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Started By
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Why ‘Swiss Made’ on your watch doesn’t mean what you think it means
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:08 am
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:08 am
quote:
According to the labeling law, a watch with a gear train manufactured and assembled outside Switzerland can still be labeled Swiss Made provided the mechanism was first designed and later inspected and physically screwed into the movement domestically. Given the mechanical and often aesthetic importance of the gear train to a luxury watch, this technicality has raised eyebrows among some enthusiasts.
quote:
According to the Economic Research Institute, the average annual salary of a Swiss machine operator is just over $75,000, compared to about $15,000 in China or $6,200 in India. Energy costs, driven by the E.U.’s stringent limitations on carbon emissions, are likewise high, as are prices for raw materials and taxes. Marietta, of Zenith, puts it plainly: “If you have everything manufactured in Switzerland, the watches will always be more and more expensive in terms of selling price at the end.”
quote:
Waser, of Maurice Lacroix, also speaks frankly on the topic. “I would say below 5,000 Swiss francs, below 10,000 Swiss francs [roughly $5,500 to $11,000], it is impossible today, with the cost of labor, the cost of goods, to be 100 percent Swiss-made. There are very few watch brands who are doing this.” Meanwhile, Eggerding insists that Asia is “super top-notch” when it comes to producing cases, bracelets, and dials at scale in a way that Switzerland can’t always match.
Robb Reporr
14
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:12 am to weagle1999
“Swiss made” mattering, at all, died with Swatch. Anyone considering spending real money on a watch needs to research the watch itself, not just its nation of origin. Otherwise, it’s the equivalent of walking into a dealership and asking for a “German car”.
Though amusingly, the Germans have been giving the Swiss a run for their money in watchmaking.
Though amusingly, the Germans have been giving the Swiss a run for their money in watchmaking.
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:13 am to weagle1999
I don’t understand how watches haven’t gone away like the VHS player.
It’s like paying 10,000$ for a telegraph machine.
It’s like paying 10,000$ for a telegraph machine.
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:17 am to weagle1999
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:20 am to Shut Up Mulllet
quote:
I don’t understand how watches haven’t gone away like the VHS player. It’s like paying 10,000$ for a telegraph machine.
Nah, it’s more like spending thousands of dollars on a beautifully engraved gilded gramophone. You’re doing it in appreciation of the beauty of the artistry and cleverness of the craftsmanship, not because it’s the best at producing sound.
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:24 am to weagle1999
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:29 am to Joshjrn
quote:
Nah, it’s more like spending thousands of dollars on a beautifully engraved gilded gramophone. You’re doing it in appreciation of the beauty of the artistry and cleverness of the craftsmanship, not because it’s the best at producing sound.
A watch can also appreciate in value or at least hold its value
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:37 am to weagle1999
My favorite was on the back of iPhones.
Made in China
Designed in California
Made in China
Designed in California
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:41 am to weagle1999
Just wait until you read about ‘grass-fed’ or ‘made in America’, ‘designed in the USA’ ‘made with real fruit’
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:45 am to Shut Up Mulllet
quote:
10,000$
When you put the dollar sign after the number, I want to follow you to your home and beat you up on your front lawn in front of your family.
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:46 am to SuperSaint
quote:
SS
No cap
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:47 am to ClientNumber9
quote:it’s a solid tell that you’re dealing with a pos scamming gross foreigner
When you put the dollar sign after the number, I want to follow you to your home and beat you up on your front lawn in front of your family.
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:50 am to SuperSaint
quote:
it’s a solid tell that you’re dealing with a pos scamming gross foreigner
More likely a sir Winston level dork
Posted on 10/5/25 at 9:59 am to weagle1999
There is a whole set of Swiss laws governing the use of "Swiss Made". Everyone who cares about it knows the rules, those who don't care generally don't know.
If you want to spend the least amount of money and get a watch that you can be sure is 100% Swiss Made and made almost exclusively by one company (in-house) you buy a Rolex. Outside of Seiko they are the most vertically integrated watch company in the world. This has only been a thing for the Swiss for maybe 25 or so years. For decades the Swiss had tons of companies that specialized in certain watch parts (dials, hands, cases, bracelets, movement ébauches, etc). Over the years, consumers have put more emphasis (its an internet thing) on inhouse watches. Rolex started buying up its suppliers and now has basically the entire watch "under one roof".
Great watches can be made in several countries what one buys is a matter of taste and budget, not unlike most products.
ETA I should say that after the initial large tariffs were placed on China the Chinese started placing propaganda videos on various SM in particular attacking Rolex and Hermes making very strong suggestions that Rolex and Hermes made their products there. In the comments it was clear they were either populating the comments themselves or had caught a bunch of fish. Rolex and Hermes are the least likely to bother making their products in China. Many if not most products from both companies are underpriced as it is. If they were interested in maximizing profit for the short run they could simply increase the prices and still sell all they produce.
If you want to spend the least amount of money and get a watch that you can be sure is 100% Swiss Made and made almost exclusively by one company (in-house) you buy a Rolex. Outside of Seiko they are the most vertically integrated watch company in the world. This has only been a thing for the Swiss for maybe 25 or so years. For decades the Swiss had tons of companies that specialized in certain watch parts (dials, hands, cases, bracelets, movement ébauches, etc). Over the years, consumers have put more emphasis (its an internet thing) on inhouse watches. Rolex started buying up its suppliers and now has basically the entire watch "under one roof".
Great watches can be made in several countries what one buys is a matter of taste and budget, not unlike most products.
ETA I should say that after the initial large tariffs were placed on China the Chinese started placing propaganda videos on various SM in particular attacking Rolex and Hermes making very strong suggestions that Rolex and Hermes made their products there. In the comments it was clear they were either populating the comments themselves or had caught a bunch of fish. Rolex and Hermes are the least likely to bother making their products in China. Many if not most products from both companies are underpriced as it is. If they were interested in maximizing profit for the short run they could simply increase the prices and still sell all they produce.
This post was edited on 10/5/25 at 10:06 am
Posted on 10/5/25 at 10:03 am to Obtuse1
Obtuse has entered the thread 
I'll sit back and
I'll sit back and
Posted on 10/5/25 at 10:03 am to Obtuse1
quote:
Rolex
I read elsewhere that they are playing this outsourcing game too…
Posted on 10/5/25 at 10:04 am to Shut Up Mulllet
quote:ikr? Nothing drops the ladies' panties faster than a baller with an iWatch scrolling texts and showing off their resting heart rate.
don’t understand how watches haven’t gone away like the VHS player.
It’s like paying 10,000$ for a telegraph machine.
This post was edited on 10/5/25 at 10:06 am
Posted on 10/5/25 at 10:07 am to weagle1999
quote:
I read elsewhere that they are playing this outsourcing game too…
They are simply lying to you. It may be a result of the Chinese propaganda push I noted in my edit above.
Posted on 10/5/25 at 10:09 am to weagle1999
Rolex as it currently exists would die overnight if they were outsourcing stuff from China. They'd never do that. Prices would plummet.
Posted on 10/5/25 at 10:15 am to Shut Up Mulllet
quote:
I don’t understand how watches haven’t gone away like the VHS player.
It’s like paying 10,000$ for a telegraph machine.
Because they are almost jewelry as much as function. Also, whipping out a phone in a lot of situations is considered rude. Last, not all of us want to be on the phone 24/7.
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