What is the legal definition of a Swiss watch?
Like Champagne, Bordeaux or Port, certain products have stringent standards (based on location or quality) that must be met before carrying a particular designation. The Swiss have several organizations to ensure the integrity and reputation of Swiss watchmakers. The accepted standard for what constitutes a Swiss-made watch is a Swiss movement, set into its case in Switzerland, by a manufacturer of Swiss origin. A Swiss movement is defined as a movement that was assembled in Switzerland (by a Swiss-based manufacturer), and whose Swiss movement parts constitute 50% or more of a movement’s total value. Movements that meet this requirement will carry a stamp (on the watch’s face or back of the case) with the words “Swiss,” “Swiss Made,” “Swiss Quartz,” “Suisse,” “Produit Suisse” or “Fabrique en Suisse.” The former three are the most popular in North America. If your watch says “Swiss Movement,” it means that the inside parts of the watch are Swiss, but that the case is not, therefore it c
