History of The Swiss Watch

The Swiss watch and clock industry appeared in Geneva within the middle on the 16th century. In 1541, reforms implemented by Jean Calvin and banning the put on of jewels, forced the goldsmiths and also other jewelers to turn into a new, independent craft : watchmaking. By the end from the century, Genevan watches have been currently reputed for their high high quality, and watchmakers produced in 1601 the Watchmakers' Guild of Geneva, the very first to be established anyplace.

Switzerland has extended been related with high-quality watchmaking. Watches will be the country's third greatest export after the chemical and engineering industries in terms of worth.

Significant although accuracy will be to us right now, it was not often so. For quite a few centuries, watches have been really high-priced and have been status symbols for the wealthy. The wristwatch is a 20th century invention; prior to then they were worn in distinctive techniques, typically as things of jewelry, and decorated accordingly.

The market for Swiss watches is concentrated in three continents. The two largest buyers will be the US and Hong Kong. (Hong Kong is a big hub: a lot of of its imports are re-exported.)

Italy, Germany and France would be the leading consumers in Europe.

Watchmaking in the Jura remains indebted to a young goldsmith known as Daniel Jeanrichard (1665-1741), who, for the very first time, introduced the division of labor in watchmaking. In 1790, Geneva was currently exporting more than 60,000 watches.

Switzerland owes it results not simply towards the high-quality of its output, but also to the wide variety from the watches it produces, in terms of both technologies and appearance. Nearly 90% of your watches made in Switzerland are electronic, but mechanical watches, the remaining 10%, account for over half the exports in terms of worth. Some of the watches at the upper value variety are amongst by far the most complex on the planet.

As for look, this ranges from sober classic, by way of diamond-studded, to low-priced and cheerful.

The watchmaking business has been certainly one of constant innovation, demanding ingenuity, dexterity, design ability, patience and excellent business sense - all qualities on which the Swiss pride themselves.

The challenges continue: how to balance smallness of size with complexity of function, or low cost with higher accuracy and reliability, and tips on how to face up to competition from all over the world.

Time doesn't stand still; neither do the makers of watches.

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