Swiss Watchmaking: From Geneva to the World

This episode traces the rise of Swiss watchmaking from its origins in 16th-century Geneva to its dominance of the global luxury market. Lucas and Luna explore how Calvinist sumptuary laws drove goldsmiths into horology, how English watch parts sparked a cottage industry in the Jura mountains, and how Swiss manufacturers—especially Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Omega—survived the quartz crisis of the 1970s by rebranding as luxury items. They discuss the role of the Swatch Group in reviving the industry, the impact of the 'Swiss made' label, and the ongoing tension between mass production and artisanal tradition. Along the way, they touch on key figures like Abraham-Louis Breguet and Jean-Antoine Lépine, and the peculiar persistence of mechanical watches in a digital age. #SwissWatchmaking #Horology #Geneva #Jura #Rolex #PatekPhilippe #Omega #Swatch #AbrahamLouisBreguet #QuartzCrisis #SwissMade #LuxuryGoods #Calvinism #History #FexingoHistory #Europe #WatchIndustry #Craftsmanship Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo