The Swiss quality means primarily reliability and precision. It’s not without reason that there is a saying “to operate like a fine Swiss watch”, which is used when talking about punctuality and efficiency. The Swiss watchmaking tradition has gained great fame because of the above features, with which it’s identified by customers around the world.

What it actually means for a watch to be “Swiss made”

“Swiss made” label is used to indicate that a product was made or assembled in Switzerland. At the same time it gives the assurance of the highest quality of manufacture. Swiss brands have won widespread acclaim precisely because of their attention to detail and high quality of workmanship, which have been the domain of Swiss watchmakers for many years. Thanks to the use of a wide range of drive systems, i.e. automatic, solar or quartz movements, they have won the hearts of all fans.

Of course, not all high-quality watches feature the “Swiss made” designation. For example, the brands like Zeppelin and Junkers aren’t certified “Swiss made” but they are top German watch manufacturers that use advanced Swiss-made movements to ensure their high precision. The “Swiss made” label doesn’t only indicate the origin of the watch, but also evokes associations with luxury and premium quality. That is why the famous “Swiss made” designation is a prestigious mark applied to some of the world’s best watches. Of course, it doesn’t mean that Japanese watches such as Orient are inferior to Swiss timepieces.

Protection of the “Swiss made” label

To preserve and protect the exceptional quality of “Swiss made” watches, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, also known as FHS, implemented some changes in the “Swissness” legislation a few years ago. The aim was to tighten the criteria for using the famous “Swiss made” designation on dials, which was a guarantee of high quality of a timepiece. Until 2017, the “Swiss made” label was given to watches produced for at least 60% in Switzerland. Moreover, the watch company that produced watches with this designation had to pay taxes in Switzerland.

The new law entered into effect on 1 January 2017. From then on, all “Swiss made” watches have to be manufactured in compliance with the new industry ordinance, which says that at least 60% of the watch’s manufacturing costs have to be realized in Switzerland. The costs can include production and assembly costs, as well as research and development costs. The costs for transport, packaging, distribution of the goods and natural products which, due to natural conditions, cannot be produced at the place of origin are excluded from the calculation. Therefore, the brands like Aviator, Invicta and Adriatica still bear the indication of the "Swiss made" provenance. The latter brand boasts over 150 years of Swiss tradition.

Choose the high quality of Swiss made watches

The Swiss style and quality of watch manufacturing is recognised worldwide. The new regulations are therefore great news for watch lovers as they increase consumer assurance about the quality of Swiss watches. Now, you can be 100% sure that a watch with the “Swiss made” designation on the dial was made entirely, or at least predominantly, in Switzerland, and therefore from high quality materials that meet the Swiss standards. In other words, products that don’t meet the Swiss requirements and are produced outside Switzerland can no longer be labelled as “Swiss made”.

Is a “Swiss made” watch worth buying?

Yes, it is. “Swiss made” watches are are both intricately designed and meet the highest standards of craftsmanship. What’s more, Swiss brands use only proven technologies developed over the years, such as the famous tourbillon.