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When it comes to watches, most people, particularly watch aficionados, prefer buying those which are made in Switzerland. If you are familiar with luxury brand watches, then you know for a fact that a number of them are Swiss-made. The question here is what set Swiss-made watches apart from those manufactured elsewhere. Switzerland is not considered the watchmaking mecca of the world for nothing. But before you get it in your head that it is labeled as such simply because it is the home of several watchmaking companies, think again. It is more than just being the origin. The Swiss-made label you found in watches connotes distinctive quality and authenticity. Having said that, what exactly are the requirements for a watch to be recognized as Swiss-made? Truth be known, there is only one strict condition, which involves the elements used in the creation of the watch. Even though it is allowed to make use of components coming from other countries, the regulation clearly states that majority of the parts should be from Switzerland. This includes the assembly and the inspection. This is the same with the Geneva mark. (In case you are wondering why we are discussing the Geneva mark alongside the Swiss-made label, it is because if Switzerland is the watchmaking capital of the world, Geneva is its capital.) A watch can have the Geneva mark if most of its parts are assembled within Geneva. However, this rule is not as austere. So long as one of the major elements of the watch is made in Geneva then it can have the Geneva mark. What they are strict about is the Geneva Seal or the “poinçon de Genève”, as it is called locally. This is an award that is issued by the Office for the Voluntary Inspection of Watches headquartered in Geneva to watches that deserves recognition for their quality and technology. Among the many requirements, the most important is that the watch should bear the Geneva mark. Besides having majority of its parts made within Geneva, there are 12 other exacting rules to comply with to guarantee that the watch indeed is deserving of the prestigious award. For example, the movements should be numbered. All in all, coming up with watches that are of first-rate quality and beyond-compare engineering with parts that are mostly produced in Switzerland strengthens the notion that Swiss-made watches are noteworthy. Now, you may be able to come across a watch that has a Swiss-made label but it produced abroad. Before you turn into a skeptic, it is actually possible for it to bear the Swiss-made label. This is allowed as long as the watch consists of parts that are from Switzerland. On the other hand, they are stricter in giving the Swiss-made label in foreign-made Swiss watches. They forbid overstated involvement of Swiss parts. Unfortunately, even if they are strict with the Swiss-made label, there is no stopping the production of fake Swiss watches. Given the prestige Swiss-made watches have, it does not come as a surprise if there are those who manufacture fake ones for profit. Financially, yes, it spells trouble to the Swiss watchmaking industry. But more than that, it ruins the excellent standing that Swiss-made watches have earned through the years. The Fine Watchmaking Foundation (Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie) and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry are joining forces to put a stop in counterfeiting. With roughly 40 million forged Swiss watches produced and put up for sale each year, it is going to be a long fight. As watch buyers, you may want to take a second look at the watch you are purchasing. Why get a counterfeit product if you are still going to pay a good price for it? If you are going to spend some money for a Swiss-made watch because you are looking for something with high quality and unparalleled watch technology, you may as well get an authentic one. Sell My Rolex
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