Behind the beauty of mechanisms⚙️ and the perfection of Swiss luxury watches⌚️ lies the inscriptions engraved on the dial or case. They are not random — each word tells a story✨.
Decoding the secret language
Markings are a code⌨️: some purely commercial, others reveal origin🌍, technical features⚙️, or complications⌚️.
Origin
Country often shown at 6 o’clock.
Swiss Made✨ is the gold standard.
Requirements:
Swiss movement only.
Assembled and tested in Switzerland🇨🇭.
80% costs (mechanical), 60% (quartz) in Switzerland.
Other marks:
Geneva Seal🏅 — 12 criteria of quality and precision.
Geneve — full Geneva manufacture.
Qualite Fleurier — Fleurier quality certification.
Swiss Movement, Swiss quartz — Swiss movement but different assembly places.
⚠️ Made in Switzerland = counterfeit.
Movement & protection
Automatic — self-winding.
Autoquartz — battery quartz.
Regulateur — split dials.
Co-axial — coaxial escapement.
Chronometer — COSC certified🎯.
Jewels💎 — number of movement rubies.
Protection:
Water Resistant/WR🌊
30 WR — rain.
50 WR — swimming.
100 WR — diving.
200 WR+ — pro diving.
Diver’s XXXX M — dive certification.
Antimagnetic🛡 — resistant to magnetism.
Shock Resist — anti-shock.
L-Swiss made-L / Indiglo / H3 — luminous systems.
Tough Solar☀️ — solar-powered.
Special engravings: Tourbillon, limited refs (ex: Omega Elvis Presley Ref. H6582/D96043).
Materials
Steel/Stainless steel — 316L stainless steel.
Gold 18K/14K/23K — karat purity.
Ceramic — strong & aesthetic.
Titanium — light, hypoallergenic, saltwater resistant.
Sapphire Crystal💎 — scratch-proof.
Hardlex — hardened glass.
Complications
Alarm — alarm.
GMT🌍 — dual/multi time zones.
Perpetual Calendar📅 — until 2099.
Moon Phase🌙 — moon phases.
Fly-back Chronograph — reset with one push.
Minute Repeater/Chime🔔 — striking time.
Conclusion: markings = authenticity, function, prestige👑.
