A Cottage Industry Emerges

photo credit: kjdrill

A Swiss-made watch is world renowned for its quality. Ever wonder how the Swiss started their love affair with all things watches? Well, it began when Jean Calvin, religious leader of his time, banned the wearing of jewelry in a 1541 reform. This sudden edict left all of the fine jewelers jobless. The smart play for these recently unemployed jewelers was to take up watch making (a lesser sin, not frowned upon). Quicker than you can say Riccola, watch making spread through the Geneva region and overflowed into the Jura mountains. Now, not everyone possessed the skill to be a master watch maker so some took to producing the smaller components, each adding their important part to the process. Farmers and offseason laborers also added their time to the production of these components. Once manufactured, they were inspected and presented to the master watchmaker upon the spring thaw. Presto, a cottage industry was born. Le Loche, Geneve, La Chaux de Fond even the German Glashutte region enjoyed an industry born of necessity. They prospered by working together. To this day, most Swiss watches are made in a group effort, some produce dials, others hands, another might produce fourth wheels. The cottage industry has certanily grown but the spirit remains. CTWG

Add comment June 6th, 2006