Vintage Watches, Clocks and Watchmaking Tools at the Horlo'troc and MIH Watch Fairs

In 2025 these two watch fairs will take place on November 2. Subscribe and turn on notifications if you'd like to receive a reminder a month in advance of these and other important flea markets and watch fairs in Switzerland.
Over the weekend I took my wife and my iPhone to Les Fins, France and La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland to document the annual vintage watch and clock fairs Horlo'troc and MIH. Join us on this fantastic journey!
November 3, 2024
Horlo'troc
Comment Remonter Le Temps (How to go Back in Time)
Plus qu'une horloge, une montre, UN BIJOU! (More than a clock, a watch, A JEWEL!)
Salle Polyvalente
4 Rue du Calvaire, 25500 Les Fins, France
The 48th Swiss Watch Exchange
Musée international d'horlogerie
Rue des Musées 29, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
#vintage #watches #watchmaking #tools #watchfair #watchmarket #prices #switzerland

[@rk702]

I spent most of my life going to the flee markets in NYC, I love your channel. It's funny, I now live in NJ and not far from Perth Amboy @21:34 the watch showcase was made there. Great Pizza on Market St. Perth Amboy

[@IMakeWatches]

I noticed those Allstate display cabinets as well. Difficult things to ship overseas. In answer to your question about which watch fairs are best to visit it would definitely be these two. Not only are they the best but they're also in the best part of Switzerland (and just across the border in France). Let me know if you need any additional advice!

[@stefanhung9972]

greeting from Taiwan. good to know ur wife is also taiwanese. love ur post abt vintage watches.

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks! My wife says hi!

[@JorgeVidales-m4g]

Pilas parcero con videos de relojería bien buenos qué lo estamos viendo de todo el mundo saludos desde medellin Colombia por acá los esperamos para que nos visiten.

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks!

[@andreijochim751]

Amazing place! 🔥 But I'm not allowed to go there, I will go broke at the end of the day! 😁☝️ Cheer's mate for that video,really interesting! ✊🤝👍

[@IMakeWatches]

It helps to film it! Keeps me too busy to buy anything!

[@iansmeath8674]

Damn, that Lorch lathe set up was an absolute steal at 2700 euro! Shakes head in disbelief....🤪

[@IMakeWatches]

2500! Including the bench! The more time that passes the more angry I get at myself for not buying it. I did grab his info and contact him after the show but it was already sold. I should have just shook his hand and ran to the bank but I was making this video and didn't have enough time!

[@iansmeath8674]

@@IMakeWatches “C'est la vie” Dayton, “C'est la vie”

[@IMakeWatches]

@@iansmeath8674 Life is so unfair! 😂😂😂

[@طهياسين-و2ظ]

قناة جدا رائعة برافو❤❤❤❤

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks!

[@florian4141]

Really unfortunate I've missed you both in Les Fins and at the MIH ! I hope you had a good time in France, I felt it was easier to film and take pictures in France than it was in La Chaux-de-Fonds. If you ever come back in this region of France and Switzerland i'd love to see you ;) Also have you seen a lot of watch cleaning machines on your fleas trip ? I'm looking for one

[@IMakeWatches]

Hi Florian! Those fairs were both amazing! Especially Horlo'troc! Glad you made it! Thank you so much for bringing Les Fins to my attention! About cleaning machines, I rarely do see them, but Gurdeep (whom I spoke with in the MIH portion of the video) told me that he knows someone that's selling one. Feel free to email me for his contact info if you'd like.

[@orangehand7929]

These watch fair vids are great but also dangerous. So much so that I contacted one of the sellers you profiled and have a new watch incoming!

[@IMakeWatches]

Nice! Which watch or timestamp if you don't mind my asking? (I'm sure others would be interested as well)

[@orangehand7929]

@iMakeWatches it was one of the first sellers. The guy who runs the Lyon watch fair. Picked up a Longines diver from the 60s.

[@bitGnome]

So jealous that you are able to find a fair with both watches and tools. I've never found anything like that here in the states. Best I've been able to find at any antique fairs here are a few broken Seikos haha.

[@IMakeWatches]

These two fairs are indeed amazing! I wanted to let viewers know in case they're thinking about visiting them in the coming years.

[@SuperBANDIT68]

g.i.s great movie whit Scarlett Johansson legend visual efects

[@IMakeWatches]

Yes, the Ghost in the Shell VFX team was supervised by the amazing Guillaume Rocheron! He's the best! Life of Pi, Ad Astra, 1917...

[@nickjohnson217]

Amazing sale, thanks for letting us join you Dayton, Man I wish we had sale days like that in the uk near me, for tools it was painstaking to watch pardon the puns but they were super cheap. 😉🙏👌

[@IMakeWatches]

Yes, I wish I had taken a few thousand euros and not been filming. I could have completed my watchmaking set-up in a single day! Did you see the lorch Lathe for 2,500 euros at 2:00:18?

[@DarekJakubowski-q3e]

Superb video. Thanks. It was a great pleasure to watch..

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! It was also a pleasure for me to make it!

[@viktoro.ledenyov5829]

Super!!!😊😊😊

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks!

[@nikonfx6598]

My God! I love this video clip so much. Especially tools, watches. I wished I would be there with you but I could not. Thank you very much!

[@IMakeWatches]

You're welcome!

[@jamesblonde2271]

Great stuff, love the time taken, fascinating.

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!

[@nicholasdeaconu6881]

What’s the name of this fair/market and where is it located

[@valentinsorin7874]

👍👍👍👍👍♥️🙏

[@IMakeWatches]

Glad you liked it! 😂😂😂

[@steveb7600]

a whole case of Valjoux 72 manual wind movements 15:00

[@IMakeWatches]

I know. I wish I could have just said, "how much for everything in this case?" followed by, "Great! I'll take it!" 😂😂😂

[@ElderPinto254]

thanks dayton sry did it in two times yess i saw it all very nice ! and yes i love that lathe to wauw!

[@IMakeWatches]

Sorry? I intended this video to be watched in one sitting! You're going to have to watch it again straight through to really understand what I was trying to express as an artist! 😂😂😂

[@ElderPinto254]

@@IMakeWatches i am on it i am watching again took a hole day off reason they ask i only said watches and walked away...

[@csspinner]

All the toys… amazing prices too. We don’t have access to these kinds of fairs in the states. Thanks for sharing!

[@IMakeWatches]

Hi Chris! Yes, amazing stuff. Horlo'troc in particular. Did you see the Lorch B8 lathe complete with bench, index wheel, milling attachment, cross slide, and separate milling and drilling apparatus at 2:00:18? 2,500 euros. I could not believe it. If I had found that a year ago it would have saved me many dozens if not hundreds of hours or searching for individual pieces. And all in like-new condition. I could not believe it. I tried to buy it on the spot even though I no longer need it but he didn't take credit cards. I contacted him after the event to pay cash and pick it up but it was already sold. Wishing I had made the decision anyway and offered him a watch as collateral or something like that.

[@csspinner]

@ I was drooling over that part! I can’t believe it and I paid much more for a lesser set up. That was an amazing deal and I’m not surprised it sold

[@thebutcher6851]

Mechanical watches...wristwatches...pocket watches...and so many tools related to watchmaking...if I were there I would feel like a kid in a candy store!

[@IMakeWatches]

I know! That's exactly how I felt! I think the fact that I filmed it saved me a lot of money because had I gone there without the camera I think I would have gone insane with buying stuff and destroyed my marriage. Instead I had to focus on shooting the video.

[@thebutcher6851]

@@IMakeWatches you have to choose the monotony of marriage versus the great passion of orolology... YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO!!! ha ha 😉😉

[@IMakeWatches]

​@@thebutcher6851 Normally, yes! But I need her help making these videos, and the community comes first! 😂😂😂

[@thebutcher6851]

@@IMakeWatches 😄

[@nealshapiro8197]

Dayton, in another one of your videos you mention a booklet that outlines all the flea market and watch fairs in Switzerland and France, but I cannot seem to locate that. would you mind replying with the name of that booklet and how one might obtain it?

[@IMakeWatches]

Sure, it's in this video at the timestamp of this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJ3CZ41ogpiJodU

[@IMakeWatches]

BTW, it includes some of France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Austria in the back of the book, but definitely not all. I think that the individual markets probably have to pay for the listings so there is a focus on important watch fairs but it's not 100% comprehensive, even in Switzerland.

[@nealshapiro8197]

@@IMakeWatches excellent, Thanks man.

[@pipodorologio1648]

love these shows, what a beautiful stuf you got on camera....gonna be on the Rikketik this Sunday, the largest vintage watch fair in Europe. hope to catch some nice ones there..😀

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks Pipo! There's also one in Geneva Sunday. Have fun at the one in Utrecht!

[@andyyoung3233]

Bro I would have no money left if I was there and need a lorry to take it all home

[@IMakeWatches]

I don't take cash to these fairs for my own protection and to protect my marriage! 😂😂😂

[@MrRokz1984]

I like how you show the watches and you show the price's of them, and you look like Ricky Steiner the Chef ....brilliant videos Sir!

[@IMakeWatches]

Great! Glad you like it! Thanks for the comment!

[@DecemberNames]

nice, somehow i also enjoy your videos now knowing you support reason and logic in murica

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks @DecemberNames! I took some heat for that but I'm glad I did it. Your comments were and are very important to me.

[@DecemberNames]

@@IMakeWatches freedom is more important than online basement trolls at some point mate

[@floflo1151]

😊👍

[@majurals]

I like this about your video.

[@IMakeWatches]

Thanks!

[@tiberiuvincze8288]

Hello, I hope you bought that lathe!

[@IMakeWatches]

I didn't but I tried. I didn't have cash on the day and when I texted him to try to buy if after the fair he'd already sold it. But the truth is I no longer need it, so I just hope it went to a young watchmaker that can use it for a lifetime.

[@ВАСИЛИЙМАЛЬЧЕВ-р2з]

Hello.Can you please tell me where and when this sale of old watches was. Is there a website where I can see the prices of these watches?

[@IMakeWatches]

The only vendor that I know of with a website is watchesulike at 44:25. The information about the fairs themselves is in the description and you can also find a video that I published a month or so ago in which I review a printed guide to all of the watch fairs and flea markets in Switzerland.

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

lathe and mill tooling and collets and table ? thats insane, the mill is worth that

[@IMakeWatches]

I know! It's crazy! I hope it went to someone that can put it to good use!

[@ElderPinto254]

love eterna i dont know why just like them i wear a gold one so nice i think .. thanks dayton !!! shout out to fred lip lol! love lip got a couple and were them a lot one i got from my mother ... LIP is france.. Dayton dont you want a nice clock for in your studio in the back???

[@IMakeWatches]

I love Eterna too. It's so tied to the history of ETA that it's crazy that the Swatch Group let it go. They should have dropped Rado and kept Eterna.

[@ElderPinto254]

@@IMakeWatches Rado is a big market for them in india... india is crazy about rado pfff we lost a lot of great brands..

[@IMakeWatches]

@@ElderPinto254 Like I said.... 😂😂😂

[@ElderPinto254]

@@IMakeWatches oeps just dropt a rado

[@ElderPinto254]

ooh between you and me did you know that one of kalle his fav watch is a rado so i need to stay humble lol

[@sonnymoorehouse1941]

Your in the cradle of watchmaking

[@IMakeWatches]

Yep! Sorry I missed your call last night. Is it something you can put here in the public chat?

[@JR-bt5dy]

Prices way high!

[@IMakeWatches]

Not if you look for bargains! This lathe for example: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWSsd4eqebhmecU

[@th-uh2oo]

With the average salary of $ 85 000 they can afford it.

[@rk702]

@2:22:38 Your French sound a bit gummed up and needs a service.

[@IMakeWatches]

As a fellow-American you should appreciate my strong American accent! 😂😂😂 I actually visited Mr. Tomassini in this video, that's why I'm able to communicate with him so well now: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqDbm6CZjN-KnsUfeature=shared

[@th-uh2oo]

Everything looks very expensive.

[@IMakeWatches]

Depends! I'm still kicking myself that I didn't buy the lathe at 2:00:00!

[@th-uh2oo]

I always ask the seller to text me a picture, of the item I'm not ready to buy, that way I always have a contact info if later I decide to get it. On the other hand, they may offer you a better price by text message.

[@mrmaestrouk]

It’s all 3 times CHEAPER on eBay

[@IMakeWatches]

Most of my Ebay experiences have been terrible. I try to never spend more than US $50 on anything on Ebay, with a few exceptions, like buying Seikos from Japan! 😂😂😂

[@TightBlet]

hats this music bruh

[@IMakeWatches]

Sorry about that. I'm old and it fits the way I feel. What style of music do you think would be better?

[@itsmylifetubeemir3028]

Horloges hebben veel krasjes en ze vragen veel geld ervoor! Ze zijn niet zuinig geweest tijdens het dragen.....

[@IMakeWatches]

Some do, some don't. Some are, some aren't. Some have, some haven't. Thousands of vintage watches tend to be in different condition.

[@davidsolmundson5705]

Welcome to the land of never heard of obscure vintage watch brands. Here in North America what is like servicing and getting parts. Unless you're a watch maker it seems to me that it's a gamble buying these watches as beautiful as they are. Could very easily end up with a paperweight unless you live in Europe. Gotta like the thrill of the hunt if you know what your buying. Seems like a very cliche hobby this vintage watch collecting. Then there is the question of accuracy. I suppose that doesn't matter much if you're just going to add it to your watch box for bragging rights. How about doing a show about European watches in any North American city,or are these watches to eccentric for the average person here? Once again,it's like gambling when getting involved in the vintage watch hobby unless you're a watchmaker which of I think there are not a lot experienced people in this field in North America.

[@IMakeWatches]

Great questions! In fact the small brands almost exclusively use standardized movements because they couldn't afford to make their own movements. As a consequence of this parts availability and prices tend to be much better for the small vintage brands than the large ones. Also, most of these small brands were exported all around the world. In fact some of them were set up almost entirely for export. Regarding accuracy that depends on the condition but in general mechanical watches that are running are accurate enough to be worn for weeks at a time without worrying that they're off by more than a few minutes and if worse than that they can (and should) be cleaned and regulated.