The main Zurich watch fair takes place twice a year, once in the spring, and once in the fall, in the city's Volkshaus, a centrally located event venue. It has been organized for 30 years, since 1993.   

70 sellers from across Switzerland come in to offer their inventory. There is a wide range of offerings, across tastes and price ranges. While nothing in Zurich is cheap, some good deals can be made, especially towards the end of the day, when sellers, eager to move pieces, are more flexible on price. 

Location

Stauffacherstrasse 60 - 8004 Zurich (Google Maps)

Dates

• Sunday, October 29, 2023

• Sunday, April 21, 2024

9.45 am to 4 pm

How much? 7 CHF 

Website: uhrensammlermarkt.ch (limited content, German only)

SWE Rating: Very good

SWE tips for any vintage / pre-owned purchase:

• Confirm whether the watch is in working order, and if it is guaranteed. 

• Ask whether there is a known service history on the watch.

• If the box has its original papers / warranty, that's always preferred, but it should not be a deal-breaker especially if it is truly vintage (30+ years).

• If the watch has luminescent material on the dial and hands, ask the seller if it is radium (typically until the 1960s), tritium (usually until 1999), or luminova / superluminova (to date). Radium and tritium are radioactive substances. While tritium has very low radioactivity and is considered safe on a watch, the Swiss government advises against wearing a watch containing radium. That said, many vintage enthusiasts actually value radium due to its aesthetically pleasing patina and consider the risk to be low.