Lookup any list that features the best wristwatches or the most expensive timepieces and you will always notice one ever-present fact. The majority of the brands are Swiss. Swiss watches are so good and heavily adored to the point that the term Swiss Made’ is synonymous with quality and luxury.
Somehow, Swiss watchmakers have been able to perfect the art of creating efficient watch movements for sale. The fact that they have been in the game far longer than everybody else is another big reason why they have the whole market in their grasp.
Brief History of Swiss Watches
Before the Swiss took over the watchmaking industry, there were the Germans. For centuries, German-made watches were the pinnacle and everybody wanted their watches. Switzerland started to challenge that status quo in the 19th century, and they have never looked back since then.
At first, Swiss watchmakers were limited to making cheap imitations of established German, English and French brands. However, with time they started to refine their style. The 2nd World War tipped the scales in their favor as the other nations slipped from the top.
By 1970, Switzerland was the leading watchmaker in the world. They have been able to weather competition from Japan. By the end of the last century, every major watch brand was coming out of Switzerland.
They are More Than Functionality
You do not buy a Swiss watch so you can tell the time of the day, they serve a purpose greater than that. Swiss watches are about prestige. Just having one dangling from your wrist is enough to accord you some privileges, it just opens doors.
If you wanted a watch that tells time, then you have no business buying a watch that costs six figures. You can even tell time for free by simply looking at the opposition of the sun. Swiss watches are more than timekeepers. They are mechanical masterpieces.
They Have Maintained the Art of Watchmaking
Watchmaking did not start yesterday; it has been around for hundreds of years. As time progressed, many of the old ways of making watches went extinct, except in Switzerland. Despite not being the first country to make watches, their artisans have been able to preserve and pass down the skills keeping the craftsmanship alive.
That is why the whole world turns to Swiss watches when they want something that is out of the ordinary. Swiss watchmakers are the only ones who can do what they do.
Swiss Watches Are Made To Last
The average lifespan of mechanical watches is usually about 100 years. That’s a very long time. Add the high-quality standards that govern Swiss watches and you have in your hands a little machine that is almost immortal. The materials that go into the watches are top of the shelf; they are built to withstand all the tiny movements without any wear and tear.
As long as you take good care of them and avoid dropping them every time.
They Are the Face of Luxury
Some watches need a second and third look for you to understand the hype about them. Luxury Swiss watches, on the other hand, one look is all you need to know that you are standing in the presence of royalty. They simply look good and stunning. There is never any debate on their price. Many come encrusted with shimmy precious stones and gold on top of high-quality metals like titanium.
It is not a coincidence that the most expensive watch ever sold is a Swiss watch. They do look the part.
Surgical Steel
One of the reasons why Swiss watches stand apart from the rest is because of a standardization rule they adhere to. It requires them to be built using 316L surgical steel. This is the same steel used to make surgical tools, which means it is of the highest grade. This explains why Swiss watches never lose their luster no matter how many years of use. They don’t tarnish easily and are almost immune to wear and tear.
The 316L steel is also hypo-allergic, making it safe for people with metal allergies.
Sapphire Crystal Faces
Swiss watches rarely sustain scratches on their faces. Their ability to maintain a smooth face has always puzzled many people. The secret is that they make the casings using sapphire crystal, which has a Mohs scale score of 9. In a layman’s language, that is a tough surface.
You could press and drag a key on the face of most Swiss watches and you will not get a single scratch out of that.
Elite Craftsmanship
Swiss watches are handcrafted by skilled professionals who take months and even years to work on a single watch. Everything is handled with delicate precision. The watches undergo rigorous tests to ensure nothing is below the set standards.
The long time it takes to make one is the reason why brands like Patek Philippe make limited editions only. No gear movement is displaced, everything is taken into consideration, including external factors like temperature and magnetism.
They Retain their Value
There is a common phrase within the Swiss circles that says the only cheap Swisswatch is the one in the shop. Swiss watches are some of the few devices on earth that never depreciate. The fact that many top brands only make limited editions makes the value of the watches appreciate with time. They simply do not become outdated.
All you will need to avoid is inflicting physical damage on them. Although it is really hard for anyone to allow anything to come close to $100,000 watch.
Conclusion
The reputation of Swiss watches continues to rise with each passing year. As far as they are concerned, their competition does not exist. Other watchmakers from other nations are okay playing second fiddle. There is a chance you will never own a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime. But if you ever get the opportunity to own a Swiss watch, that will be a purchase you will never regret.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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