MTF[PuristS]
13383
The point is they will be marked as SWISS
May 04, 2008,19:58 PM
because their factory is in Bienne and as long as 50% of the final value (80% in future changes) is Swiss generated, it can be labelled SWISS MADE, no matter where the screws were first forged.
The screws can be 1 cent cost but if the watchmaker assembling the movement costs $100,000 a year, most of the final value is Swiss generated. Even ETA has "suppliers" in China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. I'm too tired to investigate if those suppliers are actually SWATCH subsidiaries but it would be amusing if the main complainant of "copied Swiss movements" actually trained the copiers in the first place. 
Many Swiss industry executives "cut their teeth" being sent out to Far East to manage these factories. Some, like Rolf Schnyder (now Ulysse Nardin President), never went home and eventually control holding companies that own the original Swiss companies.
Regards,
MTF
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Soprod movement in Sarpaneva
By: ling5hk : May 4th, 2008-09:50
I have never heard of Soprod movement. May gurus here enlighten me on the details of Soprod movement which has been housed in Sarpaneva time piece, K1, K2 and K3. Thank you in advance. Regards Ling
The China Syndrome
By: MTF : May 4th, 2008-11:06
Soprod is a Swiss manufacturer of movements that supplies ebauches and movement modules to many brands. Soprod’s core business consists of assembling mechanical movements and developing additional modules giving further functionalities to mechanical movem...
MTF, thanks a lot for the information.
By: ling5hk : May 4th, 2008-17:39
It appears that Peace Mark is a recognised force in horology industry and will play an important role to replace Swatch's role as a movement supplier. But, I really don't know whether I will buy a watch that "Made In China". Let's see how good is their qu...
Soprod
By: DonCorson : May 4th, 2008-11:38
Soprod is one of those companies that for many decades now have been taking the so-called ébauches from ETA, that is parts kits for a movement from ETA, which they then customize and assemble to a customers wishes. The customization can be decoration, mod...
Sarpaneva Korona
By: ling5hk : May 4th, 2008-17:47
Thanks Don. Your information does clear some doubt. Which means Soprod movement that used by Sarpaneva is in fact an ETA movement which has been supplied to Soprod and further modified and improved by Stephen Sarpaneva. The dial work of Sarpaneva Korona i...
Counsel, a point of order...........
By: MTF : May 4th, 2008-20:07
The statement should be: "ETA movement which has been supplied to Soprod and further modified and improved for Stephen Sarpaneva". MTF
Stop the Presses! Clarification from Stepan Sarpaneva
By: MTF : May 4th, 2008-22:34
Forumners, I received a PM from "Stepan"; presumed Mr Sarpaneva and it is reproduced below. It seems that additional work is done in Finland, in addition to the Soprod work on the base ebauches....whew! I hope it helps. Regards, MTF Hi MTF, NOTICE! As a o...
Movement aside, the watch itself is very interesting...
By: Jacky : May 5th, 2008-10:16
I find the grey case and skeletal dial to be of very very good quality, design is very 'fresh' too, i had not seen a watch like this thus far. Of course i'd only see photos of the 'Moon Face' Very interesting...movement wise, the rotor is truely unique. G...
Found this info in my notebook...
By: Kong : May 6th, 2008-01:08
Must have read it some where (during Sept 2007), did not have the reference. These were the pointers I've jotted down: "A10 project was started in 2002. About CHF15M was pumped and 5 years of efforts to have the production version of 'Alternate 10 Movemen...
Definitely not :-)
By: Kong : May 6th, 2008-09:29
However Soprod A10 seemed to be used for RM007. Kong
$$$
By: porscheRS : May 8th, 2008-21:14
