GENEVA SEAL
Created in 1886, the Geneva Seal is likely the oldest certification still in effect today. It is a guarantee of origin, craftsmanship, and performance for mechanical watches assembled, adjusted, and cased in the Canton of Geneva.
HISTORY
The Geneva Seal was created in 1886 by the Republic and Canton of Geneva. Its creation was motivated by the need to protect the reputation of Geneva watchmaking during a period when counterfeits and lower-quality watches threatened the prestige of the industry. The seal served to distinguish watches made in Geneva according to the highest standards of excellence.
In 1889, the Geneva Seal was transferred to the building of the Geneva School of Horology, which ultimately took charge of awarding the seal in 1955. In 2008, the commission responsible for the label left the Geneva School of Horology to join a new structure: the Timelab Foundation. Over the decades, the Geneva Seal has retained its prestige while adapting to technological developments.
OBJECTIVES
The Geneva Seal was created with three main objectives:
- Guarantee authenticity: By verifying geographical origin and craftsmanship methods, the seal fights counterfeiting and assures collectors of a watch’s provenance.
- Preserve quality standards: It ensures that every certified watch adheres to strict standards, reflecting the finest traditions of Geneva’s watchmaking heritage.
- Promote excellence: The Seal highlights the Horologist (watchmaker)’s commitment to superior engineering, refined aesthetics and durability.
CERTIFICATION CRITERIA
To obtain the Geneva Seal, a watch must meet a series of demanding criteria, covering both provenance as well as technical and aesthetic domains. These standards are regularly updated to reflect advances in watchmaking while respecting the traditional principles that underpin this label.
Provenance
The Movement must be assembled, adjusted and cased in the canton of Geneva.
Craftsmanship
The philosophy of the Geneva Seal consists of decorating the components in order to eliminate traces of uncontrolled machining. The Geneva Seal Regulation imposes craftsmanship criteria, among which one can cite:
- • The bridges must have stretched edges, polished beveling/angling, softened bearing surfaces, and the top finished with Geneva stripes or other decorative patterns.
- • Springs and jumpers must have polished angles and chamfers, stretched sides, softened bearing surfaces, and visible surfaces that are drawn or finished with any other decoration. Wire springs are strictly prohibited.
- • The Balance and the Hairspring (balance spring) must be assembled without gluing, with a Stud (hairspring stud) having a round head and neck or a movable stud holder, in keeping with horological traditions.
- • The connecting elements between the Movement and the Case (clamps, screws, rockers, rings, extensions) must be machined, decorated, and polished according to the same criteria as the internal components.
Performance
The Movement must satisfy precision and performance criteria. The requirements include:
- • Rate precision: ±1 minute over 7 Days (wearing simulator)
- • Testing of functions: proper operation of all announced functions
- • Water resistance Testing: min. 3 bars, 0.5 bar depression
- • Testing of running duration: ≥ to the announced value
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