Is it worth it to buy a Swiss made watch?

April 09, 2021

Some of you might be wondering why it would be worth buying a more expensive Swiss made watch.
Perhaps you are hesitating between Fjordson and another non-Swiss watch brand. You might be thinking; "both look good to me, so what's the difference?".

In this blog we'll shortly introduce you to exactly what a Swiss made watch is and what makes these watches so different.

What is a Swiss made watch in the first place?

If a watch brand wants to use the Swiss made label, it needs to meet certain requirements of the Swiss made ordinance. This is strictly determined by law.

In summary, to be marked Swiss made, a watch has to meet the following requirements:

It uses a Swiss movement, this is the the 'engine' of a watch
The movement is cased up in Switzerland
The final inspection is conducted by a manufacturer in Switzerland
At least 60% the manufacturing costs are incurred in Switzerland

The main reasons why Swiss made watches are so different

Switzerland has been dominating the watch industry since the early 20th century. The term 'Swiss made watches' has since then been associated worldwide with being high quality, well-crafted and reliable products.

End-product of a long history of watchmaking. Already since the 16th century, Swiss watchmakers have established a reputation for making quality products. It's not a surprise that most of the well known watch brands such as Rolex or Omega are all in fact Swiss made watches.
Built to last. Swiss watches are famous by its superior movement quality. As Swiss movements are always made by hand and its gears of metal, you're guaranteed of lifelong joy. Non-Swiss watches often use plastic parts to reduce manufacturing costs.
Use of 316L surgical steel. Swiss watches are made of this type of high grade steel material. It makes the watch extremely resistant to corrosives and is also beneficial for people with allergies to inferior alloys. Only the best, for the best.
Scratch resistant glass. There's nothing worse than a watch which face is all scratched up. As Swiss made watches uses a very hard sapphire crystal, you can be sure of a crisp and clear looking watch face. Forever. Non-Swiss watches often uses hardened mineral or even regular glass, making it very fragile for scratches or even cracks.

Conclusion

By having a better understanding of the Swiss made label, we hope you're able to decide your next watch with even more confidence. In the end it's all about your own preference. Unless you're comparing a ten dollar watch, most of todays 'mid/high end' watches are pretty decent.

But make sure to check the movement and the use of materials in the specific watch brand you wish to purchase. Because who doesn't want a watch that lasts?😉