One of the wristwatch types that have made a name for themselves today is the swiss watches. Thus, it is understandable why it could not be very clear when you see multiple brands laying claim to being Swiss wristwatches. That begs the question of which wristwatches are Swiss watches, what makes them so, and every other inquiry you might have had about them.
In this piece, we go in-depth into what makes a watch swiss and what you should be on the lookout for. We also answer a variety of other salient questions you might have on the subject.
In This Article...
What is a Swiss wristwatch?
Wristwatches carrying the Swiss-made label refer to those units that have been manufactured or assembled in Switzerland/ any designated Swiss region.
By law, the convention for a product to carry this tag is that it has up to or more than 60% of its manufacturing occurring in Switzerland. Likewise, no less than 50% of the watch's movement must also contain Swiss components. This means that most materials of make must have also been sourced from the country for it to pass such a rating.
In other words, Swiss wristwatches might have foreign elements in them too, but they are predominantly fabricated with Swiss-made materials and inspected in the country/ by a Swiss manufacturer.
What’s the Difference Between Swiss Made and Movement?
Swiss-made watches, as explained above, need to have been predominantly made in Switzerland or its regions. However, some watches are not swiss made but carry swiss movement.
In that case, such a watch has its movement made in Switzerland or designated regions.
Due to this movement type's accuracy and durability, some manufacturers go for the swiss movement on their watches. Thus, even though the watches are not swiss made, they carry a swiss movement under the hood.
Sometimes, this is also a marketing ploy that works just well. Using this method, manufacturers can appeal to the market that loves everything Swiss without making the main watch in the region. That also helps them cut costs, slapping the Swiss branding on while remaining competitive with prices.
What Is So Special About Swiss Watches?
Swiss watches are created with a high level of attention to detail with much regard given to aesthetics also. This is best seen in the delicate watch movements, which can be said to be one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, watch movements in the world.
Swiss watchmakers have also established a long-standing legacy as veterans in the trade. That reputation is what new watchmakers ride on to sell their units in the market too.
Likewise, laws are guiding what can be dubbed Swiss made and what cannot carry that moniker, lending more trust to the products (such as wristwatches) tagged so. After all, they have all been inspected and seen to pass specific quality ratings before being allowed to be sold.
What Is A Good Swiss Watch Brand?
There are a series of great Swiss watch brands out there. Some of them are, but not limited to:
Notable mentions go to brands like Breitling, IWC, Baume & Mercier, Piaget and Audemars Piguet also.
The choice of which is the best swiss watch brand comes down to personal preferences. Left to us, we love some Rolexes and Omegas when the price is not an issue. Balancing cost with value for money, Audemars Piguet, and TAG Heuer will come to mind.
We have not seen the fuss around brands like IWC, but they do get the job done.
As we said, it comes down to personal preferences.
Are Swiss Watches Worth the Money?
We have refrained from using the word 'expensive' because that is relative. A $1,000 might be cheap to someone but expensive to another person.
That said, are swiss watches deserving of all those several hundreds and thousands of dollars thrown at them?
No one can tell you that something is worth it more than you have decided in your mind. To venture an opinion, a lot is going on under the hood of the best swiss watches that make them worth every buck you spend on them. For example:
How Do I Choose a Swiss Watch?
Personal preferences, style, and taste will inform your choice of a suitable swiss watch.
If the price has been scaring you away from these watches, know that you don't have to run into the thousands to get one. After all, we have reviewed some fine swiss watches costing under $500, among others, here at UberWrists.
When choosing swiss watches, know that they can have additional features on them. For example, your swiss watch could also be an automatic or diver's watch.
For the best choice, follow this guide when shopping for a Swiss watch:
Should I Get a Swiss Watch?
If you are a watch enthusiast or collector, we don't see why you should not have a swiss watch in your wardrobe too.
Even if you are not any of those, you will benefit mainly from having one of these watches in your collection.
The good news is that there are great swiss watches for men and women alike. They are not all expensive either if you are not looking to break the bank on one timepiece. Finally, you can get swiss watches to pair with official outfits, wear to dinner, take outdoors, etc.
