold and other precious metals. After John Calvin banned jewelry in 1541 Geneva, these craftsmen pivoted to watchmaking to survive.
An artisan who makes and repairs articles of gold and other precious metals. After John Calvin banned jewelry in 1541 Geneva, these craftsmen pivoted to watchmaking to survive.
Quiz
What was the Swiss watchmaking system called where individual watch parts were made in homes and assembled elsewhere?
Quiz
What is the name of the Swiss mountain range where isolated farmers spent winters crafting watch components?