Defining “Swiss-Made” Watches
What is a Swiss watch? The answer may appear simple, a watch made in Switzerland. However there are more factors to consider as it does not mean a watch was 100% made in Switzerland.
As watches are made in many countries around the world, the standard to which most collectors aspire is a Swiss-made watch. That is because Switzerland has been building mechanical watches for centuries, and many top master watchmakers have handed down their knowledge and expertise from generation to generation. Swiss watch brands are known for their impeccable quality, their technical prowess and innovative concepts. The Swiss-made label defines more than the watch parts that combine to create a watch; it holds the proliferation of the wristwatch through years of watchmaking expertise.
"A Swiss-made watch is more than just semantics, it represents years of the Swiss watch legacy and the desire to uphold it by sourcing the finest materials. "
A Swiss-made watch is more than just semantics, it represents years of the Swiss watch legacy and the desire to uphold it by sourcing the finest materials. There are laws set forth by the Swiss government that define the standards that watch brands must adhere to in order to be able to call their watches Swiss made. Additionally, over the years, those standards have evolved and become stricter. In fact, in 2013, a Swissness bill passed that redefined the ordinance governing the use of the “Swiss” and Swiss-Made words marked on a watch.
SWISS-MADE GUIDELINES
As of 2017, new regulations were implemented to define a Swiss made watch, the criteria enabling a more precisely traced geographic origin. With the Swiss-made label held in such high regard, it is important to have standards that define what exactly Swiss-made means:
PRODUCTION: At least 60% of the production costs of a watch taken as a whole must be Swiss-based
MOVEMENT: The movement must contain at least 60% Swiss-made components in value (not quantity)
DEVELOPMENT: The technical development of a Swiss-made watch and movement must be carried out in Switzerland
At Longines, located in St-Imier, Switzerland, one can witness the designers and watchmakers tirelessly working toward creating Swiss Made watches of elegance, tradition and performance.
Despite challenges and adversities the Swiss watch industry has faced throughout history, Swiss manufacturers have evolved stronger than ever. Through the development of watches with advanced technology and contemporary designs, the Swiss watch industry has stood as a world-renowned quality and it proud to bear the “Swiss-made” label on their watches.