Following the now cult-classic MIH watch from 2005, a decidedly minimalist annual calendar chronograph developed by Ludwig Oechslin and Paul Gerber, and the Gaïa watch series introduced in 2019, the 2024 edition continues the museum's watchmaking approach. Before Oechslin launched his own brand Ochs und Junior, he was curator of the Musée International d'Horologerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds and initiated the MIH Watch project. And even if we are not dealing with a noveltywe wanted to explore the latest chapter in the MIH story: the Gaïa Series IIIa blue dial A watch that captures the soul of La Chaux-de-Fonds, where architecture and time flow together.
How it all began
The Musée International d'Horlogerie (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds is hidden in the city, half-submerged in concrete and silence. Time seems to run slower inside. Light comes through narrow skylights; Part museum, part cathedral, it was built into the rock to protect humanity's long pursuit of timekeeping.
In this semi-subterranean masterpiece of brutalist architecture designed by Pierre Zoelly and Georges-Jacques Haefeli, the history of the MIH clock began in 2005, when curator Dr. Ludwig Oechslin and Paul Gerber created a minimalist monopusher chronograph with an annual calendar to finance restoration projects. Designed by Christian Gafner, the MIH watch with a titanium case reflects Oechslin's genius for reduction. his calendar used only nine additional parts. Until 2020, when production ended, around 100 pieces were made per year, and one example found its place in the collection of MONOCHROME founder Frank.
The original MIH watch from 2005
In 2022, the MIH watch returned as Mechanik2, redesigned by Gafner. Still powered by the Valjoux 7750, it featured a dotted chronograph display on the dial (the original had an opening in the back for this function), a red-tipped hand and sharper typography, taking MIH's spirit of mechanical honesty beyond the museum walls. Meanwhile, within those same walls, a new chapter was taking shape.
The MIH Gaïa watch 2019
Launched in 2019, the Gaïa Clock, named after the museum's annual Gaïa Prize, transformed the MIH's architecture into a clock. Its geometric dials showed the time through rotating disks. The Series II followed in 2021 with a black dial; both financed the restoration of automatons and historical clocks. In 2024, the museum celebrated the 50th anniversary of its building, and to mark this milestone, MIH introduced two new watches: the Gaïa 50th Anniversary Edition with a hand-guilloched silver dial by master craftsman Georges Brodbeck and the Gaïa Series III. We are presenting the latter to you today.
The MIH Gaïa Series III
A structure in miniature format
When you see the MIH Gaïa Series III, it looks very familiar. After all, it is based on the watch introduced six years ago. Stila SA's 39mm steel case is all about proportions. The surfaces alternate between brushed and polished and appear more architectural than decorative. Plus, it's slim, 9.74mm thick, and sits comfortably on the wrist. The design by XJC (Xavier Perrenouds Studio) has matured over three iterations. The new tabs merge more naturally into the bracelet. The crown, engraved with “MIH,” sits flush without disrupting the watch’s balanced symmetry. However, the first thing that catches your eye is the dial.
Concrete and sky
Beneath the sapphire crystal lies a blue so complex that it seems to change with every viewing angle. The dial is calm, modern and quietly lyrical. The color is produced using an ALD (Atomic Layer Deposition) process by Positive Coating, a specialist from La Chaux-de-Fonds. The coating is incredibly uniform and has a deep, saturated tone. Look closer and you'll see laser-engraved lines that run parallel and perpendicular, like an abstract map. These are inspired by the formwork impressions that are still visible on the museum's concrete walls. It is a literal translation of architecture into watchmaking, a surface created from pressure and structure.
The time is displayed by a central rotating disc that marks the minutes, while the hours are displayed through an arch-shaped opening at the top of the dial. The typography is clear, almost Bauhaus-like and perfectly readable. Reading becomes second nature after a few moments. It's a deliberately different rhythm, slower.
Inside the machine
An engraved caseback with the inscriptions MIH Gaïa III, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Swiss Made and the unique serial number features a small opening like the one side of the dial. The Sellita SW400-1 movement operates at 28,800 vibrations per hour and offers a power reserve of 38 hours. “Musée International d'Horlogerie” is engraved in blue on the rotor. The choice of movement, reliable, locally made, reflects the museum's approach: to celebrate the practical as well as the poetic.
Ethical and local
The strap is made by Brasport SA from recycled apple waste and the Cornu & Cie pin buckle is engraved with MIH's exact geographical coordinates (47°06'03″ N / 06°49'48″ E), a nice touch that anchors the watch to its home.
Price and availability
The MIH Gaïa Series III is limited to 100 pieces, the price is: 3,400 CHF (excl. VAT), available online at www.montremih.ch and directly in the MIH shop in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Proceeds from Series III will support the renovation and redesign of the museum's permanent collection.
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