As long as there is no major damage, it should be valuable for collection, not to mention it is purely handmade.
There must be some, maybe tens of thousands, and there should still be some, ^ _^Smile
Overview of the Watch Industry
Switzerland has been associated with high-quality watchmaking for a long time. The watch industry is Switzerland's third largest export industry, after the chemical and engineering industries.
About 95% of watch products are exported abroad. In terms of value, it is the world's largest watch exporter: in 2004, Swiss watch exports earned approximately US$90 million. This reflects the fact that compared with other major exporting countries, expensive high-end watches account for the majority of Swiss products. But in terms of the number of watch exports, Switzerland (25 million in 2004) lags far behind China (1 billion) and even Hong Kong (700 million), which is not surprising.
The average price of watches made in China is US$1, while those in Hong Kong are US$5. Switzerland is at the other extreme, with an average price of $329 per watch, the highest in the world.
The Swiss watch market is concentrated on three continents. The largest individual buyer is the United States, accounting for nearly 17% of the export market in 2004. Followed by Hong Kong, accounting for about 16 (Hong Kong is the main hub: many imported products are exported again.) Mainland China is still a more conservative buyer, but in 2004, sales increased by 40% compared with 2003.
In Europe, the main buyers are Italy and France.
In 2004, the 15 highest consuming countries accounted for more than 82% of Swiss watch exports.
Swiss success is due not only to high-quality products, but also to a wide range of timepieces, taking into account both technology and appearance. Nearly 90% of Swiss-made watches are electronic, but mechanical watches, which account for the remaining 10%, account for more than half of the export value. Some of the timepieces in the higher price ranges are the most complex in the world.
Watches have a variety of appearances, including simple classic models, expensive diamond-encrusted ones, and cheap and beautiful ones.
Horology History
Although Switzerland is so closely associated with timepieces today, it was not always this way. The watchmaking industry emerged slowly in Switzerland but gradually became a dominant industry, experiencing a catastrophic decline before a dramatic and sudden turnaround at the end of the twentieth century.
The pioneer countries in the development of watches are Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Clocks were regarded as luxuries for wealthy monarchs and nobles, or precious instruments for scientific purposes. They were first used to measure nautical latitude. At that time, Switzerland had neither nobility nor sailing ships.
1. Early rise
In the early 17th century, Geneva's industry flourished. Under Jean Calvin's ban, showing off wealth was forbidden, so jewelry makers turned to watchmaking.
Before and after joining the Swiss Union, Geneva has remained a center of design and marketing. However, production also expanded to other regions, notably the canton of Neuchatel.
Swiss craftsmen also go abroad to learn practical techniques. Among them, the most famous craftsman is undoubtedly Abraham-Louis Breguet (1747-1823), who was born in Neuchatel, trained in Versailles, and settled in Paris after living in London for a long time. He is regarded by some as the greatest watchmaker in history. He invented or developed many important watch accessories, including the tourbillon (a tool that allows gears to run smoothly regardless of gravity) and the hand-wound watch (the first hand-wound watch was made by another Swiss, Abraham-Louis). Invented by Perrelet (1729-1826)).
2. Industrial Development
The Swiss not only remain at the forefront of innovation, but are also excellent in trade and are supported by the banking system. Production has been aimed at export from the beginning. Businessmen specializing in the watch trade can reflect the needs of different countries.
Initially, watchmakers imitated French and British designs to produce cheaper watches, using more efficient production methods and successful marketization. When industry stalled, they began designing their own clocks.
In the countryside near Geneva, people produce parts at home or in small handicraft workshops, which is known as home work. The finished parts were shipped to the watchmakers in Geneva for completion.
3. Ornaments
For many years, watches were not relatively simple accessories as we know them today. Rather than being worn around the wrist (wristwatches did not become popular until the 20th century), they were hung from a chain and carried in the pocket, passing through the belt to form a half-circle. At that time, pocket watches were both timekeeping tools and decorative jewelry.
One of Geneva's strengths is the decorations that make their products more attractive. In 1760, the technique of applying transparent enamel to paintings was invented in Geneva, making clocks more attractive.
Another technology being discovered in the watch industry is the creation of automatons, machines that imitate living things. In the simplest installation it can be a simple figure with moving arms indicating the time, but more responsible installations include a movable whole scene. Later, sounds were added to the movement: first the sound of a bell, and later music based on the music box.
4. Foreign markets
Starting in the 17th century and becoming increasingly important in the 18th and 19th centuries, Asia has always been an important market for Swiss watches. The Genevans began trading in Constantinople (where Rousseau's father Isaac became the official timekeeper, managing the clock in Topkapi Square) and later expanded to China. By the Qing Dynasty in the mid-18th century, Swiss clocks were already very popular in China. Exports to China reached their peak in the 1810s and 1820s, but the outbreak of the Opium War in 1839 led to the collapse of the watch export trade.
Watchmaking is adapted to the needs and tastes of the customer. Watches with automatic mechanisms are particularly popular in Türkiye and China, many of which have local characteristics.
To cater to the Chinese market, the clocks were made in pairs, probably because it is a Chinese custom to give gifts in pairs. British merchants were also very practical, but the Genevans went a step further and modified the decorations on their clocks so that they mirrored each other.
In the 19th century, Genevans made "Islamic July clocks" (Rajah watches) for India, and made enamel portraits based on the photos they sent.
Not all watchmakers are so lucky. In the mid-17th century, Rudolf Stadler of Zurich worked for the King of Persia and was framed by local business competitors and executed. The king soon regretted it, especially when the clock he made stopped and there was no one to fix it. Stadler's grave can still be seen in the Armenian Cemetery in Isfahan.
Watch Exhibitions
Switzerland holds two major international watch exhibitions every spring.
In 2005, the 33rd World Watch and Jewelry Show in Basel attracted about 90,000 visitors, and the exhibition lasted for 8 days.
The International Luxury Watch Fair hosted by Geneva is more upscale and only invites professional guests of the exhibiting brands. Despite having fewer visitors (11,500 visitors in 2005), the exhibition is considered one of the main events of the year in Geneva, second only to the Auto Show. Guests can see the latest innovations from top watch brands, as well as limited edition and special watches.
As a supplement to the Swiss Watch Exhibition, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry began to hold touring exhibitions in 2003, with the theme of "Thinking about Time, Thinking about Swiss Excellence". The traveling exhibition program will be presented at trade fairs, conferences and seminars to enable visitors to gain a better understanding of the watch industry. The first venue was St. Petersburg, Russia, followed by Brussels, Bangkok and Mumbai.
Is that okay?
^_^b