There is something classy about the Swiss Watch. Omega, Rolex, Swatch and Tissot are not just machines to measure time but the very utterance of their names spells a sense of style, class and elegance. They are mystique tales of catching up with times of passion that can only be described as timeless.

Amidst the elegance and subtleties shrouding these watches, however, one should not lose sight of the clockwork precision of an industry that carves them into prized possessions. Here is a look at the history of the Swiss watch industry.

Swiss Chronometer – A Chronological Peek

The Swiss watch and clock industry appeared in Geneva in the middle of the 16th century. It is a bit of an irony that the luxurious Swiss watches were born as a result of a religious teaching that banned luxury. When John Calvin advocated renunciation of jewels among the faithful attending services in churches, the goldsmiths turned to another craft: watchmaking.  Soon watches from Geneva were known for their quality and design wherever they were sold.

The founding of the Watchmakers’ Guild of Geneva gave Switzerland the unique distinction of having the only such guild across the globe and along with it came the record of exporting the maximum number of watches.

Division of Labour – In Tune with the Times

The watch making industry as owned by independent goldsmiths did not last too long due to discrepancies in demand and supply. Along came Daniel Jeanrichard who introduced division of labour in the industry. While there was a chain of people producing dials, cases and other components, the manufacturers focused purely on assembling them all into the final product. But this bonhomie between the etablissage (producers of parts) and manufacturers took a beating during the great depression when many etablissages were forced to shut down. What followed was a string of mergers which resulted in the birth of some of the biggest names in the Switch watch industry such as Swatch and Rolex, to name a few.

Today, Swatch owns around 16 watch brands as well as some of the major makers of cases and bracelets, hands, and other components. The same is true of many other big brands.

Another movement that affected the industry was the shift from mechanical to electronic watches. Even today 10% of watches produced are mechanical and they constitute a large part of the luxurious segment within the watch industry in Switzerland. High-quality watch making and superior design have helped the Swiss watch industry to survive all odds to emerge victorious through times good and bad. What’s more, with the introduction of the wrist watch, these objects of luxury and admiration were turned into necessary accessories affecting our daily schedule.

The Swiss Touch

The Swiss pride themselves in their abilities for innovation, ingenuity, dexterity, design skill and patience. No wonder then, that the watches which come out of Switzerland bear a unique mark of creativity and design. Today, Swiss watches are available in a wide range of options ranging from sober classic, to diamond studded. Today they act as accompaniments to add a wide array of statements ranging from style and state, moods and needs.

As one watches the Swiss watch industry continue their commitment to quality manufacturing methods and innovative designs, one wonders if there is anything more to achieve. Well, for one, this is an industry that is successfully catering to the common man and the connoisseur. And that is because the pace of this industry’s growth does not stand still – just like time.