A Watch to Hear

August 9
In 1865, Charles Reuge, watchmaker from the Val-de-Travers, settled in Sainte-Croix and began making pocket watches with musical movements. Today, Reuge has a reputation for manufacturing the most luxurious seasonal and non-seasonal music boxes around the world. But all was not sweet. The invention of the phonograph record in the early 20th century nearly wiped out the music box industry completely. Reuge survived, largely due to their quality sound and accurate movements -- and they still make musical pocket watches.