The misconception of Swiss ownership over watch history is something we’ve discussed before. There are many countries from which important history and brands have emerged; in fact, Swiss domination of the mechanical watch industry is a relatively recent occurrence.
The Swiss watch industry only started gaining traction in the late 19th century after overtaking Britain in terms of production volume. Up until then, the British had been the dominant watchmakers in Europe, with higher production capacity and better watchmakers than their counterparts across the channel. In fact, Coventry, the epicenter of British watchmaking at the time, enjoyed a peak in the mid-19th century, when it had over 5000 watchmakers in town. Unfortunately, they were focused on finishing, with few specialist part makers. This left them vulnerable to undercutting by the Swiss and Americans who increased production capacity, lowered prices, and embraced new fashion trends that the British were set against; comically similar to the Swiss at the advent of the Quartz Attack.
The Russians were also prolific watchmakers, albeit late to the game, with their first watch factory opening in 1927. The Moscow Watch Factory produced timepieces exclusively for government officials and the Red Army, releasing its first 50 watches in 1930. Then there’s the Cubans, whose famous Cuervo y Sobrinos, founded in 1882, remains the only well-known Latin American watch brand. Further north we have American greats like Elgin, Benrus, and Waltham, all highly collectible. And crossing the Atlantic again, there’s the alternative European contenders like George Jensen, representing Scandinavia, and Festina, both storied brands. Finally, in the far east, there’s Tianjin Seagull, founded in 1955; the old Chinese watch company among the plethora of contemporary ones. Any one of these countries could develop into a powerhouse if the right ingredients are introduced. Much like the British before capitulating, the Swiss need to stay alert, as stagnation could spell disaster for their empire.
Cuervo y Sobrinos Historiador