Rolex, Swatch, Breitling and Patek Philippe are some of the most renowned names in the global watch and clock industry. What each of these has in common is that they are all Swiss companies, an essential part of the country's artistic and economic heritage and--along with chocolate and cheese--an enduring feature of its national image.
Ticking for Centuries
Switzerland's watch and clock industry dates far back to the middle of the 16th century when religious reforms in Geneva led to a ban on the wearing of jewellery, forcing Gucci Handbags goldsmiths and other jewellers to take up a new craft. Some 50 years later, Genevan watchmakers were already famous lot the high quality of their work and, in 1601, the Watchmaker's Guild of Geneva was founded, the first of its kind anywhere, Over the next 100 years, the industry expanded beyond Geneva's city walls towards the Jura region, which remains just as important today. Some firms established in the 18th century are still making watches, including Blancpain (1735), Vacheron Constantin (1755) and Perrelet (1777).
The mass production of watches began with the onslaught of the Industrial Revolution. The corresponding increase in output cemented Switzerland's reputation as the world's leading producer With the end of World War I came the introduction of the wristwatch. followed by the first self-winding wristwatch in 1926 and the first electrical watch in 1952. Ten years later, the Centre Electronique Horloger (CEH) was established in Neuchatel to develop a Swiss-made quartz wristwatch. An electrically charged quartz crystal has Fendi Fake Handbags the ability to achieve great accuracy in a watch mechanism. Research and development work took five years but the centre succeeded in reducing the size of the components to lit into a watchcase.
Industry With Style
Today, the Swiss watch and clock industry is one of Switzerland's largest exporters, valued-at more than CHE 10 billion in 03. Most of its exports go to Asia (42.3 per cent) followed by Europe (36.3 per cent) and the Americas (20.6 per cent). The top 15 countries represent over 82 per cent of these exports. Of all of Switzerland's economic sectors, only the machine and chemical industries perform better.
Companies produce articles for every market and all budgets: from simple quartz fashion watches to works of art made from gold and precious stones that can sell for several million francs. Alongside its technical innovation, it is this broad scope and diversity that has allowed the industry to retain its leading position, offering customers a comprehensive choice of products.
Downsizing
However, things were not always as promising. In the 1970s the challenging economic environment, increased competition from Asia's emerging tiger economies and technological upheavals required a major shake-up, The number of employees employed in watch and clock production tell from around 90,000 in 1970 to a little over 30,000 in 1980 before rising to today's figure of about 40,000 people, Consolidation also led a steep decline in the number of companies operating: from some 1,600 in 1970 to 650 today. The majority are small-sized enterprises with fewer than 100 employees while fewer than ten firms have a staff of more than 500 people.
Watch On the Future
What will the future face of Switzerland's watch making industry look like? It's never been brighter according to Jean Daniel Pasche, the President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry.
"We are confident that we can increase the amount of our exports to new markers such as China, Russia, Eastern Europe and India. The competition from Asian Tag Heuer Replica Watch producers will be strong, of course, especially for cheaper products and components. But we have the means to respond in terms of innovation, branding, culture and training."
The reinvention of the Swiss watch industry in the 1970s is thanks to its rather delayed but effective response to the electronic revolution of that era. Initially slow to embrace quartz technology, many companies realised it was the key to their, survival and to that of the entire industry. Such an attitude will, also be necessary in the future as the digital age allows watches to be used to store a raft of data--being used as communication and payment devices as much as simple instruments of timekeeping.
However, the industry now has a healthy base once again with over half the value of the more than 500 million watches sold worldwide (roughly 80 per cent being made in China and Hong Kong) generated by the Swiss And reputation remains important: one phrase on the face of each of these watches sold makes them the most cherished in the world: 'Swiss Made',