![Ordinance on the Use of «Switzerland» or «Swiss»…](https://cdn.slatesource.com/3/a/2/3a2adf44-e541-476b-9d24-5826b70dc7dd.webp) # Ordinance on the Use of «Switzerland» or «Swiss»… - [Made in Slatesource](https://slatesource.com/@steph/ordinance-on-the-use-of-switzerland-or-swiss) - By [Steph](https://slatesource.com/@steph) - Created on Aug 13, 2026 ## Ordinance on the Use of «Switzerland» or «Swiss»… SR 232.119 — Ordinance of 23 December 1971 on the Use of «Switzerland» or «Swiss» for Watches. [fedlex.data.admin.ch](https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/1971/1908_1915_1915?utm_source=slatesource) English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force. English consolidation of 1 January 2019, which is also the date of the current binding text. [fedlex.data.admin.ch](https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/1971/1908_1915_1915?utm_source=slatesource) ## Preamble The Swiss Federal Council, on the basis of Article 50 paragraph 2 of the Trade Mark Protection Act of 28 August 1992 (TmPA), ordains: SR 232.11 Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). ## Art. 1 Definition of «watch» 1 The term «watch» means the following: a. time-measuring devices intended to be worn on the wrist; b. devices whose main function is to measure time and whose movement: 1. does not exceed 60 mm in width, length or diameter, or 2. does not exceed 14 mm in thickness measured with the plate and bridges. 2 When determining the width, length, diameter and thickness, only the technically necessary dimensions are taken into consideration. 3 The component that enables the watch to be worn is not included in the definition of the term «watch» specified in paragraph 1. Art. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). ## Art. 1a Definition of a Swiss watch A watch is considered to be a Swiss watch if: a. at least the following elements of its technical development are carried out in Switzerland: 1. for exclusively mechanical watches: the mechanical construction and prototyping of the watch as a whole, 2. for watches that are not exclusively mechanical: the mechanical construction and prototyping of the watch as a whole, as well as the design of the printed circuits, the display and the software; abis. its movement is Swiss; b. its movement is cased up in Switzerland; c. the final inspection of the watch is conducted by the manufacturer in Switzerland; and d. at least 60 per cent of the manufacturing costs are incurred in Switzerland. Art. 1a — Inserted by No I of the O of 27 May 1992 (AS 1992 1229). Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, with the exception of let. a, in force since 1 Jan. 2019 (AS 2016 2593). See also the transitional provision of this amendment at the end of the text. ## Art. 2 Definition of a Swiss movement 1 A movement is considered to be a Swiss movement if: a. at least the following elements of its technical development are carried out in Switzerland: 1. for exclusively mechanical watch movements: the mechanical construction and prototyping of the watch movement as a whole, 2. for watch movements that are not exclusively mechanical: the mechanical construction and prototyping of the watch as a whole, as well as the design of the printed circuits, the display and the software; abis. it is assembled in Switzerland; b. it is inspected by the manufacturer in Switzerland; bbis. at least 60 per cent of the manufacturing costs are incurred in Switzerland; and c. the constituent parts made in Switzerland, excluding the cost of assembling them, represent at least 50 per cent of the value of all of the constituent parts. 2 To calculate the value of the constituent parts made in Switzerland in accordance with paragraph 1 letter c, the following rules apply: a. … abis. the cost of the dial is incl Art. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). Para. 1 let. a — Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2019 (AS 2016 2593). See also the transitional provision of the 17.6.2016 amendment at the end of the text. Para. 1 let. abis — Inserted by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). Para. 1 let. bbi ## Art. 2a Definition of Swiss constituent parts Constituent parts are considered to be Swiss if: a. they are inspected by the manufacturer in Switzerland; and b. at least 60 per cent of their manufacturing costs are incurred in Switzerland. Art. 2a — Inserted by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). ## Art. 2b Definition of assembly in Switzerland A watch movement is considered to have been assembled in Switzerland within the meaning of Article 2 paragraph 1 letter abis if all of the constituent parts are assembled in Switzerland. Only the subassembly of the following constituent parts may be carried out abroad: a. for exclusively mechanical watch movements: the gear trains; b. for watch movements that are not exclusively mechanical: 1. the electronic modules, 2. the electro-optical display modules, 3. the energy collecting module, 4. the regulating organ, 5. the gear trains, 6. the motor or motors, including the rotors and coils they are made of. Art. 2b — Inserted by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). ## Art. 2c Relevant manufacturing costs Excluded from the calculation of the manufacturing costs are: a. costs for natural products which, due to natural conditions, cannot be produced in Switzerland; b. costs for materials which, for objective reasons, are not available in Switzerland in sufficient quantities, up to their unavailability rate; c. packaging costs; d. transport costs; e. costs for the commercialisation of the goods, as well as costs for marketing and customer service; f. the cost of the battery. Art. 2c — Inserted by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). ## Art. 2d Materials unavailable in sufficient quantities in Switzerland If the watchmaking industry publishes information in accordance with Article 52k of the Trade Mark Protection Ordinance of 23 December 1992 about materials that are not available in sufficient quantities in Switzerland, it shall ensure that such information is objectively justified. In the event of disagreement within the industry, it will consult with independent third parties. Art. 2d — Inserted by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). SR 232.111 ## Art. 3 Requirements for using «Switzerland» or «Swiss» and the Swiss cross 1 The following may be used exclusively for Swiss watches and Swiss watch movements: a. the designation «Switzerland»; b. designations such as «Swiss», «Swiss product», «Made in Switzerland», «Swiss quality» and other designations containing «Switzerland» or «Swiss» or designations that could be confused with them; c. the Swiss cross and other signs that could be confused with it. 1bis Swiss indications of source for specific activities in accordance with Article 47 paragraph 3ter TmPA are only permitted if the indication is not understood by the relevant public as an indication of source for the product as a whole. 2 If the watch is not Swiss, the designations specified in paragraph 1 may still be placed on Swiss movements, provided that they are not visible to the buyer. 3 The indication «Swiss movement» may be placed on watches that contain a Swiss movement. The word «movement» must be written in full and must be of the same typeface, size and colour as the designation «Swiss». 4 Pa Art. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 27 May 1992, in force since 1 July 1992 (AS 1992 1229). See also the final provision of this amendment at the end of the text. Art. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). Para. 1 let. c — Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). Para. 1bis — SR 232.11 Para. 1bis — Inserted by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). ## Art. 4 Placing the designation of origina. on watch cases 1 A watch case is considered to be Swiss if: a. at least one essential manufacturing process is carried out in Switzerland (i.e. stamping, machining or polishing); b. it is assembled in Switzerland; c. it is inspected in Switzerland by the manufacturer; and d. at least 60 per cent of the manufacturing costs are incurred in Switzerland. 2 The designations specified in Article 3 paragraphs 1 and 4 may only be placed on watch cases intended for watches within the meaning of Article 1a. 3 The indication «Swiss case» or a translation thereof may be placed on Swiss cases intended to be fitted to watches that are not Swiss watches within the meaning of Article 1a. Where such indications are placed on the exterior of the case, the origin of the watch or the watch movement must be visibly indicated on the watch. 4–5 … Art. 4 — Amended by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 1978, in force since 1 Jan. 1979 (AS 1978 1620). Para. 1 let. d — Amended by No I of the O of 17 June 2016, in force since 1 Jan. 2017 (AS 2016 2593). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 March 1995, in force since 1 May 1995 (AS 1995 1218). Para. 3 — Amended by No I of the O of 29 March 1995, in force since 1 May 1995 (AS 1995 1218). Para. 4–5 — Repealed by No I of the O of 29 March 1995, with effect from 1 May 1995(AS 1995 1218). ## Art. 5 b. on watch dials 1 The designations specified in Article 3 paragraphs 1 and 4 may only be placed on dials intended for watches within the meaning of Article 1a. … 2 The indication «Swiss dial» or a translation thereof may be placed on the back of Swiss dials intended for watches that are not Swiss within the meaning of Article 1a. Art. 5 — Amended by No I of the O of 27 May 1992, in force since 1 July 1992 (AS 1992 1229). Para. 1 — Second sentence repealed by No I of the O of 29 Mar. 1995, with effect from 1 May 1995 (AS 1995 1218). ## Art. 6 c. on other constituent parts of the watch 1 The designations specified in Article 3 paragraphs 1 and 4 may only be placed on constituent parts intended for watches within the meaning of Article 1a. 2 Swiss movement-blanks that are exported and watch movements manufactured using such blanks may bear the indication «Swiss parts». Art. 6 — Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 1978 (AS 1978 1620). Amended by No I of the O of 29 March 1995, in force since 1 May 1995 (AS 1995 1218). ## Art. 7 Samples and collections of samples Notwithstanding Article 3 paragraph 2 and Articles 4 to 6, watch cases, dials, watch movements and other constituent parts may bear Swiss designations of origin if they are: a. exported individually as samples or collections of samples; b. manufactured in Switzerland and c. not intended for sale. Art. 7 — Inserted by No I of the O of 18 Oct. 1978, in force since 1 Jan. 1979 (AS 1978 1620). Amended by No I of the O of 27 May 1992, in force since 1 July 1992 (AS 1992 1229). ## Art. 8 Criminal provision Any breach of this Ordinance is subject to the criminal provisions of the TmPA. Art. 8 — Originally Art. 6. Amended by No I of the O of 23 Dec. 1992, in force since 1 April 1993 (AS 1993 312). ## Art. 9 Commencement This Ordinance comes into force on 1 January 1972. Art. 9 — Originally Art. 7. ## Contents 1\. Final Provision of the Amendment of 27 May 1992 — 0 articles 2. Transitional Provisions to the Amendment of 17 June 2016 — 0 articles [Official text on Fedlex — consolidation of 1 January 2019](https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/1971/1908_1915_1915/20190101/en/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-1971-1908_1915_1915-20190101-en-html-9.html?utm_source=slatesource)