The History of the Swiss Watchmaking
Swiss watches have been the source of dreams for centuries thanks to their excellence and incomparable quality. But, do you know how Switzerland became the undisputed master of watchmaking?
The origins of the Swiss watchmaking industry
As surprising as it may seem, Switzerland was not the first country to manufacture watches, we owe that to Germany.
However, the Swiss watchmaking industry began soon after during the French Wars of Religion which led many French Protestants (also called the Huguenot) to take refuge in Switzerland, bringing their watchmaking skills to Geneva. Thanks to them, Geneva gradually acquired its reputation as a master city of watchmaking.
During this time, Geneva was also undergoing a violent revolution under the leadership of John Calvin. This revolution gave rise to very strict rules of life forbidding the display of wealth. Geneva was famous for its jewels and talented goldsmiths but, the wearing of jewellery was forbidden in the city, destroying the lifestyle of the goldsmiths who then became interested in another art: watchmaking. Hand in hand with the French Protestants, the Swiss goldsmiths worked on the design of exceptional watches in terms of both aesthetics and technology.
It was at the end of the 17th century, when restrictions were relaxed, that Geneva was able to revive and display its watchmaking expertise, further recognized for its beauty and technological prowess.
Towards a worldwide recognition of the Swiss watchmaking industry
Switzerland has been able to establish its timepieces expertise and position itself as a world leader over the years thanks to numerous technological breakthroughs.
From Geneva, watchmaking expanded into the Jura mountains and diverses regions around the country (Neuchâtel, Bern, Schaffhausen,…). There, many innovations flourished in craftsmanship, technology and production methods.
One of the earliest innovations is due to the goldsmith Daniel Jeanrichard who initiated the use of the labor division in the watchmaking industry. This new method of production made it possible to gain drastically in efficiency since by the end of 1790, Geneva was exporting more than 60,000 watches!
This was followed by a series of innovations, each more impressive than the last. For example, the creation of the “perpetual” watch in 1770 by Abraham-Louis Perrelet, the forerunner of what we know today as the self-winding watch. Then, Adrien Philippe created the pendular winding and Abraham-Louis Breguet invented the tourbillon, a masterpiece of Swiss know-how. Gradually, manufacturers also began to produce thinner and more portable watches.
Then in the 20th century, Swiss watchmakers added additional functions to their watches, such as calendars, chronometer functions, waterproof models,… Today, watch manufacturers continue to invent in order to maintain their status as leaders in watchmaking.
All of these innovations and the following helped Switzerland to stand out and position itself as the cradle of watchmaking as we know it today.
Years later, Tim & Co. is proud to celebrate this heritage and honor Swiss watchmaking expertise with its iconic Moonphase and Date Ladies Watch.
