Swiss-Made and COSC rules are changing

Nov 29, 2007,22:43 PM
 

Forumners,

I heard that:

In future, the minimum value of Swiss-ness to qualify as Swiss Made will be 80% but that is easily covered by wages so that means that proportionately MORE of the components can be imported and "finished" or "assembled" in Switzerland.

Secondly, the COSC chronometer tests will be done on complete movements rather than just the base movements i.e. the COSC will apply to the base + module assembled rather than just the base engine as now. This has HUGE implications for true Manufactures and wannabe ones smile  A senior executive of a Manufacture that makes it's own integrated chronograph movement was gleefully pointing this out to me.......

Do either statements matter to you...... as a watch user or collector?

Regards,

MTF

======
added to Editor's Picks

This message has been edited by AnthonyTsai on 2007-11-30 07:08:22

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

One may matter; the other ismeaningless.

 
 By: mkvc : November 29th, 2007-22:56
The Swiss-made label has been a joke for a long time and apparently will continue to be a joke. A brand that relies on that label for a perception of quality is very unlikely to have the actual quality to interest a well-informed buyer. If the industry re... 

Testing movements VS watches; historical reasons for COSC

 
 By: SJX : November 30th, 2007-00:54
The COSC tests are conducted on movements, rather than watches ; there is no requirement that the movements have to be finished. Even with the change in COSC procedures, an unfinished movement with the complication module could be tested. I personally do ... 

One more thing...

 
 By: SJX : November 30th, 2007-01:06
As I wrote in my post in the Azimuth thread below, the requirement to test base movements fitted with modules will not affect COSC very much. Rolex, Omega and Breitling make up nearly 90% of the movements certified by COSC ( click here for numbers); Rolex... 

I see

 
 By: SJX : December 1st, 2007-17:59
I was under the impression that most Breitling and Omega chronos use the Valjoux 7750 now, especially since it is now available in the "tricompax" layout, and because the ETA2892-based modular chrono is such a small movement. - SJX

Speedmaster Reduced is modular

 
 By: ei8htohms : December 1st, 2007-18:47

The implications are deeper than at first sight.......

 
 By: MTF : November 30th, 2007-07:36
Suppose that whole assembled base + module or integrated movements can be tested. Suppose the most common currently outsourced chronometer movements become exclusive to the original manufacturer/group only.......er.....that would be Swatch Group keeping a... 

But that's not caused by COSC

 
 By: SJX : November 30th, 2007-07:47
That's because from '08 or '09 Swatch will only supply finished movements and not ebauches to non-Swatch group brands. Already many of the smaller brands are already being squeezed out; dials, hands and ETA movements are tough to get. It's not an issue wi... 

Not a cause but

 
 By: MTF : November 30th, 2007-08:55
SJX, I agree that COSC rule changes do not affect the number of COSC certifications per year much. Rolex, Omega and Breitling will account for most of those. But, I'm just repeating what the lucky (or foresighted) executives who have invested in making in... 

The 80% Swiss made rule was refused by the Swiss "parliament" as

 
 By: alex : November 30th, 2007-01:48
supposedly it was contrary to the free trade treaties between Switzerland and the EU

Sorry to disappoint..

 
 By: DonCorson : November 30th, 2007-11:27

Somebody bite my bullet :)

 
 By: cen@jkt : November 30th, 2007-03:11

No and no...

 
 By: nickd : November 30th, 2007-03:21
Most recent purchases: - antique pocketwatch, vintage, vintage, Nomos, new Seiko, vintage Seiko. The Nomos is as accurate as you could want, and the Seikos are more than accurate enough. Vintage, I don't care. Antique, I'm gob-smacked they're still as acc... 

Wow! Nick you are extremely Accurate! [nt]

 
 By: gurulikeu : November 30th, 2007-03:42
No message body

One "Geneva Seal" brand

 
 By: MTF : November 30th, 2007-07:26
did precisely that in the beginning. Every watch was supplied with a "birth" certificate with passport size photo of the dial attached and watchmaker's signature. How did you remember that? MTF

Is the brand u're referring to Roger Dubuis? [nt]

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : November 30th, 2007-19:56
No message body

...............

 
 By: MTF : December 2nd, 2007-09:46

80% seems to be a common # to use

 
 By: AnthonyTsai : November 30th, 2007-07:10