The Jura Arc, sometimes called Watch Valley, stretches along the Jura mountains from Geneva towards Basel and concentrates most of Switzerland's watch production: brands, movement makers, case and dial specialists and countless small suppliers. Visiting several of them in a day means crossing valleys and passes between small industrial towns. AirportsTransfers.ch organises multi-stop chauffeur days from Geneva so that procurement teams, auditors and brand managers can focus on their meetings.
- Region: from Geneva along the Jura to Neuchâtel, Bienne and the canton of Jura
- Key towns: Vallée de Joux, Sainte-Croix, Val-de-Travers, Neuchâtel, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Saint-Imier, Bienne, Grenchen
- Typical visitors: buyers, quality auditors, engineers, brand teams and investors
- Best tool: a chauffeur by the hour for multi-stop days
- Plan: group visits by valley to limit crossings
An industry spread across valleys
Swiss watchmaking is organised as a network of specialised companies rather than a few vertically integrated sites. A watch may involve a movement assembled in one town, a case made in another, a dial decorated in a third and hands or straps from further suppliers. Many of these firms are small, family-run workshops located in villages and industrial zones along the Jura. Large groups also have headquarters and production sites in towns such as Bienne and Grenchen, while prestigious manufactures are found in the Vallée de Joux, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle, Saint-Imier and the Val-de-Travers.
For a buyer or auditor, this means that a meaningful supplier tour often involves four or five addresses in different towns, linked by mountain roads rather than motorways.
Planning a multi-stop day
The key is to group visits geographically. The Jura Arc can be broken into clusters: the Vallée de Joux and Sainte-Croix in the south-west; Neuchâtel, the Val-de-Travers, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle in the centre; Saint-Imier, Bienne and Grenchen further north-east; and the canton of Jura beyond. Two or three clusters can be combined on a long day, but one or two is more comfortable.
- Map your addresses: share them in advance so the route can be optimised
- Allow realistic gaps: mountain roads take longer than the distance suggests
- Plan lunch: villages have limited options, so decide in advance
- Overnight where needed: a stay in Neuchâtel or Bienne breaks a two-day tour
Why a chauffeur is the practical choice
Trains serve the main towns, but many suppliers are in industrial zones away from stations, and connections between valleys involve changes. Hiring a car means navigating unfamiliar roads, looking for parking and driving on snowy passes in winter. A chauffeur by the hour solves these issues: the driver takes you door to door, waits during each meeting, keeps samples, components and documents secure, and adapts the schedule when a visit runs long. The time between stops becomes useful for calls and notes.
Confidentiality is part of the job. Supplier visits often involve unreleased designs, pricing discussions and prototypes, and chauffeurs do not discuss the companies visited or what is carried in the vehicle. If you are travelling with valuable samples, tell us in advance so that the car is never left unattended during stops.
Routes from Geneva
From Geneva, the motorway along Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel gives fast access to the central Jura Arc. Bienne and Grenchen are reached via the lake road beyond Neuchâtel, while La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle require a climb into the mountains. The Vallée de Joux and Sainte-Croix are closer to Geneva and reached by passes over the first Jura ridges. For a day including the central cluster, the outward drive is broadly comparable to the trip to Bern, 160 km and about 1 h 50 from Geneva Airport. Winter conditions on the upland roads can add time, and experienced drivers are valuable when snow falls.
Vehicles for supplier tours
A single buyer or auditor will be comfortable in a Mercedes E-Class, with space for 3 passengers and 3 bags, or in the S-Class for extra room to work. Teams of up to 7, for example a brand delegation with engineers and quality managers, fit in a Mercedes V-Class with room for 10 bags and sample cases. A Mercedes Sprinter minibus suits larger groups on industry tours or training visits.
Booking your Jura Arc day
With AirportsTransfers.ch you book online and see a fixed price per vehicle before paying by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. A chauffeur by the hour, from a minimum of 2 hours, covers multi-stop days, and return trips or one-way transfers are available for simpler visits. Pick-ups at Geneva Airport include flight tracking and a name-sign welcome. Invoices are provided for companies. To plan an itinerary across the Jura, contact us on +41 78 346 56 77 by phone or WhatsApp, 24/7.
