Connoisseur IT'S OK TO LIKE NICE THINGS
Swiss MADE Watches Some watches are an accessory—a fashion statement to beautify the wrist. Others are functional. There are two words, though, that should mean something to every watch wearer—Swiss made. Combining both form and function, Swiss made watches are the ultimate status symbol. But, it seems that with the right tools and parts, anyone can make a watch. What is it that sets Swiss watches apart? What makes them more than just an accessory or a functional piece of hardware? It is their legacy. When you buy a Swiss watch, you are buying hundreds of years of experience. In 1541, Swiss jewellers and goldsmiths turned to watchmaking as a reaction to religious reforms that banned the wearing of jewellery. By 1601, the Watchmakers' Guild of Geneva was created. Since then, they have forged through revolutions, wars, and depressions leading the industry in technical and aesthetic quality. Swiss watchmakers claim the first wristwatch, the first quartz watch, the first water resistant wristwatch as well as the thinnest and the smallest wristwatch in the world. Since
1999, a Swiss watch has also held the record for the most expensive watch ever sold— US $11 million at Sotheby’s. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, watches such as those made by Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe have earned their reputation for impeccable quality and for making innovative and complicated watches with timeless designs, built to remain fashionable for 110 years. Based on this and the stock markets in the past few years, many watch lovers are beginning to view watches, especially vintage watches, as a more stable investment. This has enabled high-end watches to brave the economic turmoil of late, and even see an increase in sales. In order for a watch to wear the Swiss name, the movement or internal mechanism must be Swiss, the movement must be encased in Switzerland and the manufacturer’s final inspection must take place in Switzerland. Therefore, the beauty of buying Swiss made is that whether you are looking to spend $100 or $11 million, you will always be guaranteed quality Swiss workmanship.