Ideal-Learning
Swiss watchmaking curiosities - November
Watchmaking is a symbol of Swiss know-how and “Made in Switzerland” precision manufacturing. Switzerland produces just over 20 million watches per year. (Swissinfo.ch)
To be marked Swiss made, a watch has to meet the requirement of minimum 60% of Swiss value. (fhs.swiss)
By the end of the century, Geneva had already acquired a reputation for excellence and in 1601 the Watchmakers Guild of Geneva was established, the first of its kind in the world.
A century later, because the city had “too many” watchmakers, many started leaving the Geneva region to set up business in the Jura mountains. (fhs.swiss)
The Swiss have a reputation for being as punctual and precise as their best watches (switzerlandisyours.com). It is a deep expression of respect for other people. A punctual person is a considerate one. By showing up on time – for everything – a Swiss person is saying, in effect, “I value your time and, by extension, I value you.” (bbc. com)
Place
Frédérick Japy, a watchmaker on the French side of the Jura Mountains, adapted the Lépine caliber to factory production in 1800, setting the stage for a new era of mass production. The development favored watchmakers in Switzerland, where peasants and farmers occupied their winter months by making watch components for firms based in Geneva. Their industriousness and autonomy helped their country outproduce rival centers.
“As a country, Switzerland is very decentralized,” said Jérôme Lambert, chief executive of Montblanc. “Every valley has an owner or organization that has a dynamic, small city center. That created a very natural extension of the traditional watchmaking way. It was not the same case in England, Germany or France, where it was very much centralized in big cities.” (nytimes.com)
Ideal-tek supplies some of the biggest Swiss watch brands with high-quality tweezers, designed for the easy handling, positioning of components, cutters and pliers, used in assembly and repair works to cut, grip, turn and bend.
To be marked Swiss made, a watch has to meet the requirement of minimum 60% of Swiss value. (fhs.swiss)
Swiss watch history
The Swiss watch and clock industry appeared in Geneva in the middle of the 16th century. In 1541, the reformer Jean Calvin, by banning the wearing of ornamental objects, in effect forced goldsmiths and other jewellers to turn to a different art: that of watchmaking.By the end of the century, Geneva had already acquired a reputation for excellence and in 1601 the Watchmakers Guild of Geneva was established, the first of its kind in the world.
A century later, because the city had “too many” watchmakers, many started leaving the Geneva region to set up business in the Jura mountains. (fhs.swiss)
Why Switzerland?
The PeopleThe Swiss have a reputation for being as punctual and precise as their best watches (switzerlandisyours.com). It is a deep expression of respect for other people. A punctual person is a considerate one. By showing up on time – for everything – a Swiss person is saying, in effect, “I value your time and, by extension, I value you.” (bbc. com)
Place
Frédérick Japy, a watchmaker on the French side of the Jura Mountains, adapted the Lépine caliber to factory production in 1800, setting the stage for a new era of mass production. The development favored watchmakers in Switzerland, where peasants and farmers occupied their winter months by making watch components for firms based in Geneva. Their industriousness and autonomy helped their country outproduce rival centers.
“As a country, Switzerland is very decentralized,” said Jérôme Lambert, chief executive of Montblanc. “Every valley has an owner or organization that has a dynamic, small city center. That created a very natural extension of the traditional watchmaking way. It was not the same case in England, Germany or France, where it was very much centralized in big cities.” (nytimes.com)
Why Ideal-tek?
Professional watchmakers need the proper precision tools for quality watch design and watch repair work. Even the smallest parts of a Swiss watch are made with incredible precision and require very sharp and extremely precise tools.Ideal-tek supplies some of the biggest Swiss watch brands with high-quality tweezers, designed for the easy handling, positioning of components, cutters and pliers, used in assembly and repair works to cut, grip, turn and bend.
