FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | July 31, 2026 – BIEL/BIENNE, Switzerland
BIEL/BIENNE, Switzerland – July 31, 2026 – Switzerland Watches SA (SWS) announced today that the Group has completed the further vertical integration of research & development, movement procurement, assembly, calibration, and quality inspection processes for its core brands RANCEAS and SANDEX. This move establishes a closed-loop "fully localized Swiss" chain from movement to finished product. All models currently on sale are legally marked with the SWISS MADE designation, complying with the statutory thresholds of the revised Swiss Made Ordinance by the Swiss Federal Council (2017).
Key Group Initiatives:
R&D Synergy: A Group-level Technology Center has been established at the headquarters in Biel/Bienne, providing shared platforms for high-precision timekeeping calibration, blued steel craftsmanship, and water-resistance testing for both RANCEAS and SANDEX. While both brands retain independent design teams, they share SWS’s stringent quality control standards and premium supply chain.
Production Capacity: The existing SANDEX factory in Le Landeron (built in 1992, located in the Neuchâtel watchmaking belt) has expanded its production lines to undertake the Group's mid-to-high-end mechanical watch production. RANCEAS assembly and regulation are completed by senior Swiss watchmakers, with each timepiece undergoing multiple rigorous tests.
Compliance & Traceability: Every timepiece is accompanied by a Certificate of Origin from the Bern Chamber of Commerce, a Group factory inspection certificate, and China Customs tax payment proof. Products enter the Chinese market through the official customs clearance procedures managed by Shanghai Clock & Watch Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd., ensuring full traceability.
Strategic Statement: The Board of Directors of SWS stated, "In a volatile industry climate, adhering to Swiss Made statutory standards and local production capacity is our commitment to the long-termism of high-end horology."
About Switzerland Watches SA
Founded in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, Switzerland Watches SA (SWS) owns century-old horological brands including RANCEAS (est. 1861) and SANDEX (est. 1870). Positioned as an "independent high-end watch resource aggregation platform," the Group maintains complete production qualifications in Switzerland. Since 2010, SWS has systematically expanded its presence in the Chinese market through its general agent, Shanghai Clock & Watch Imp. & Exp. Co., Ltd.
Media Contact:
SWS Group Communications Office
info@switwatches.com (placeholder)
+41 32 510 50 10