What is a Swiss Made watch and what are the requirements? - Watch and Learn #34 

Bravo! Great explanation. I've seen watch enthusiasts, watchmakers, watch bloggers, trying to explain what actually Swiss made means. Finally someone took the document and cites it. No theories no maybe this or that. Technical education...

Your channel is the RU-vid watch university! Thanks for sharing this.

Great explanation by a man who clearly knows (and respects) the ⌚ game 🙏

So refreshing to see a watch channel that gives good education.

Great video Marc. Probably the most informative Watch and Learn I have watched (and learned). Thanks for this.

Learned a lot about watches from your channel, thanks marc...

Superb, Marc. I get so much more out of these than the usual watch comparison videos Although I watch and enjoy both, (and learn from both), I really take away a lot of great information from these more in-depth, esoteric type W&L. Thanks!

Thank you Marc for this informative video on Swiss watches. Keep up the good work, I find all of your watch and learn videos are very good and I have learnt a lot from them.

Thanks Marc, awesome watch and learn. Really appreciate your candour in these videos.

That’s why I like Orient Watch, every little pieces is made in house in Japan by Orient.

Great video. Thanks! Learned a few new things today!

Excellent review Marc. So, make it so simple...! really enjoyed it.

Good point about the cost included in calculation. I've heard, some companies are going around with it by manufacturing most of the watch in countries when labour is cheap, and putting things together in switzerland, where labour is expensive. This way we've got a watch made in far east usually, with a cost of 40 $ and a few bits and pieces made in switzerland with cost of 60 $. This makes the watch " swiss made".

Awesome video Marc, I've learned so much from your videos, I learned how to use a divers bezel from one of your episode, btw I get lots of components on my Traser love that watch. Thank you for teaching me so much about horology.

These videos complement TGV's and Federico's videos so well Marc.

Another insightful video once again. Thanks

Great video. It's all about protecting revenue. Same in many other industries. Look into Parmigiano Reggiano cheese. Like a swiss watch, fakes all over the place, and legal definitions (and lawyers) abound. Keep up these watch & learns!

Great vid. Thanks Marc!

thanks for the detailed explanation as always very interesting and informative cheers

Thanks Marc,great lesson and very informative. 👍 on a fun note you could become the human Google of the watch world .with you're knowledge.👍

Thank you for this video. You explained elegantly and simply what Swiss Made means. This has increased my appreciation for my very first luxury horological timepiece, which is also my first automatic watch: Tudor North Flag (Bracelet Ref: M91210N-0001, and purchased leather strap from Ref: M91210N-0002 as well). 😄👍⌚

Great explanation!

Great job as usual Mark! By the way, I love my new Junkers auto it's absolutely beautiful.

Thanks for sharing the great info. I looked this up when I bought my Luminox 15 years ago and it had "Swiss made" label on the dial and was curious as to how Swiss is its Swissness.

It would seem a significant part of the movement could be manufactured in a country like China (on the original manufacturer's CNC machines) and then just assembled in Switzerland (maybe with a Swiss wheel or two, some Swiss springs and jewels which would easily give that 60% of total value based on currency exchange rates alone) and the movement is still considered "Swiss". Assemble that 60% Swiss movement in a Chinese case with a Chinese crystal, a Chinese case back, a Chinese band, and have a quick QC at a warehouse in Switzerland and it's anointed a "Swiss Made" watch. By comparison a "Made in USA" watch would need to be very near 100% from movement to band in the USA. You mentioned the Detroit company which didn't make the standard and that is correct. There is a California company (begins with a G) that gets close to Made in USA with their movement and case (and probably do it at a higher amount than the Swiss 60%), but the best they can do is label it as "Hand Built in America". Looks like the Made in USA or Hand Built in America might still be more honest than the Swiss Made label.

I admire you so much man

Good information; "thanks Mark".

Great vid man. I'd like to see a rundown on Made in Japan pieces, especially with different variants of given watches available.

Great video Marc!

Thank you for info. !!!

Thanks for the clarity of ,and on the information, people didn't believe me on this . l see a huge German watch industry growing very fast, thanks Mark by 2020 it will be 80% of the watch must be made in Switzerland. 👏👏👍😎

Great video love it

Great video, thank you

Great video. Thanks.

I do like Switzerland and the people there. I'am from Europe and been there a lot of times. But, for me a Swiss watch means i can't afford them. I am perfectly happy with my Seiko and Casio Edifice watches. For me and my budget the are perfect. I have a lot of respect for the Japanese brands.

Your reviews are awesome .

The quality of most mechanical watches today is amazing. It seems to me that the Swiss needs to up their game a little. In the 70's you could buy an eta Movement for 29 dollars New. Made 100 percent in Switzerland parts and labor. Today 60 percent. I would like to see the Swiss watch's with their designation "Swiss Made or Made in Switzerland" 100 percent Swiss parts and labor. American made! 100 percent parts and labor, Japanese made! 100 percent parts and labor and German made! 100 percent parts and labor. After all most of the watch collectors, enthusiasts are quite anul about their watches weather from Invicta to Patek they love their watches.Mark a Great Video and thanks for making the watch world a better place.

Best video marc. Most informative. Can we have similar video on what makes a watch a " luxury watch"

Another great video

Great video Mark. Japanese watches ftw!

Good job Marc, very informative and educational. All comes down to making sure the money is being distributed correctly. Cornering the market? How many brands does the SWATCH Group have? Thank you for the info.

Good video man, many watch channels don't cover this.

Great video

Great vid Marc, very informative and interesting, keep it going!

Always informative,and simple,Thanks.

There should be a similar label for calling movements in house because I’ve seen a lot of slightly modified eta movements be called in house lately.

I appreciate your videos Marc and I am trying to get to all of them! I love my Oris and Ball watches... but I am curious: What is a standard or common manufacturing practice that "just" meets the requirement? I am guessing the parts are stamped in Asia, maybe even partially assembled and then shipped to Switzerland to complete just enough of the process to meet the requirement?

Is an automatic Tissot a good entry into the Swiss Made territory?

Does the watch have to be assembled in Switzerland? I know the movement and final inspection does. But can you have the watch assembled and put together in another country then sent in for final inspection in Switzerland?

Thanks Marc. Schooled again. Would love to see a video about ETA. Being that they are the juggernaut of the industry. I'm sure they hold a controlling interest in a wide area of the watch world... Would love to be enlightened.

It's so common to disguise things nowadays.

The whole "Swiss Made" thing has become almost meaningless (as Marc points out). It's another example (along with pricing, marketing, sales channel, etc.) of how the Swiss watchmaking industry has shot itself in the foot over the years. Seems like the easiest way to solve the problem, and bring some real prominence back to the "Swiss Made" label, would be to follow the "Made In The USA" example. Basically require that 100% of the piece be manufactured and assembled in Switzerland. As a consumer of entry level and mid-grade time pieces, I don't care if "Swiss Made" is printed on the dial since I know it's a watch that simply meets the bare minimum requirements. Anyway, thanks for another clear and concise video Marc. Keep 'em coming!

Informative

Any comments on Swatch and Steinhart which both have Swiss Made markings on the dial. Thanks

Any chance you could talk about the Ritmo Mundo Swiss Made IndyCar Seies chronograph I own. I love it, and it's about 5 years old now.But no one ever talks about these watches. I think it would for around $1500.00 when it was new. I just have so little info. I'm a begginer in horology.

So I ordered a watch case, dial, hands and ETA 2824 movement from an eBay seller in Switzerland. All the stuff was made in Switzerland. I assembled the watch myself here in US Murica....I live in New Jersey. Will I be required to grind off all the 'Swiss Made' makings and replace it with 'Wiseguy Made'?

Bone of contention !

I'd like to see a W&L that describes the basic qualities of a mechanical watch that establishes what high quality features are and then compare them based on countries. I'd be curious what it is that makes a "Swiss" watch versus a "Japan" watch better or not. What is it beyond the "name" or country designation that makes a watch mechanically desirable.

Great informative video. Question: Are Optima watches Swiss made? It says Swiss made on the dial but are they really?

Thanks for sharing the knowledge. I heard they updated their regulations on Swiss Made recently. I understand Swiss want to protect the origin of the product. Totally agree. At the end of the day is more of marketing, and perhaps prestige, than anything else. As for me good timepiece, good music, everything artistry if good has no boundaries.

Thank you, Marc. I have seen some watches with the single word SWISS on the dial. I assume from what you stated in the video, and from the attached link, that such watches did comply with relevant regulations that applied at the time of their manufacture. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_made

That company in Detroit does not know sh-t from shienola. Very nicely researched video thanks !

Nice video

Hey Marc, what do you think about Tissot watches?

I know Tissot is Swiss made but does it have Swiss movement?

Do you know anything about a vintage ladies watch, that says Sylvette, Swiss Made, Anti magnetic with the numbers 10184 on the back? The Swiss made is on the front, by the 6, and on the back? I can't find anything on it

How about mathey tissot watches. Swiss made. Any good?

To add even more confusion: I have chronograph that says "Swiss parts" but with "China movement." From what I can tell, it's Swiss quartz but assembled in China.

Another very great video. Very enlightening. If I'm understanding you, if a watch says Swiss in the case back the case has to be made in Switzerland? There is a certain watch manufacturer that makes watches that say made in Switzerland in the dial and the caseback. Would that mean that the case is made there? This particular company makes really nice dive watches but receives a lot of hate because certain people say they are made in China. Thanks in advance.

What does Geneve on a watch mean? Do you have a video on that??

Does the swiss made legend in the front makes the watch expensive?

my rolex just got swiss instead of swiss made..whats the difference? thx

My Movado series 800 chronograph says Swiss Made. What’s your opinion? Thanks

I have a quartz watch that reads movement made in Switzerland. I had no idea they made any quartz at all!

haha... glad you said what you said at 3:28 ... for a minute I I thought you were saying a Grand Seiko was a finer watch than a Patek Philippe.. Another great nation for watch making btw, is Germany..

This 'is reported as true Journalism should be! Future Video Suggestion: You like blue, I like blue, many do. How about a video comparing different shades of blue? For example, the blues of Squale aquamarine blue vs the Seiko pepsi blue vs the blue dial of the Orient mako , (which for some reason I can't warm up to), etc. With your archives, you could do a helluva smorgasbord of blues laid out across a table.

Can you say something about Swiss Military Hanowa?! They say that are registred on swiss confederation... I'm almost purchesing the worldtimer (ronda movement gmt).

Marc! Dose this will raised the price of the final product next years????! Because already climbing and the price of mid range swiss watches become like high end ones ?? I hope am wrong

Rolex and other high end watches used to have “ T Swiss T “ at 6 o’ clock years back.

"Swissness" lol, yeah reminds me of 'Truthiness' meaning of course, not exactly true at all, but sounding close enough

My Invicta 'Master of the Oceans' says Swiss Made on face and back.

What's your opinion on Swiss quartz?

On my Tudor North Flag it says "Geneve" at 12. Could you please explain that?

So I can assume a Swiss Made watch will become more expensive as the percentage of direct Swiss involvement increases. Made in Japan and Made in Germany is a much looser term and allows for more affordable prices. This will push Swiss Made watches more to the top of the price brackets. I wonder how companies like Hamilton and Tissot will come out in all this.

This is why I have two Rolex both classic from 2002 and 2010, so I know they are truly Swiss. The third watch I have is an Omega SpeedMaster from 2002. I really like the Speedy, but I know the parts are not hundred percent Swiss. It's ok I really like the Omega. Problem with the sixty percent value Swiss is the labor costs in China a very, very low. Most of the parts can be Chinese they will have relatively low value, and the labor costs in Switzerland are so much higher the sixty percent value can be easily attained despite ninety percent of the physical watch is Chinese.

Mark, what is going on with Squale's and u. Will u be selling them? I saw a video giving your name and Squale but the sight would not come up. Help!!!!

Great video. So Steinhart watches are made in Germany but all their watches say Swiss Made. So they are in violation?

So I'm looking at victorinox ,are they really Swiss?

The rules changes seem to be targeting Invicta.

I'd like to know what the requirements for French made is it seems like they have none .

Too complicated. lol. I will just think "Earth made" from now on and pray what I buy last a few good years. Thanks for the videos.

Great video. I definitely think they should make it stricter to say "SWISS MADE". IMO Should be 100% made in Switzerland to say that really.. otherwise say things as you mentioned, like "swiss movements". Hot topic here! :)

Dear Marc.......excellent summary. Wiki has an interesting explanation if anyone wants to follow up: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_made. I have researched this topic previously and found that the more I read the less I understood....hahaha. It would certainly simplify things if they followed the USA rules instead of trying to maximise the country of origin as a marketing tool. In 2014 they produced less than 2% of the world's watches but accounted for more than 50% of their value.

But what about Invicta? ;)

In China there are small industrial towns called Germany

So this means that many Swiss Made watches are not 100% Swiss watches, like Steinhart, is assembly in Germany with Swiss mov. I like to know if MIDO is Made in Switzerland or other place? I believe they do that to increase the price and treat many people as a fools, buy Swiss and received a Chinese watch with Swiss Made requirements.

Why is the country of origin always in English? I have several Swiss and German pieces and I think it would be cool to have that in French or German. Personally, I don't care about "Swiss made," for example I think there are brands made in Germany that are fantastic (Junghans, Nomos, Sinn), and I always thought it was weird that Panerai, which is as Italian as spaghetti in my mind, goes for the "Swiss Made" mark. Good vid, thanks for the info!

How about Swiss Maid?

im sure you've answered this MANY times but im gonna ask you because im a newbie :D why do you wear 2 pieces???

It should be 100% if it says "Swiss Made"! I just saw a video about a Seiko cocktail that stopped working and Chinese parts were found in the watch. I expected more from Seiko. :(