Swiss Watch Boutique

Requirements for the Coveted Geneva Seal Just Got a Lot Tougher

The coveted Geneva Seal was created in 1886 to identify timepieces built following Geneva’s traditional watchmaking standards. Up until now, only a watch movement manufactured in Geneva and meeting 12 strict quality criteria was needed to get the seal. But those restictions have been tightened recently and new rules are set to come into force in June 2012. These include tighter requirements for the movement, a new emphasis on "external components," such as the finishing of the case, and new guidelines on where the watch is assembled.

Companies that currently seek the Geneva Seal include Cartier, Chopard, and Vacheron Constantin. 

The changes and new rules are outlined in a 19-page summary of changes on Timelab's website. Timeline is the Seal's new administrator.

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Swiss Court: Swatch Group Can Reduce Watch Part Supplies

In late December, a Swiss court decided that the Swatch Group—owner of brands such as Omega, Hamiliton, Rado, Tissot, Blancpain, and many others—can reduce deliveries of watch components beginning in 2012, rejecting arguments from rivals who said such a move would damage or even force them out of business.

The Swatch Group is the pre-eminent supplier by far of parts and movements to the Swiss watch industry via its ETA subsidiary—but has often stated it wants to focus its attention on in-house production.

Nine watch manufacturers, including Frederique Constant, are likely to appeal the decision. They say they won't have enough time to ramp up in-house production or find alternative suppliers, and that Swatch Group's real aim is to win more market share while restricting rivals' access to parts they produce.

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Third Annual Best of Swiss Watch Boutique: 2011 Edition

As we look forward to an exciting new year, it's time once again to see which posts you liked, as well as our own personal favorites from 2011. Here are the top 5 Editor's Picks and top 5 Reader Favorites (as measured by the number of people who read the story):

Editor's Picks:

1. L2: Watch Brands Fail 'Digital IQ' Test
2. Swatch Group Looks to Reduce Role as Component Supplier
3. Zenith's Xtreme Tourbillon Gets Extreme Treatment from Amazon Reviewers
4. Why Swiss Watches Are Becoming More Expensive
5. Rolex Rolls Dice on Tiger Woods

Reader Favorites:

1. Our 5 Favorite Swiss Watches from Baselworld 2011
2. The 4 Most Unusual Swiss Watches from Baselworld 2011
3. The 3 Big Watch Trends from Baselworld 2011
4. Swatch Group CEO: USA Is 'Third-World' Watch Country
5. eBay Seller Asking 30K for Rare Keith Haring Swatch Watch

As always, we welcome any questions, suggestions, and comments. Thank you for being part of the Swiss Watch Boutique community and helping to make it a success. 

Editor's Note: We will be expanding our Baselworld coverage in 2012. Stay tuned.

Attention Holiday Shoppers! Get Your New Swiss Watch Before It's Too Late

Time is running out. Just 9 days until X-mas. Get your new Swiss watch for that special person before it's too late.

Priority Mail Cut-off
Wednesday, December 21st - 8AM EST

Express Mail Cut-off
Friday, December 23rd - 8AM EST

> Shop Now

Find Swiss Watches Easily with WatchRecon

Not long ago, if you were looking for that exotic vintage, collector's special, or plain-old mint timepiece from a private seller, you had to go to eBay, Watchuseek, TimeZone, or some such site. That journey might prove fruitless and time-consuming.

But now there's a simple but highly effective solution: it's called WatchRecon and it's a meta search-engine that collates private watch sales from across the Internet in a easy-to-use, functional fashion that will make your quest for that special watch a breeze. The default thumbnail gallery view is especially useful, the brand selection is exhaustive, and there are many other options to make your search more targeted.

So if you have an itch to trade-up or trade-in, save some time by heading on over to WatchRecon first.

Thanks for the tip Clarence!

An Officine Autodromo Watch Is Like an Italian Racing Car with a Swiss Motor

Officine Autodromo has released a set of self-described "motoring watches" sure to please the Italian car enthusiast with a taste for a little Swiss engineering. Each model is inspired by Italian racing cars from the glory years of the 1960s and 1970s, and include things such as "redline" markings and rev counters" on the dial. All of them are powered by a Swiss-made Ronda quartz movement, and feature brushed or PVD-coated stainless steel dials attached to beautiful perforated black-leather "racing" wrist straps. Each variant sells for a retail price of $425.

Would you buy one?

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