Swiss and Swiss made are protected marks

In watchmaking, the geographical indications Swiss and Swiss made are recognised worldwide. This is why the FH takes action around the globe to defend them. It acts both against improper use of these indications and against potentially problematic applications to register trademarks incorporating Swiss indications.

In this context, it is important to understand that in both Hong Kong and the United States — the two leading markets for Swiss watches — the criteria used to determine the origin of a watch are less stringent than those applied in Switzerland. In these markets, the country in which the movement is assembled determines the watch's country of origin.

However, in both jurisdictions, a geographical indication can be registered as a certification mark. This is a mark that its proprietor does not use directly but makes available to anyone who complies with the rules governing its use. In return for granting this right of use, the proprietor can enforce the certification mark against misuse.

For this purpose, and to protect the Swiss and Swiss made indications even more effectively, the FH has held the Swiss certification mark in Hong Kong and the Swiss and Swiss made certification marks in the United States since 2006.

Any entity using these indications on watches destined for these two markets must therefore comply with the relevant certification mark rules, which expressly refer to the provisions of the ordinance regulating the use of the name 'Swiss' for watches. Any misuse is pursued.