Omega

MTF
[PuristS]
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These words by Mr Nick Hayek were interesting in relation to Asia

"Swatch Group CEO Nick Hayek cited the example that in certain parts of the world, 'Swiss made' watches are sold which never have seen Swiss soil."

How true those words are as Swatch Group was one of the first and still is the largest owner of Asian factories for wristwatch components and assembly. As long as the Swiss 'added value' exceeds the requirement, that watch can be legally 'Swiss Made'.   Omega was the first watch brand to be allowed to blazon its name in Tian-An-Men Square in Beijing, such is the Swatch Group power and investment in China.

My childhood was spent in Malaysia and even then, the big Swiss factory on my island made Swiss watch parts. The late Rolf W. Schnyder cut his watchmaking teeth by starting the Cosmo dial and watchcase factory in Thailand. Clients included many Swiss watch companies like Mido, Certina, Rado, Tissot, Camy, Fortis, OMEGA and many others are still shrouded in 'anonymity'.

He later opened the Precima factory in Malaysia making micro-components, balance springs and sapphire crystals. His connections with ASUAG and ETA convicned them to transfer movement production to Precima in Malaysia.

Ulysse Nardin brand revival followed but always insisting that the most important thing is that R&D of the movement is kept "in-house" and that assembly of the whole watch on one site was not a definition of "Manufacture".

Regards,

MTF