![\"watches\"](\"https:\/\/images.firstpost.com\/dlxczavtqcctuei\/news18\/static\/images\/fp\/revamp_v1\/defaultIcon.svg\")
More from Watches![\"Delemont](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Delemont-Image-courtesy-Switzerland-Tourism-2026-08-c76e04b64dfc96699f7a204d46899e86.jpg\")
<\/p>\nGo behind the scenes at Victorinox\u2019s Watch Competence Centre in Del\u00e9mont, where Swiss watchmaking meets engineering precision. From rigorous testing and high-performance components to the new Concept One Automatic and Solar, discover how the Swiss Army Knife maker translates its legacy of durability into contemporary timepieces. <\/p>\n
There\u2019s an unmistakable energy as I walked around the Victorinox Watch Competence Centre. A lot of conversation with the brand\u2019s marketing team centred around India\u2019s growing appetite for Swiss watches. The country\u2019s watch exports to India soared to US $365 million registering a 35 per cent growth over 2023. India was one of the only major global markets that registered a double-digit growth trajectory. Victorinox is one of the Swiss watch brands that has benefitted from this boom.<\/p>\n
The Swiss watch defined<\/p>\n
Victorinox has been strongly associated with the Swiss army knife almost since it was founded in 1884, and the brand waited over a century before making a foray into smartwatches in 1989. It was at the company\u2019s Watch Competence Centre in Del\u00e9mont that I saw the exacting standards that go into crafting a classic Swiss timepiece.<\/p>\n
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry stipulates that to be certified as \u2018Swiss Made\u2019, a watch must meet specific criteria, including a minimum of 60 per cent of its manufacturing costs being incurred in Switzerland. The movement inside must be assembled, inspected and feature at least 60 per cent of its components in value from Switzerland. The definition also mandates that the design, mechanical construction, and prototyping of the watch and movement must be executed in Switzerland.<\/p>\n
More from Watches<\/p>\n
Del\u00e9mont is the commercial hub of the Jura Canton and is an integral part of Switzerland\u2019s Watch Valley (Image: Switzerland Tourism)<\/p>\n
Del\u00e9mont\u2019s high-precision traditions<\/p>\n
The centre is spread over 17,800 square metres and brings every discipline of watchmaking together. More than 200 specialists design, prototype and produce components. I\u2019d recommend taking the long 20-minute walk from the Del\u00e9mont railway station to Victorinox that will take you through the charming old town. Del\u00e9mont is the commercial hub of the Jura Canton and is an integral part of Switzerland\u2019s Watch Valley.<\/p>\n
It became a hub for watch component production through the late 19th Century becoming a key link in the Swiss watchmaking supply chain. While globally acclaimed watch hubs like Geneva and La Chaux-de-Fonds have traditionally assembled luxury time pieces, Del\u00e9mont has focused on high-precision components, case manufacturing, metal finishing, and rigorous technological testing. The region is home to elite manufacturing divisions that include Blancpain\u2019s specialised component and metal-finishing facility.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Victorinox-Concept-One-option-1-2026-08-160ca2409eeb5be9372bfb04277c00e9.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Victorinox’s Concept One can convert both natural and artificial light into power with an eight-month power reserve in total darkness (Photo: Victorinox)<\/p>\n
Exacting standards<\/p>\n
Victorinox watches benefit from the DNA of the iconic Swiss Army Knife. The watches aim to capture the same values \u2013 precision, durability and innovation at every stage. I interacted with team members at every stage of the production process from design to assembly to hand-finishing and rigorous testing that can take up to two years. The company\u2019s factory tours give you a ringside view of how Swiss watches are crafted.<\/p>\n
I watched watches being subjected to water-resistance testing (to 300 metres), as well as being subjected to variations in heat (5\u00b0 to 70 \u00b0C) and facing up to sea water and chlorine. It\u2019s not just the watch, the wristbands are subjected to a number of wear and tear tests that include exposure to UV rays and stretching of materials. The rotating bezels and pushers are also \u2018abused\u2019 by many machines as part of the exacting standards.<\/p>\n
Concept One<\/p>\n
Earlier this summer, Victorinox launched Concept One, that combines minimalist design with high-performance autonomy. At a time when we need to keep charging our smartwatches, Concept One rides on two distinct low-maintenance movement technologies that are both built around a shared 39mm stainless steel case with 100 meters of water resistance. The Concept One Automatic is primarily aimed at watch enthusiasts with a high-end Swiss-made La Joux-Perret G100 mechanical automatic calibre. The Concept One Solar is powered by the Swiss-made Ronda 215 solar quartz movement. It can convert both natural and artificial light into power with an eight-month power reserve in total darkness.<\/p>\n
The battle for the left wrist seems to be less challenging for Swiss watch manufactures as many customers across the globe have switched to activity trackers on their right wrist to make room for the conventional wristwatch. Brands like Victorinox will hope this trend stays and the love for all things analogue continues to grow.<\/p>\n
Plan your trip<\/p>\n
Del\u00e9mont is about two hours away from both Geneva and Zurich, making it an ideal day trip with about two hours for the factory tour. Stroll through the old town and stop at one of the many restaurants for a leisurely lunch with Swiss wine. Swiss first class (with direct connections to Zurich from Mumbai and Delhi) is the best way to arrive.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Go behind the scenes at Victorinox\u2019s Watch Competence Centre in Del\u00e9mont, where Swiss watchmaking meets engineering precision. From…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":120631,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[58756,41,58755,58761,58760,19289,17,58757,58758,58759,58754,58762],"class_list":["post-120630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-switzerland","tag-best-swiss-watches","tag-swiss","tag-swiss-made-watches","tag-swiss-watch-brands","tag-swiss-watch-factory-tour","tag-swiss-watchmaking","tag-switzerland","tag-victorinox-concept-one","tag-victorinox-concept-one-automatic","tag-victorinox-concept-one-solar","tag-victorinox-watches","tag-watch-valley-switzerland"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ch\/117160583427041402","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120630\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}