Swiss-made watches are synonymous with quality and style. It’s not like there are one or two good brands that just happen to be Swiss either. Longines, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Tissot, Omega, Breitling, Tudor and IWC are all examples of fine Swiss watch brands, and there are many more that I’ve not named.
Even before timepieces, Swiss made clocks were renowned the world over for their craftsmanship, something that resonates with a lot of people in this modern age. The fact it takes up to a year for some watches to be made is exactly where the appeal lays. So few products are made with such artisan skill these days that a work of art like a Rolex is a highly sought after item, and is worn with pride.
These days, Swiss watches are known the world over for quality, innovation, and style.
What exactly qualifies a watch to be classed as Swiss-Made?
There are actually two phrases used. One is for watches made in Switzerland, “Swiss Made” and the second is for watches that contain Swiss components, such as the movement, in this case you’ll see “Swiss Movement” on the watch.
[box]In order to qualify as Swiss Made, a watch needs to meet three criteria:
- The movement is made in Switzerland
- The movement is cased up in Switzerland
- The final inspection takes place in Switzerland.[/box]
Where only one or two items are met, you’ll see the latter Swiss Movement displayed instead.
The Federation Of The Swiss Watch Industry regulates these titles, so you can be sure they are legitimate. Of course, with the major brands it is so well known that they are Swiss, you wouldn’t need to do a background check.
The Top Three Brands
There are three brands that stand out among the rest, and I’ve not yet mentioned either of them. The kind of “Holy Trinity” of watches:
Patek Phillipe, Audemars Piguet and Vacheron Constantin are the top timepieces out there, and can sometimes take up to a year to create. It’s no wonder that they are sold so exclusively with limited numbers, and such high price tags. That just makes them even more worthwhile buying though.
View our list of the best Swiss watches.
Are there any non-Swiss brands worth buying?
Of course, as there are many other innovative watchmakers outside of Switzerland who also use top quality materials and fine craftsmanship. Being a Swiss watch is a sign of quality, but it’s not the be all and end all.
Notable brands made outside Switzerland are Emporio Armani, Seiko, Stowa and Citizen to name a few (although Armani does have a “Swiss made” series too).
