![]() The goal was simple - to create a watch that is both durable and inexpensive. So during the early ’80s, a small team of watch engineers headed by Ernst Thomke began developing something unique and special. Things were starting to get out of hand and somebody had to do something. A number of factories were closed, thus leaving thousands of people unemployed. Especially considering that the watch industry was big in the country. In fact, the whole Swiss economy was in turmoil. To clarify, mechanical watch enthusiasts were not the only people affected by the Quartz Crisis. In fact, a lot of people thought that it was the end of an era, even for legendary names such as Audemars Piguet. The demand for mechanical watches plummeted that Swiss watch shops started closing here and there. This point in time is what we now call the ‘ Quartz Crisis’. Suddenly, customers preferred the battery-powered ones to the mechanical timepieces. However, the Japanese brand Seiko had a trick up their sleeves - the introduction of quartz watches. Switzerland was the leading country when it comes to watches. ![]() It is also known that they come with an extremely expensive price tag. Swiss watches are known for their high-quality mechanical movements. ![]() Photo from Anthony Kwan, Getty Images History of Swatch Watches In fact, it saved the Swiss watch industry from the brink of falling. In fact, I’ll bet my bottom dollar that to most of us, Swatch was the entry point to the fascinating world of horology.īut don’t make the mistake of thinking that Swatch watches are just about the gimmick. You were considered one of the ‘cool kids’ if you have that plastic band wrapped around your wrist. Back in elementary, Swatch watches were the norm.
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