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Interesting Article - What Puts The Swiss In A "swiss Made" Watch?

  1. X350 XJR Vintage Omega Aficionado Mar 4, 2013

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  2. CanberraOmega Rabbitohs and Whisky Supporter Mar 4, 2013

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    very interesting!
     
  3. cicindela Steve @ ΩF Staff Member Mar 4, 2013

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    Wouldn't you love it if they pegged it at 95%, why we could pay double what we do now. :D
     
  4. ulackfocus Mar 4, 2013

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    50% ..... 60%..... why pick nits? It's based on the "value" of the Swiss portion, so they order all the parts from China ($17) and pay a Swiss guy $20 an hour to assemble it - voila! Maybe for good measure the hairspring comes from inside Geneva.
     
  5. LouS Mrs Nataf's Other Son Staff Member Mar 4, 2013

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    That's exactly what struck me. Parts made in switzerland must be tenfold more expensive than those manufactured in China, so then maybe 50% divided by 10 = 5% of the watch is actually a product of Switzerland.

    They plant the seeds of their own destruction though. Farm enough production out to China and its only a matter of time before the Chinese (or any country in a similar situation) learn to raise their game to Swiss levels for less cost and underprices them into oblivion. The value of 'Swiss Made' is not insurmountable, especially when the Swiss themselves discount it.
     
  6. ulackfocus Mar 4, 2013

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    Bingo. That's why the Geneva Seal is so much more important than SWISS MADE nowadays.
     
  7. CanberraOmega Rabbitohs and Whisky Supporter Mar 5, 2013

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    What is the Geneva Seal?
     
  8. ulackfocus Mar 5, 2013

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    [​IMG]


    Kidding! The Geneva Seal guarantees all parts were made inside the Canton of Geneva to certain standards. Here's a shot of it on the VC Malte Grande's caliber 1400:

    [​IMG]

    Further explanation:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_seal

    GenevaSeal.jpg