Charles-Louis Muri is a well known and respected figure in the Swiss vintage watch scenne. He has been based in the Bienne old town for 40 years now. His knowledge of the local industry is deep, and this is reflected in the quality of the pieces he receives.

The store is beautifully decorated, with not only watches of all kinds on display but also historical advertising, and many fantastic clocks. 

You can find out more about Mr Muri by reading this interview.

What you will find: while Omega is usually well represented (it is in Bienne after all) the selection is quite eclectic, and, at time of writing, includes brands such as Minerva, Jaeger-LeCoultre, and Heuer, for instance. 

Price range: very broad, from a few hundred CHF to above 20k, for rare items.

Open Hours: 

• Tuesday to Friday: 2 pm to 4 pm

• Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm

Where Rue Basse, 38 - 2502 Biel/Bienne (Google Maps)

SWE Rating: Very good (the reason it's not "Excellent" is that the quantity of watches on offer has decreased over the past few years. However, the place is beautiful and Muri is a legend of vintage watches, so it is definitely worth a visit).

Website: clmwatches.com

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.