On Thursday 28th June in Geneva, capital of the Swiss watch industry, François Hebersaat, President of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, said ‘…for the first time in 2000, the Swiss watch industry exceeded 10 billion francs in exports. But the exceptional growth of 14.4% over 1999 might be difficult to repeat. However, since the beginning of the year, the industry has seen an encouraging growth of 7.6%.

Swiss watches enjoy a privileged position on the world’s markets with the Swiss watch industry effecting 90% of its overseas sales in just 30 countries. Over the past five months, the actual number of watches sold decreased by 8.9% while the overall value increased by 7.1%.

Geneva’s watch city

Vacheron Constantin is setting up a new 30 000 m2 production facility in the Geneva industrial zone of Plan-les-Ouates next to three others of the world’s most prestigious Swiss watchmakers, Rolex, Patek Philippe and Piaget

In a play on the name of the location ‘Plan-les-Ouates’ (oo-ats), Geneva’s leading French-language daily, the Tribune de Genève (founded in 1879 by the same American Colonel James T. Bates who founded the bank which became today’s UBS), coined the phrase ‘Plan-les-Watches’ which could be translated as ‘Watch-City’.

Geneva – Glittering home to luxury goods’ and prestigious watch manufacturers

Rolex and the world’s most prestigious jewellers and watchmakers make up a very important sector of activity. The centre of Geneva rivals the largest international cities for the sheer scintillating beauty of the retail outlets of many of the world’s leading brands in luxury goods. The renown of Switzerland and Geneva in these domains was born centuries ago and continues to thrive with increasing global prosperity.

Geneva has been famous for centuries for contributing to ‘the art of living’ though its prestige watches, designer jewellery and brand-name lighters. Walking along the ‘rues basses’ (downtown) will amaze and delight by the succession of astonishingly beautiful window displays, each more impressive than the previous.

In fact, it is said that a special dispensation had to be given by Luther to allow the talents of the Geneva artisans to continue to be expressed through their fingers in producing such irreplaceable beauty. For after all, Geneva is a Calvinist city where, normally, such ostentatious displays would not be encouraged.

Visit:

Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry: Link

Geneva's Watchmakers Jewellers Goldsmiths Association Link

Swiss Watchmakers & Watch Manufacturer Links: Link

Soft3Design: Link