Swiss dials....original?????

June 08, 2008, 09:23

Steve Middlesworth

I want to throw this out to the experts here. I have seen a few of these dials marked SWISS below the 30 minute bit on some 12 size watches. Did the manufacturer buy these dials from a supplier or were these an aftermarket dial that was available. Does anyone know the story on these and care to give a history lesson?

Steve

June 08, 2008, 13:45

Lindell V. Riddle

That dial has a nicely but recently redone look about it.

Markings such as that one can cause a great deal of confusion, at times the confusion caused might even be intentional. Usually marked as "Swiss" on a dial is an indication of origins and can apply to the dial alone or might also include the movement, case and other components. My impression is the dial in question was recently redone in Switzerland, but that is probably a vintage US Made movement behind it.

Some meanings have changed over the years, so time-frame can be important in determining them. Today, a modern watch may have "Swiss-Made" on the dial which usually means the entire watch was manufactured and assembled there. However "Swiss Mov't" speaks only of the movement and is a warning that other components were sourced from and the watch may have been assembled elsewhere.

Hope this is of some help in sorting out what you have.