Swiss Made vs. Swiss Movement – Wat is nu echt het verschil?

Swiss Made vs. Swiss Movement – ​​What's the Real Difference?

When buying a watch, you'll often encounter the terms Swiss Made and Swiss Movement . Both sound luxurious and reliable, but they don't mean the same thing.

What does Swiss Made mean?

A Swiss-made watch is a protected guarantee of quality. According to strict Swiss regulations, a Swiss-made watch must meet three core criteria:

  • The movement is Swiss and assembled and checked in Switzerland.
  • At least 60% of the production value of the timepiece comes from Switzerland.
  • The watch is put in the case in Switzerland and the final inspection takes place there.

In other words: Swiss Made means Swiss precision from A to Z , from movement to assembly and quality control. This label stands for luxury and craftsmanship.

Maurice Lacroix aikon watch with the swiss made trademark

What does Swiss Movement mean?

Swiss Movement refers exclusively to the watch's internal workings . The movement meets Swiss quality criteria, is Swiss-made and inspected, but the case, bracelet, dial, and assembly may take place in other countries.

The result: the watch has a Swiss "heart," but isn't a fully Swiss-made watch. The advantage? Often a more affordable price, without sacrificing the core technology of Swiss precision.

How to recognize Swiss Made and Swiss Movement

  • Swiss Made : usually located at the bottom of the dial around 6 o'clock. The watch fully complies with Swiss legal criteria.
  • Swiss Movement : Often labeled as Swiss Movement or Swiss Mvt on the dial or back. This indicates that only the movement is Swiss.

Please note: some brands play with fonts or abbreviations to make it look Swiss Made, so read carefully.

Which one do you choose?

  • Choose Swiss Made if you value maximum Swiss origin, brand prestige, and long-term value. Consider watches from brands like Maurice Lacroix and Swiss Military Hanowa .
  • Choose Swiss Movement if you want Swiss technology at a more affordable price, for example with Rodania watches.

Please note: some older Rodania models may indeed carry the Swiss Made trademark.

At Juwelier Van de Heyning in Oud-Turnhout, we're happy to help you make this choice. As a family-owned jeweler in the Kempen region, we offer a wide selection , personalized advice, after-sales service, and our own repair shop , where almost any watch can be repaired. Customers from Turnhout, Arendonk, Ravels, Vosselaar, Retie, and Kasterlee appreciate our expertise and local service.

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