For some watch brands it makes more financial sense not only to use one of Sellita’s movements but for Sellita to complete the final assembly too.

roadwarrior

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The brands in question ship the required cases, crowns, dials, pushers, hands and straps to Sellita, which then builds the completed watch around its own movements.

There are fully assembled watches from a number of different brands, sat in fully branded trays while one brand even has its own dedicated department within Sellita, which focuses solely on assembling its watches. The brands in question are a mixture of privately owned and group affiliated - and include big names from the major groups - however QP agreed to respect Sellita’s confidentiality agreements as a condition of entry.

Everyone knows that this happens within the industry, but that doesn’t alter how unsettling it is to see it for the first time. While these watches aren’t from brands claiming to be manufactures – this is not third party passed off as in-house or Chinese passed off as Swiss – it should give you cause to wonder which factory your watch actually comes from, if that matters to you.

With Sellita’s new acquisitions, both human and mechanical, the company could drastically widen its horizons. After all, Chaulmontet was better known for tourbillons and complicated chronographs during his time at Arnold & Son and Angelus.
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Sellita’s £1.1m electron microscope being used to check components.

Supply and Demand: An exclusive visit to Sellita HQ

Big brands may be moving to take everything in-house, but many mid-tier (and some higher-end) companies still rely on Sellita to fill the gap left by ETA. Now, the third-party supplier is working to develop its own movements from scratch.

By James Buttery
06/02/2019

https://www.qpmagazine.com/long-read...-headquarters/

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Isn't that how Invicta was getting to say Swiss Made on some of their recent Heritage auto's by having Sellita finish them. I could of course be way off base.
 
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Probably one avenue .. another is ..... https://www.ronda.ch/en/ronda-time-center/ The guy Eyal bragged has slept at his home is or was the CEO of Ronda


Movement and watch assembly under one roof

The new start-up was located in Mendrisio, Canton Ticino (Southern Switzerland), and initially numbered some 30 employees.

When larger premises were required for its “Swiss Made” watch movement manufacturing activities, Ronda decided to house its full-watch assembly work under the same new roof. The Ronda Time Center moved into its new production facility in Stabio (Canton Ticino) in summer 2008. The company currently has a workforce of some 60 personnel.

https://www.ronda.ch/fileadmin/user_..._Startbild.mp4


Warehousing Watch Components

Ship your watch components to the Ronda Time Center from Asia, Switzerland or any country in the world. Following a visual inspection, we store the merchandise until further processing.

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Watch Assembly and More
The core business is the Swiss watch assembly on a contract basis. You too can benefit from our attractive logistics and service support! We offer a wide range of watch services to help you manage your orders.

Ronda technical support and infrastructure in Ticino

Needless to say, the Ronda Time Center is in close contact with the entire Ronda Group. For technical matters, Ronda Head Office can provide professional support at all times. You will benefit without limitations from the know-how of your partners.

We offer our clients a workspace equipped with state-of-the-art communication and measuring tools separate from the watch assembly shop. You are free to use this area at any time to inspect your products in comfort.

A one-stop process saving time and money

Looking for short and simple processes, a single business partner and a chance to lower your costs as well? Then our “one-stop” service approach is just what you need.

If you decide to fit Ronda movements in your watches, Ronda Time Center will procure the necessary movements. You will not incur any additional costs for the ordering process or warehousing for movements. And of course any replacements or exchanges required will be organized on-site, thus eliminating any surplus movements.

There’s a further benefit to you here, too: you’ll be keeping your money longer, as we’ll only invoice you for the movements required when we deliver the finished products. – We assemble also watches with movements of other manufacturers.

Just tell us your requirements - together we'll find the best solution.

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Other brands RTC assembles

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The LZ 120 Rome – classic design combined with the highest technology – every look at the watch conveys the fascination of flying. This elegant men's model 71345 is equipped with a Ronda Swiss Made movement 6004.D.

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Honestly in my price range this not an issue, but if moving up to multiple thousands of dollars then you bet I'm concerned.
Makes you think and this has been going on for many years now. I belive this was a topic at the old Forum also. Tanks Mike for the HU.
Should be transparent to all buyers.
 
Honestly in my price range this not an issue, but if moving up to multiple thousands of dollars then you bet I'm concerned.
Makes you think and this has been going on for many years now. I belive this was a topic at the old Forum also. Tanks Mike for the HU.
Should be transparent to all buyers.

^^^^^:yes:^^^^^:cheers:
 
A number of watch companies have done and continue to do private label work. One of them was Epos and may still be doing it. Another is Grovana. It doesn't surprise me in the least that Sellita is doing assemblage for a number of labels. Sellita was doing contract work for ETA before the Swatch Group started to pull the plug on movement sales to companies outside the Swatch Group. It's how they were able to fill the void ETA was creating so rapidly (to the surprise of The Swatch Group). To be legally labeled "Swiss Made" also requires the movement be Swiss Made. The requirements for that have been stiffened over time.

One notorious individual imported Chinesium movements and did just barely enough minimalist finishing work to meet the required content for a Swiss Made label so Fossil could use them in their fashion watches and print "Swiss Made" on them, especially under the Zodiac name they had recently bought. I won't mention the Claro Semag CL-888 name though (a Chinesium Miyota 8215 clone), which ceased production in 2009. I got the impression at the time that the rest of the Swiss watch industry came unhinged and systematically excised George von Burg's Semag operation like an unwanted tumorous growth. The bottom line is the Swiss watch industry collectively won't tolerate anyone or anything that threatens their reputation. The Swiss have an interesting culture regarding competition between companies and brands and understand the need for cooperation on issues that affect the "Swiss Made" label.

John
 
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