What "Swiss Made" means now

Not sure if everybody has already heard, or seen this news. Just had found out about it. Evidently the rate of what
it means for Swiss industrial products like watches to be considered Swiss made has been moved up to 60% now.

Timezone.com has a little more about this decision right here everyone...


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Swiss made should be higher than the current 50%, so 60% is welcomed. But I think this for any claim, be it US made or Chinese made or Swiss made.

We know even the big hitters source their cases to China....but  don't mind, the case is not such a technology piece as the movement. I really expect the movements in Swiss watches to be 'Swiss made" not just inspected by a Swiss dude who gets paid so much an hour it is 50% of the price of the movement.

sixtysix wrote:

Swiss made should be higher than the current 50%, so 60% is welcomed. But I think this for any claim, be it US made or Chinese made or Swiss made.

We know even the big hitters source their cases to China....but  don't mind, the case is not such a technology piece as the movement. I really expect the movements in Swiss watches to be 'Swiss made" not just inspected by a Swiss dude who gets paid so much an hour it is 50% of the price of the movement.

Great great points Gary.  You know what's funny?! Years ago, I always thought that when it said Swiss Made, that

that meant everything with the watch was done entirely in Switzerland. 100%.


Would be interesting to find out what percentage the different companies are actually at. I guess some of the big names
would, or could be around 100% right Gary? While the vast majority evidently will be hovering around that 50-60% rule?!

Some watch maker oppose this saying that watchmakers will buy some components cheaper from China and this will in turn drive up the 'Swiss ' percentage of the watch and it will actually be a cheaper product, but look better on paper....read below....


Ronnie Bernheim, head of the maker of Switzerland's railway clocks, Mondaine, said a threshold as high as 60 percent could compel makers of lower-priced watches to buy cheaper components abroad.
"If you import a lower price component, also of lower quality, the Swiss percentage goes up ... Lower-quality products would qualify for 'Swiss Made'. It is paradoxical," said Bernheim, on behalf of some 25 watchmakers opposing stricter rules.
The trend is likely to be accelerated by a move by watch industry major Swatch Group to get out of the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] of selling movements and movement parts to other watchmakers, which will compel some players to source more parts from Asia, at least in the short-term.
LVMH's biggest watch brand TAG Heuer has been one of the few to publicly admit buying movement parts from Japan's Seiko while stressing this would not hurt its "Swiss Made" image.

Buying less crucial watch components such as cases, straps and dials from Asia, mainly [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], has been common practice for decades. While luxury players and big groups can afford to make these parts in Switzerland at a higher cost, smaller and mid-sized firms in the lower-priced segment cannot, said one Swiss movement maker who asked not to be named.


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sixtysix wrote:

Some watch maker oppose this saying that watchmakers will buy some components cheaper from China and this will in turn drive up the 'Swiss ' percentage of the watch and it will actually be a cheaper product, but look better on paper....read below....


Ronnie Bernheim, head of the maker of Switzerland's railway clocks, Mondaine, said a threshold as high as 60 percent could compel makers of lower-priced watches to buy cheaper components abroad.
"If you import a lower price component, also of lower quality, the Swiss percentage goes up ... Lower-quality products would qualify for 'Swiss Made'. It is paradoxical," said Bernheim, on behalf of some 25 watchmakers opposing stricter rules.
The trend is likely to be accelerated by a move by watch industry major Swatch Group to get out of the [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] of selling movements and movement parts to other watchmakers, which will compel some players to source more parts from Asia, at least in the short-term.
LVMH's biggest watch brand TAG Heuer has been one of the few to publicly admit buying movement parts from Japan's Seiko while stressing this would not hurt its "Swiss Made" image.

Buying less crucial watch components such as cases, straps and dials from Asia, mainly [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], has been common practice for decades. While luxury players and big groups can afford to make these parts in Switzerland at a higher cost, smaller and mid-sized firms in the lower-priced segment cannot, said one Swiss movement maker who asked not to be named.


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Wow Gary, didn't see that angle at all. Thought it was a good thing, but now I wonder after reading this. It's like we are
in the Twilight Zone or something. 

If you want 100% Swiss....I think only the big manufactures do this.....Rolex and UP. Rolex and Seiko (Japanese of course not Swiss) are the only two watch makers that I can think of that do everything in house. Seiko even makes it own watch oil.

You are right I think that many 'Swiss' watchmakers are probably very close to that 50%.....

sixtysix wrote:

If you want 100% Swiss....I think only the big manufactures do this.....Rolex and UP. Rolex and Seiko (Japanese of course not Swiss) are the only two watch makers that I can think of that do everything in house. Seiko even makes it own watch oil.

You are right I think that many 'Swiss' watchmakers are probably very close to that 50%.....

Think it is really so interesting Gary. I never really think about it that much, but when it comes
up like this once in a while, it's fun to talk about. By the way, that whole Seiko making it's own
oil thing is really something. Didn't know that. Thanks a lot Gary !