Watchmaking Countries

Switzerland

The historical and modern center of mechanical watchmaking. The Jura Arc - running from Geneva through Le Locle, La Chaux-de-Fonds and the Vallée de Joux - is home to the manufactures of Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Rolex, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breguet, Blancpain and most of the Swatch and Richemont watch maisons. The label "Swiss made" is regulated by federal ordinance.

Signature: Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet

Japan

Japan industrialised mechanical watchmaking in the 20th century and led the quartz revolution: Seiko introduced the world's first commercially produced quartz wristwatch, the Astron, on 25 December 1969. The country is also home to Grand Seiko, Credor, Citizen and Casio, and to specialised manufacturing in Shizukuishi (Grand Seiko mechanicals) and Shiojiri (Spring Drive).

Signature: Seiko, Grand Seiko, Credor

Germany

German fine watchmaking is centred on Glashütte in Saxony, where Ferdinand Adolph Lange founded his manufacture in 1845. After reunification A. Lange & Söhne was re-established in 1990 by Walter Lange. Glashütte Original, Nomos Glashütte, Moritz Grossmann, Tutima, Mühle Glashütte and Wempe Glashütte all manufacture in the same village.

Signature: A. Lange & Söhne, Glashütte Original, Nomos Glashütte

France

Paris was a major centre of 18th- and 19th-century watchmaking and remains the home of Cartier (founded 1847) and a strong jewellery-watchmaking culture. Besançon, in eastern France, was historically the country's industrial watchmaking capital and still hosts the Musée du Temps and the official French chronometer-certification mark, the "viper's head."

Signature: Cartier, Bell & Ross, Pequignet

United Kingdom

London was the world capital of marine chronometry from the 18th century. John Harrison's H4 (1759) solved the longitude problem; George Daniels invented the co-axial escapement in 1976. The British watchmaking revival is led by Roger W. Smith on the Isle of Man and the rebooted Bremont and Christopher Ward marques.

Signature: Roger W. Smith, Bremont, Christopher Ward

United States

The United States led mass-production watchmaking from the mid-19th century through the Waltham, Elgin and Hamilton factories. Modern American watchmaking is led by RGM in Pennsylvania and Weiss Watch Company. The country is the largest single market for Swiss watch exports.

Signature: RGM, Weiss, Hamilton (heritage)

United Arab Emirates

Although the UAE is not a manufacturing country, Dubai has become one of the world's most important luxury watch retail and trading hubs, hosting major flagship boutiques in The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates and the annual Dubai Watch Week.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of the largest re-export markets for Swiss watches and a major secondary-market trading centre. The territory levies no VAT, GST or sales tax on watch purchases, which historically made it a price-competitive luxury destination.