HESS Uhren, Luzern

01/10/2026

Four weeks offline. Looking back now, a few weeks later, it's an experience I'd wish on everyone. 📵

This summer i came home from four weeks of vacation without a single photo. Not even one for this post. Hard to imagine for most people, but that was exactly the point.

For a full month, we were completely offline in Lower Austria. No news, no WhatsApp, unreachable. Anyone who needed to reach me could contact an emergency contact instead.

The effect turned out even stronger than I expected. Within just a few days, my thoughts grew calmer and more focused. Suddenly there was less pulling at my attention. The world drifted a little further away, and whatever was right in front of me got my full attention again. Instead, we spent our time in nature, doing yoga and meditating. 🧘‍♂️

As a watchmaker, I already work in a profession that demands concentration. Still, I noticed how good it felt to completely clear my head. The weeks before our vacation had been intense, so this offline time in Austria was a very welcome contrast.

I came home without any photos, but with something everyday life often leaves too little room for: inner calm. Even now, weeks later, that sense of quiet has stayed with me.

24/09/2026

A nearly 300 year old table clock, made by a court watchmaker to the Prussian king, recently found its way onto my workbench.

It's a table clock by Josué Robert (1691 to 1771), a significant Swiss watchmaker of the 18th century. Born in La Chaux de Fonds, Robert was appointed court watchmaker to King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia in 1725. His watches still carry the signature "Horloger du Roy de Prusse" today.

I fully overhauled the clock: disassembled it into its individual parts, cleaned everything, replaced worn bearings, then reassembled, lubricated and oiled it.

The construction was remarkable. Beyond the mainspring barrels for the movement and the striking mechanism, it has a third barrel. Pulling a cord triggers a separate repeater mechanism that chimes the hours and quarter hours on demand, an impressive feat of engineering for its time.

The longer I work on clocks like this, the more my respect grows for the watchmaking craft practiced centuries ago. Their ideas still work today, and that's exactly what makes this craft so fascinating to me.

The clock now belongs to a family in Lucerne, who have kept it for generations. I'm glad this extraordinary piece of history continues to have a home where its story is valued and passed on.

15/09/2026

Why I became a watchmaker and why I stayed ⌚

My fascination with watches started early. As a child, visiting my great-uncle, one room always pulled me in: filled with wall and standing clocks, each ticking, chiming, moving in its own rhythm. A tiny universe of its own.

Years later, training in mechanical engineering, turbines, pumps, forming machines, gave me a feel for complex components. But watchmaking hit different: miniaturization. High-precision mechanics packed into the smallest space, and a completely different way of working. The atmosphere was quiet, focused - a sharp contrast to the industrial world I knew. The moment I stood in an atelier at ETA in Grenchen, I knew: this was my path.

I never doubted the craft itself. But plenty of solutions didn't work on the first try moments that demanded patience, sometimes distance. Staying with it, rethinking, trying again: that was usually the key.

What still amazes me: a mechanical watch runs on nothing but spring tension and finely tuned gears. No power, no electronics - yet precise for decades, sometimes centuries. I recently restored a table clock by Josué Robert (1691–1771, La Chaux-de-Fonds, watchmaker to Prussian King Friedrich I), remarkable mechanics from around 1740.

05/09/2026

Even as a young boy, I knew I wanted to become a watchmaker. ⌚ 

But at that exact moment, the industry was in the middle of the quartz crisis and mechanical watches suddenly had no clear future. Plenty of people told me to choose a different path.

Still, watchmaking never let go of me. The dream stayed. Eventually I trained as a watchmaker anyway, and years later I opened my own workshop with HESS Uhren.
Today, I’m grateful that doubt never held me back and that I got to follow my passion. 😊
For those who don’t know me yet: I’m Walter Hess, a watchmaker from Lucerne. In my manufactory in Wesemlin, I craft wristwatches for people who value real craftsmanship and timeless precision.


15/08/2026

The atmosphere in my atelier and why it matters.
When I sit at my workbench, time feels different. Not faster, not slower, but more focused. Over the years, I have learned that the quality of a watch is influenced not only by the craftsmanship itself, but also by the environment in which it is created.
A few things make my atelier special:

💡 The right light
Precise watchmaking requires clear, even lighting. It protects the eyes and allows me to see the smallest details.

🔍 Order and structure
Every tool and every component has its place. A well-organized workspace creates calm and keeps the focus where it belongs: on the watch.

🛠️ Tools within reach
Screwdrivers, tweezers, and loupes are always arranged exactly where I need them. This keeps the workflow natural and uninterrupted.

🪑 Space to work freely
The way a workspace is arranged influences movement, concentration, and comfort. A good atelier supports the craftsman.

🔇 Silence and atmosphere
In my atelier, you often hear only the quiet sounds of watchmaking, the ticking of a movement, the subtle work of the tools. This silence helps me stay completely focused.

🎨 A place that inspires
Colours, materials, and the overall feeling of a room influence how we work. A thoughtful environment creates space for precision and creativity.

After many years in watchmaking, I know: the atelier is not just where the work happens. It is part of the work itself.

06/08/2026

05/08/2026

I've always been fascinated by how light can completely transform a watch. ✨⌚

At first glance, this dial appears calm and understated. But as soon as light touches the surface, the diamond dust reveals a unique depth and a play of reflections that changes from every angle.

Creating this effect took many attempts, adjustments, and patience. Finding the perfect balance was the challenge: enough texture to bring the dial to life, but still keeping its elegance.
For me, this is what makes watchmaking so special, the beauty often lies in the details you discover over time.

Which detail of a watch catches your eye first?

26/07/2026

Timeless and elegant: The bracelet 🙏

A is defined not only by its dial. The bracelet plays an important role in shaping its character and how it feels on the wrist.

The Milanese bracelet has a long tradition rooted in fine metal craftsmanship. Its name refers to Milan, where intricate metal weaving techniques have been part of the jewellery world for generations.

What makes it special is its unique structure. Unlike classic metal bracelets made of individual links, the Milanese bracelet consists of a finely woven metal . The result is a combination of strength, comfort, and elegance.

I especially love how it catches the light in a subtle way and adapts naturally to the wrist. It feels refined without being too dominant, perfect for a watch that should be both timeless and versatile.

Our HESS TWO.1 and TWO.2 models are available with a Milanese bracelet, also crafted in 18k red or white gold.

22/07/2026

More than 40 years at the watchmaker's bench have taught me far more than how to repair mechanical watches.

They've taught me patience, because true quality can't be rushed.
They've shown me that the smallest details, often the ones nobody ever sees, are the ones that matter most.
And they've reminded me that every watch carries a story, a memory, or a piece of someone's life.

Even after all these years, I'm still learning. Every movement, every challenge, every watch has something new to teach me.
The longer I do this work, the more respect I have, not only for the craftsmanship behind every timepiece, but also for the time it represents.

09/07/2026

My studio has become more than just a place to work. It’s where ideas grow, where I challenge myself, where I make mistakes, and where I keep coming back to what feels true.

These quiet workdays are the ones I’m most grateful for.