Why are Swiss made watches so expensive? (no stone unturned)

Being a Swiss-made timepiece is not just about having 100% of its production in  Switzerland, but the label indicates that the watch has met certain high-quality standards in the form of Swiss trademark law.

Swiss-made watches are the very definition of luxury, and they dominate the sector. They are globally renowned and boast of high-quality designs and functionality.

Most of the popular brands in the luxury watch industry are Swiss-made, so most Swiss-made watches are expensive.

Expensive Swiss-made watches: What is so special about them?

For many years, Switzerland has remained the beating heart of the watch industry by  producing timepieces of utmost quality and craftsmanship.

A major feature of Swiss-made watches are the high price tags that accompany them, but what is so special about these watches that prompt people to pay these prices anyway?

1. The Use Of Quality materials

If it’s Swiss-made, then it uses quality (and expensive) materials.

Not only are the materials used in making Swiss watches of high quality, Swiss watchmakers pride themselves in using rare and exclusive materials; such as: Stainless Steel alloys, Titanium, Diamond, 18K Gold, Ceramic, Oystersteel, Sapphire crystal, and many more interesting materials.

The use of such high-end materials makes Swiss watches not just luxury, but also expensive.

2. The inclusion of In-house movements

Swiss brands boast the most complex movements ever to be seen in the history of watchmaking.The movement is the most important part of the watch and many Swiss watchmakers have taken it upon themselves to design, develop and construct movements whose parts fit and function flawlessly.

This means that most Swiss brands don’t use any ‘label movement’, but they are investing a lot of money in designing, engineering, and producing their movements.

3. Prolonged Production Time

Due to the extensive skill, precision and artistry required when crafting a Swiss watch, these timepieces are produced in lower quantities.

98% of Swiss made watches are handmade and assembled. It could take months and even years to manufacture a single Swiss watch, but this ensures that every part of the watch is thoroughly inspected.

4. Luxury Image

Swiss watches present their owners not only with the image of luxury but portray them as sophisticated and people of great status. Nothing luxurious comes cheap, so this is one of the reasons why watch enthusiasts are

prepared to pay huge amounts of money to get their hands on one.

5. Unending innovations

Swiss watch manufacturers continue to stand out as world-renowned quality and luxury

watchmakers by developing contemporary and ingenious timepieces.

For many years, they have long pursued horological innovation, and just like a watch that keeps moving, so as this industry.

Swiss watchmakers are constantly trying to provide timekeeping excellence.

6. Swiss watches have a low supply rate and high demand

Part of the attraction to Swiss made watches is that they are exclusively produced.

Although this is part of the rush for Swiss watches, it also poses a problem for the industry as consumer demand far outstrips supply. With Swiss watches, there is always a high demand rate and low supply means.

Swiss watches are the best watches in the world!

So far, Swiss watches stand out as some of the best watches in the world.

They have been around for so long and have shaped the process of timekeeping as we know it. They have a powerful legacy of craftsmanship and an irrefutably prestigious reputation which they have upheld judiciously.

One of the greatest innovations of the Swiss watchmaking industry is the Holy Grail of watches. Consisting of Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Patek Philippe, they are the top three luxury watch manufacturers in the whole world and have promoted the image of Swiss watches as the best.

Swiss watches are expensive because they have the highest quality and craftsmanship

Swiss watches are of great quality, that is for sure. They are also backed up by excellent workmanship.

● Swiss-made watches use the best materials

Swiss made brands are made of the best materials.

These good materials are part of the watch’s price ( that seems high priced).

There are Swiss watches made with alloys of stainless steel, diamond, ceramic, titanium, oyster steel, mineral glass, PVD gold etc. With these materials, Swiss watches have proven to be not just luxurious but also durable and reliable.

● 98% of Swiss watches are hand made

98% of Swiss watches are hand made. The remaining 2% possess a fine mix of manual workmanship and robotic aid.

In general overview, Swiss Made watches are all hand-assembled by expert

watchmakers over 6 months and carefully inspected after each step to ensure a quality timepiece.

The intricate and steady hand work required to create a Swiss Made watch requires years of training and experience.

● Swiss movements are some of the most accurate

Accuracy is the measurement of deviation from a given reference or target. The less deviation from its reference point, the more accurate something is.

Generally, Swiss watches are accurate.

As an added point, the most accurate watch in the world, – The Zenith Defy Lab watch, is produced by a Swiss watch manufacturer.

Zenith is currently owned by LVMH, one of the leading luxury conglomerates, and is one of the biggest Swiss watch groups.

In terms of accuracy, Defy Lab cannot be wrong by more than 0.3 seconds per day.

There is a body set up by the ISO to certify the most accurate watches, which is the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC).

A watch that is COSC certified will be accurate to a bare minimum of +6/-4 seconds per day, and will generally be accurate to +/-3 seconds per day.

● Swiss watches are complicated

A timepiece complication is any function that does more than tell the time.

Swiss watches are the most complicated, seeing that the five most complicated watches in the world are made by Swiss brands such as A. Lange and Sohne, Vacheron Constantin, Harry Winston, Jaeger Le Coutre and Patek Philippe.

What Makes A Watch Swiss?

There are five criteria that must be met before a watch can be labeled as Swiss-made.

● At least 60% of the watch’s production costs must be Swiss based.

● At least 50% of the movement’s components must be Swiss.

● At least 60% of the movement’s production must be done in Switzerland.

● The technical development of the watch and its movement must be done in

Switzerland.

● The final inspection of the watch must be done in Switzerland.

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The History and Heritage of Swiss watchmaking

Switzerland is the birthplace of luxury watchmaking. The tradition and craft of

watchmaking in Switzerland dates back centuries.

Watchmaking in Switzerland has a long and colorful history and is an integral part of the tiny nation’s culture and heritage.

The Swiss watch and clock industry first appeared in Geneva, Switzerland in the middle of the 16th century.In 1541, the reformer Jean Calvin, by banning the wearing of ornamental objects and jewelers, forced goldsmiths, and other jewelers in Geneva and its environs, to invest all their resources into a new art as a means to make ends meet.

After the decree, Geneva’s goldsmiths and jewelers turned toward watchmaking because functional pieces, like portable clocks, were exempt from the jewelry laws.

The enamelers and goldsmiths were skilled in creating beautiful, intricate designs that paired well with watch and clock making.

They have constantly evolved, bringing out many interesting yet outstanding designs and innovations.

Today, the Swiss watchmaking industry is the third-largest exporter in the country, employing roughly 59,000 people and comprising 1.5% of the nation’s gross domestic product.

The historical region in the Jura Mountains known as “Watch Valley” is the home to today’s best watchmakers in the world.

Aside from The Watch Valley, some part of the watchmaking industry is sited at Lucerne, Grenchen, Le Locle, Le Sentier, L’Orient.

Some of these towns have French names because they are located close to the border between Switzerland and France.

Why are Swiss watches famous?

1) Pioneering the watch industry we know today

When you wear a Swiss watch, you are carrying hundreds of years of fine watchmaking tradition on your wrist. 

The history of watchmaking can be traced boldly to the Swiss. It is safe to say that all we know about watchmaking today has a bit of the Swiss heritage behind it.

Swiss watches have a unique history, and there is always a story behind every watch.

2) Highest number of hand-crafted watches

Another reason why Swiss watches are famous is because of their exquisite craftsmanship and philosophy of continuous refinement. 

The Swiss watchmaking industry produced the highest amount of hand crafted watches than any other. 

Not only are Swiss watches beautiful, they speak of style and are thoroughly detailed.

3) Popularity among the famous

In different times across history, Swiss watches have been found on the wrists of many important people. 

Presidents, Senators, Actors, Astronauts, artistes, among several other famous and well-known people have been found to own a Swiss watch or two, and this contributes to their popularity.

4) High costs

‘Expensive’ is what comes to the mind of an average Joe at the mention of Swiss-made luxury watches. 

But truth be told, Swiss watches are not as expensive as general impressions. Many people spend more than the price of these watches on luxury vacations and cars. 

But relative to other watches, Swiss watches are more expensive.

Are Swiss watches worth it?

Swiss made watches are the top of the food chain when it comes to the watch-making industry.

For generations, Switzerland has been the world’s leading producer of watches and clocks.

Swiss watches stand out clearly as world renowned quality and luxury watches.

They have a powerful legacy of craftsmanship and a strong reputation. They may be pricey, but Swiss-made watches are worth every single penny invested on them.

These watches can last a lifetime if properly maintained.

So, when you ask ‘are Swiss watches worth the price’, they are definitely worth it.

The Swiss Watchmaking Industry doesn’t make only luxury watches

The Swiss watch industry does not make only luxury watches, even though all Swiss brands do.

The Swiss Watchmaking industry extends their workmanship beyond their own Swiss brands and spreads across to other international watch brands that they help to produce parts, movements, and sometimes watches.

These watches may not end up as luxury watches but as regular watches with a Swiss touch.

What are some of the best and most expensive Swiss watch brands?

● Vacheron Constantin

Alongside Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin is part of the holy grail of the watchmaking industry.Everything from the materials to the finishing speaks of excellence, and portrays the values embedded deeply in the Swiss watchmaking heritage.

The most expensive model from this brand is Vacheron Constantin Kalista at 11 million USD.

● Audemars Piguet

Audemars Piguet is a highly regarded watch manufacturer.

Audemars Piguet guiding principle is clear: quality over quantity, which of course also means exclusive prices. AP develops and produces all of its own calibers.

The most expensive AP watch is the Royal Oak Complication Audemars Piguet Watch, being sold for at least $ 869,000.

● Patek Philippe

When it comes to prestige among Swiss-made watch brands, Patek Philippe will definitely be found there.

This is a brand whose pieces regularly set records for the most expensive wristwatch sold at auction, and many of their lines have production numbers that have yet to enter double digits.

The most expensive models in this brand are the Nautilus and the Gondolo.

It is hard, but not difficult – How to afford a Patek.

● Rolex

Rolex has gone on to become not just the most recognizable watchmaker in the world, It’s also one of the most innovative brands around, with a long history of firsts including the first waterproof wristwatch, the first automatically changing date, and the very first watch to receive chronograph certification.

The most expensive Rolex watches are the Daytona models.

The last white Daytona was sold at an auction years ago for 6 million USD.

See our tips on affording a Rolex.

● Chopard

The brand’s origins can be found in wristwatches and pocket watches for ladies.

Chopard were also widely recognized for the accuracy of their movements, allowing them to create watches that performed admirably.

The brand even produced one of the most valuable watches of all time in the Chopard 201-Carat watch, valued at $25 million US dollars.

● Breitling

Breitling watches are influenced by diving and aviation, with design features like polished cases, bracelets and large, easy-read faces prominent.

The SuperOcean and Navitimer stand out as key models, in style, and in price.

● IWC (International Watch Company)

IWC, for short, became known for their technical excellence in producing highly accurate timepieces, producing watch movements that had a reputation for precision and longevity.

IWC has a rich history in land, sea, and air exploration, so you’ll find plenty of innovative features included on their watches.

The most expensive IWC model is the Aquatimer.

● Omega

Omega is one of the most famous Swiss watch brands, and is a rival to Rolex in both reliability and longevity.

With a long history of producing exceptional timepieces, it gained a reputation as being one of the finest makers of movements and chronographs in these early days, and presently.

The Omega Speedmaster has become not only the most expensive Omega watch, but also the most valued, especially after the line was discontinued.

We came up with 6 ways you can afford an Omega watch.

● Raymond Weil

Though the brand has been around for only a little over 45 years, Raymond Weil has accomplished a lot.

The brand is also heavily influenced by music, which has led to many collections being named after the composer or piece that inspired the designer: examples include the Mozart, Fantasia, and Amadeus watches.

Raymond Weil has produced timepieces in multiple styles, and technical chronograph watches that are also comfortably worn as elegant dress watches.

● Tudor

Tudor was established by Hans Wilsdorf — the founder of Rolex.

Tudor has wonderful aesthetics, high functionality, and is reasonably priced when compared to other high-end luxury watch brands.

The watch brand is well known for its tool watches, most especially its military and professional dive watches.

Although a cheaper alternative to most luxury watches, Tudor still titles the Black  Bay fifty-eight as its most expensive model.

Conclusion

Yes, Swiss watches are expensive, but the heavy price tag has good reasons.

Swiss-made watches use the best materials, go under strict examination and a long design and engineering process. They are also hand-made by Swiss experts and take a lot of time to produce.

When taking all this into calculation we see that Swiss made watches are definitely worth it and worth their expensive prices.

Nothing says luxury and quality more than a Swiss-made watch.

Buying a Swiss watch is the easiest way to guarantee an excellent purchase with a well-made, attractive, long-lasting timepiece.