Speaking of watches, we would like to invariably think of Switzerland, as one of the world's largest producer of watches, although the lack of supplies, the relative shortage of labor, but Switzerland still has many world-renowned watch brands, watches mainly products, and another clock And pendulum clock and so on. Watches are one of the main pillars of Switzerland's export economy. More than 95% of the country's watches are exported each year. The "time kingdom" (or Kingdom of Watch) contributes to the timing of the world. Swiss watch is a miracle of technology, in addition to the traditional precision, simplicity, superior functionality, exquisite workmanship, sophisticated materials and high prices, but now even more technology, wisdom, elegance and changing appearance and become more attractive . So, what made it today's brilliant, what is driving the formation of this time kingdom? Let the author take you into the Swiss watchmaking past and present life. "Watchmaking is the art of doors, and manufacturers need to know how to be respectful - respecting the traditional craftsmanship of watch making and knowing how to innovate - absorbing cutting-edge technologies in the manufacturing industry, and requiring unique artistic qualities, exquisite craftsmanship, and solidity The basis of the discipline. " - Excerpt from the Swatch Group website Religious "mistakenly hit" opened the door to create timepieces Venice, Italy San Marco bell tower In the thirteenth century, the Renaissance in Italy not only brought the golden age of science and development to the European continent, but also provided an opportunity for the Swiss watch industry to develop. At that time the churches in the northern part of Italy began building clock towers to remind people of their prayers (until now, the church's iconic distinction was the clock tower separate from the main building.) So dramatic was the stage of time that its beginnings were owned Religious color. Immediately in Milan, Italy appeared in Europe with the first clock function. The accumulation of primitive capital and the change of French religion In the era of great sailing, the clock became an indispensable timing tool in the process of discovering the great geography, and the watchmaking technology got rapid development. The opening of the new route greatly facilitated the trade between Europe and Africa and the Americas. Wealth and wealth of precious metals such as gold and silver flooded into Europe from overseas, laying a material foundation for the development of the watch industry. Gathering knowledge, culture, reflecting the latest technology, and becoming more and more beautiful clocks naturally become spacious European monarchs compete to play chase fashion. 18K gold "Royal Observatory Chronomètre Royal" pocket watch, 1908 At the same time, the primitive accumulation of capital in Europe also quietly kicked off. Based on these two factors of sufficient material supply and demand expansion, the artisans of Britain, France and Germany bear the brunt of the trend of the times and created the products that are in line with the exquisite watches and clocks in France Flourish. Encounter of the two countries craft created today's Geneva Vacheron Constantin watch with a Geneva mark However, the good news was not long. Under the influence of the religious reform of Martin Luther and the religious Calvinist doctrine, "Promoting Thrift and Opposition," the hard-working luxury craftsmen in Geneva had to find ways to change jobs and ran into escalation The French Protestants, many of whom are superficial watchmaking skills. Such dramatic encounters facilitated the fusion of two techniques, creating the now-prominent Geneva influence in the rest of time, with the watch industry center of gravity moving northward to Geneva, Switzerland. Soon, the watch industry has become a new, independent manual industry, sweeping the entire Geneva area. Geneva has become the world's clock and watch manufacturing center. With the expansion of the industry scale, the world's first watch industry association - the Geneva watchmaking association was established in 1601. Chopin complex watchmaking Although the Swiss landscape is beautiful, the land is very barren. In the age of tourism is not yet up, except being hired as a soldier, "unique" geographical conditions so that the Swiss can focus on watch production and development. As we all know, the development and manufacture of watches are the need for extreme patience and always cautious, a little bad pool, a watch will become waste. So, at the time, every watch made is a great encouragement to the watch craftsman heart, full of sense of accomplishment. In such a difficult environment and life, honed the Swiss watchmaking spirit and hard-working quality. They have been inherited till now and are also an important ideological foundation formed by Time Kingdom. The formation of "Clock Valley" La Chaux-de-Fonds International Clock Museum interior The eighteenth century was an important golden period for the development of watchmaking in Switzerland. Clockmaking became the most profitable industry in the Neuchâtel region (the capital of the world's clock and watch: the region where La Chaux-de-Cap was closed), but everything was hard at first, Molding, it will break the trend of rapid development. The watch industry is the same, watch factories and workshops have mushroomed, from north Geneva along the Jura Mountains to the east, extending north to Basel. The area is gaining prominence throughout Europe and is known as the Watch Valley. Two industrial revolutions Improvement of transport Productivity is one of the important determinants of the economy. It is the result of two industrial revolutions, changes in productivity and transport. Making the two concepts of time and efficiency deeply rooted in the hearts of people on the watch more and more precise timing requirements. This phenomenon, from the side to promote the development and innovation watchmaking. Complex Breguet Tourbillon watch At this time, the tourbillon, known as one of the greatest inventions in the history of clocks and watches, was shocked when Breguet acquired the patent for the technology in 1801. Tourbillon by more than 70 precision components, weight usually not more than 0.3 grams, only the equivalent of a feather weight. This exquisite mechanical device can make the clock away from the gravity of the earth and compensate for the loss of gravity due to the accuracy of travel time. The neutral attitude makes Swiss watchmaking free from war As we all know, the development of the German watch industry in World War II, because the country's defeat many watch factory was destroyed and stagnated, after the easing of relations between East and West gradually recovering. A neutral Switzerland was spared this time. The two centuries-old armed neutrality policy has not only failed to protect itself, but also took this opportunity to keep up with the pace of the times and combined the classic craft (tourbillons, timekeeping, calendars, etc.) currently available in pocket watches with the time-honored watches after the First World War Come together This means that the integration of pocket watch and watch era, but also for the development of watches at the time provided a reference. The Great Depression, Prosperity Omega watch About the early 1970s to the mid-1980s, the popularization of electronic equipment brought a wide range of ideas to the watchmaking world and an unprecedented breakthrough in the watchmaking industry. Mobile phones, computers, electronic watches everywhere, there is the invention of quartz watches, making the watch's accuracy greatly improved. Unfortunately, however, electronics and quartz watches have brought a huge squeeze out to the Swiss mechanical watch industry. Swiss watch factories are highly downsizing and downsizing, and the mechanical watch industry is in jeopardy. In the late 1980s and 1990s, clever Swiss people were not knocked down by electronics and quartz and instead produced many large, complex (tourbillons, thirds, etc.) watches that showed the unique charm of mechanical watches and Extreme craftsmanship. This is the lack of quartz watch. Due to the retention of artisans' works, people's enthusiasm for mechanical watches is getting warmer, which is a tribute to the traditional arts and crafts and also a classic heritage. Some brands will watch and electronic elements together, breaking the traditional way of creating timepieces to create more in line with the pulse of the watch. Summary: The development of any watch industry is not done overnight, in its radiant behind, but also has an unknown unknown difficult past. Fortunately, the hard environment, hard life does not stop the clever and industrious Swiss artisans to promote the pace of watchmaking, and constantly improve themselves and continuously exceed their spiritual pillar of never-ending. Is that they created today's colorful "Kingdom of Time", and with infinite vision of the future of the clock, stride forward! This article is reprinted from XXXXXX, if you have any questions, please send an email to wbsj@wbiao.cn to contact us.