| It's general knowledge that a Swiss-made luxury | | | | jewels placed in polished holes, including the going |
| watch like a Patek Philippe watch or a Vacheron | | | | train and escape wheel. On the bridge side, the |
| Consantin is of the highest quality, but many don't | | | | jewels must be olive-drilled with polished sinks. |
| know why. Swiss watches are of the highest | | | | 3) The hairspring must be pinned in a grooved |
| quality due to the stringent regulations put in place | | | | plate with a stud having a rounded collar and cap. |
| by the Geneva Seal, a quality seal placed on a | | | | Mobile studs are also approved for use. |
| luxury watch made in Geneva that can only be | | | | 4) Split or fitted indexes are required with a |
| applied when watches are constructed with the | | | | holding system except in extra-thin calibers where |
| requirements set forth by the statue. | | | | the holding system is not a necessity. |
| If you are unfamiliar with the Geneva Seal, here | | | | 5) Regulating systems with balance with radius of |
| are some facts to help shed some light on the | | | | variable gyration are allowed as long as they |
| subject. The Geneva seal is considered a | | | | meet the conditions of article 3, subparagraph 1. |
| high-accolade in the watch-making industry and | | | | 6) The wheels of the going train must be |
| has been in place since 1886. There are two | | | | chamfered above and below and have a polished |
| pieces of legislation concerning the Geneva Seal. | | | | sink. In wheels 0.15 mm thick or smaller. |
| The first is the law on the voluntary inspection of | | | | 7) In wheel assemblies, the pivot shanks and the |
| watches from Geneva, and the second is the | | | | faces of the pinion leaves must be polished. |
| regulations of the voluntary inspection of watches | | | | 8) The escape wheel has to be lightweight. It |
| from Geneva. These set the criteria for the | | | | can't be more than 0.16 mm thick in large calibers |
| award of the seal. | | | | and 0.13 mm in calibers under 18 mm. Also, its |
| For a luxury watch to be considered for the | | | | locking-faces must be polished. |
| Geneva Seal it must meet strict requirements. | | | | 9) The angle traversed by the pallet lever is to be |
| The technical requirements are just on area of | | | | limited by fixed banking walls and not pins or |
| the submission requirements that must be met. | | | | studs. |
| Here is a list of the technical requirements that | | | | 10) 10 shock protected movements are allowed |
| makes a luxury watch entitled to the Geneva | | | | under the seal requirements. |
| Seal of quality. | | | | 11) Wire springs are not permitted for use. |
| 1) The good workmanship of all the parts of the | | | | As if these intense and intricate guidelines weren't |
| caliber must be in conformity with the | | | | strict enough, there are dozens more |
| requirements of the office of voluntary inspection | | | | requirements in terms of inspection and testing |
| of the watches from Geneva. The steel parts on | | | | that the watch maker must submit to before |
| the luxury watch must have polished angles and | | | | being granted the Geneva Seal. So the next time |
| their visible surfaces smoothed down. Screw | | | | someone asks why a luxury watch like a Patek |
| heads must be polished, with their slots and rims | | | | Philippe watch is considered the best, be sure to |
| chamfered. | | | | fill them in the Geneva Seal. |
| 2) The entire movement must set using ruby | | | | |