The Hallmark of Geneva, historical origins and modern developments

“The Hallmark of Geneva office is today managed by Timelab, the Geneva Laboratory of Horology and Microengineering. The assessment is conducted by officially appointed sworn inspectors supported by at least one audit of the participating companies a month.

The award of the certification is governed by three main conditions:

1. The candidate company has to be registered in the Canton of Geneva. It must also have carried out the assembly, adjustment and casing-up of the movement and any additional mechanical modules as well as the inspection of the cased-up watch.

2. The movement, additional modules and the exterior parts of the watch have to be approved by the technical committee of the Hallmark of Geneva, made up of seven sworn members. Its components are then regularly inspected at the company by the auditors of the Hallmark of Geneva office.

3. All the cased-up watches (without strap or bracelet) have to comply with the criteria of the Hallmark of Geneva. The inspections cover the water-resistance, the rate, the functions and the power-reserve of the watch. Satisfying these criteria demand about 40% more work compared to a movement that does not bear the seal.”

Time and Watches have put together a great article on the historical origins of the Geneva Seal. Click here to read the full write-up.