Why Are Swiss Watchmakers Considered the Best in The World?
Ask anyone where the best watches come from, and you’ll get one answer: Switzerland. However, while it is widely regarded that Swiss watchmakers are the best in the world, surprisingly few people know the reasons behind this. They are happy to buy into the prestige, without understanding the reason why these watches are so prized among collectors.
In a world that’s becoming increasingly digital, mechanical items still have an undeniable draw. Maybe it’s because they remind us of a bygone era where craftsmanship was valued more highly, or perhaps because people like being able to see just how something works. However, there are a few reasons why Swiss watches in particular are so incredibly valuable- and here are the main ones.
The Sum of Its Parts
One of the main reasons why Swiss watches remain so popular is the fact that they are almost always made out of premium materials, namely 316L surgical steel. This is used because it is not only incredibly durable, meaning the watch will last longer than a lifetime, but also because it holds its shine incredibly well. It’s also easy to polish this type of steel, and one can even polish out any superficial damage to the watch in most cases. This, coupled with the use of gold and platinum in plenty of high-end Swiss watches, is one of the main reasons why they are so expensive.
Expert Craftsmanship
Along with the materials, the other reason why Swiss watches fetch such a high price is the time and craftsmanship that has gone into making them. Originally, this Swiss workforce was made up of peasants who, in the winter months, would turn to watchmaking in French factories close to the border as a way of tiding them over until the spring, when they could go back to agriculture. However, it seems that the Swiss had a natural affinity for all things mechanical, and their work was soon in high demand from clients all over the world. For centuries now, Swiss watchmakers have demanded a high pay for their delicate work, and that has a knock-on effect on the final price of the watch itself. Not that there’s a problem with that- in fact, it serves as a guarantee that you are getting a perfectly crafted piece that will serve you for many years to come.
A Watch That Will Last a Lifetime
At the heart of every watch is its movement- the mechanical parts that allow it to work properly. As you might expect, the movement has a big impact on how much the watch is worth, since a poorly-made movement will keep bad time, and break after a relatively short amount of time. All the movements in Swiss watches are made by hand, and can consist of almost 400 separate parts- all of which are made out of metal, rather than the cheaper plastic parts you’d find in other watches. Thanks to all the care that goes into making the watch, they will last for decades, if not centuries- so you can leave your Swiss watch as a legacy to your family.
It’s clear, then, that Swiss watches are vastly superior to virtually all other watches on the market today. Thanks to centuries of tried-and-tested techniques, Swiss watchmakers are able to create pieces that not only keep excellent time, but will also last a lifetime.
This means that Swiss watches make an excellent investment, since their value has remained steady regardless of the economic climate. For those that can afford them, these watches are the pinnacle of prestige, and they look set to remain a highly-desired choice for many years to come.
