Luzern | Kapellbrücke | Bucherer Collection

The Story Behind

The Panorama "Luzern, Kappelbrücke" is part of a unique collection created especially for Bucherer 1888. 

Lucerne and its famous Chapel Bridge, along with Geneva and its Jet d'Eau and the Matterhorn overlooking Zermatt, are part of the "Holy Trinity" of Swiss tourism: they are icons recognized by people all over the world, helping to make Switzerland an iconic tourist destination.

The Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), the symbol of the city of Lucerne, is a medieval bridge built in the 14th century that crosses the Reuss in the heart of the old town. With its length of more than 200 meters, this bent bridge competes with its neighbor built on the Rhine between Bad-Säckingen and Stein for the title of the longest covered wooden bridge in Europe. It takes its name from the St. Peter's Chapel at its northern end. Under the roof structure, it houses about 100 triangular oil-painted panels from the 17th century, which depict the main events of Swiss history and glorify the importance of the city of Lucerne.

In 1993, this jewel of Swiss heritage was largely destroyed by a fire that consumed the entire country with grief. The national emotion was such that it was decided to rebuild it identically, one year later. The abundance of engravings, images and photographs of the building will allow to reconstitute it, as well as its historical frescoes, as close as possible to what they were originally.

The history of Lucerne has been intertwined with that of the famous watchmaker and jeweler Bucherer for almost 140 years. The very first Bucherer boutique was opened on Falkenplatz. Its existence is very short-lived, but it is not a failure that forces it to close its doors - quite the contrary! It was so successful that it had to be moved to Kapellplatz in a larger space very quickly. Bigger, but still not big enough: in 1894, after six years of existence, Bucherer moved again, to Schwanenplatz. On this beautiful lakefront square, Bucherer moved into a building that would become emblematic of the brand and still exists today.

In 1924, the paths of Ernst Bucherer - one of the sons of the brand's founder Carl Friedrich Bucherer - and Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of the fledgling Rolex brand, crossed. The two men shared the same vision and formed a fruitful partnership, with Bucherer adding Rolex collections to its range. Just two years later, the Geneva-based watchmaker launched the Oyster, the world's first waterproof wristwatch. It quickly became a legendary timepiece.

Under the impetus of the third generation of the family, Bucherer is gradually expanding its legacy worldwide. In 2013, for its 125th anniversary, the watchmaker and jeweler opened the world's largest watch and jewelry boutique in Paris, a stone's throw from Place Vendôme and the Opéra Garnier. Both a traditional house with historical roots in the heart of Switzerland and an icon of 21st century luxury, Bucherer is today Europe's leading watch and jewelry maker.

Finishing and Gifting

Should you desire a framing in a different color, please specify your preference upon checkout. Additionally, you may include a card with a personalized message along with a priceless invoice. Each art piece can be elegantly packaged as a gift and delivered on a date of your choosing. For more details or to arrange these services, please contact Customer Service.