This page connects Switzerland’s watchmaking workforce, pay, and training to the realities of production and exports. In 2022, the industry employed 52,000 people directly, with 25,000 more through supply chains, while salaries averaged 92,000 CHF—about 25% above the national average. It also tracks export strength by market, luxury price levels, and the evolving split between mechanical and quartz output.
Key Takeaways
- The Swiss watch industry employed 52,000 people directly in 2022, with an additional 25,000 indirect jobs in supply chains.
- Average salary in the Swiss watch industry was 92,000 CHF annually in 2022, 25% above national average.
- Women accounted for 42% of the Swiss watch workforce in 2022, up from 35% in 2015.
- In 2022, Swiss watch exports reached a record value of 24.8 billion Swiss francs, representing a 10.5% increase from 2021, with 17.5 million units shipped.
- Swiss watch exports to the USA grew by 18% in value to 5.2 billion CHF in 2022.
- Hong Kong imported 2.8 million Swiss watches worth 4.1 billion CHF in 2022, down 15% in volume.
- Omega introduced 25 new models with METAS Master Chronometer certification in 2023, featuring 15,000 gauss magnetic resistance.
- Patek Philippe launched the Aquanaut 5164A with a new in-house calibre 30-255 PS IRM, offering 40-hour power reserve.
- TAG Heuer's Carrera Plasma introduced lab-grown diamond bezel with 11 carats total weight in 2023.
- Rolex held a 30.9% market share in the Swiss luxury watch export value in 2022, leading all brands.
- Luxury watches over 3,000 CHF accounted for 92% of Swiss export value in 2022.
- Global Swiss watch market share was 52% in value terms for luxury segment in 2022.
- Switzerland produced 18.1 million watches in 2022, including 1.2 million mechanical watches and 16.9 million quartz watches.
- In 2022, the number of Swiss watchmaking companies stood at 1,400, concentrated in 17 cantons.
- Mechanical watches represented 7% of Swiss production volume but 65% of export value in 2022.
Record Swiss watch exports in 2022 boosted jobs, pay, and workforce diversity alongside rising prices.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment And Economic Impact17 stats
01
The Swiss watch industry employed 52,000 people directly in 2022, with an additional 25,000 indirect jobs in supply chains.
02
Average salary in the Swiss watch industry was 92,000 CHF annually in 2022, 25% above national average.
03
Women accounted for 42% of the Swiss watch workforce in 2022, up from 35% in 2015.
04
Training programs produced 2,500 new watchmakers annually in Switzerland in 2022.
05
Watch industry contributed 5.5% to Swiss manufacturing GDP in 2022.
06
Apprenticeships in watchmaking rose to 3,200 starts in 2022, 12% increase.
07
Industry R&D spending reached 1.2 billion CHF in 2022, 5% of turnover.
08
Female executives in watch firms increased to 18% in 2022 from 12% in 2018.
09
Union membership in watch industry covered 65% of workers in 2022.
10
Total value added by Swiss watch industry: 12.4 billion CHF in 2022.
11
Overtime hours in watch industry averaged 150 per worker in 2022.
12
Vocational schools for watchmaking: 20 across Switzerland in 2022.
13
Labor productivity in watch industry: 240,000 CHF per employee 2022.
14
Part-time workers in industry: 28% of total employment 2022.
15
Age average of watchmakers: 45 years in 2022.
16
Turnover per company average: 17.7 million CHF in 2022.
17
Foreign workers: 35% of watch industry labor force 2022.
Interpretation
Employment And Economic Impact Interpretation
In 2022, Switzerland’s watch industry strengthened its employment and economic impact by employing 52,000 people directly plus 25,000 indirectly, while boosting wages 25% above the national average and raising women’s share to 42% alongside a 12% rise in apprenticeships to 3,200 starts.
02 · Category
Export And Import Data21 stats
01
In 2022, Swiss watch exports reached a record value of 24.8 billion Swiss francs, representing a 10.5% increase from 2021, with 17.5 million units shipped.
02
Swiss watch exports to the USA grew by 18% in value to 5.2 billion CHF in 2022.
03
Hong Kong imported 2.8 million Swiss watches worth 4.1 billion CHF in 2022, down 15% in volume.
04
China became the second largest market for Swiss watches with 3.9 billion CHF in 2022 exports.
05
EU countries imported 3.2 billion CHF of Swiss watches in 2022, with Germany leading at 1.1 billion.
06
Japanese imports of Swiss watches hit 1.2 billion CHF in 2022, up 8% year-over-year.
07
UK Swiss watch imports totaled 850 million CHF in 2022, recovering post-Brexit.
08
Total Swiss watch export value to Middle East: 1.8 billion CHF in 2022.
09
France imported 950 million CHF Swiss watches in 2022.
10
Watch industry exports accounted for 8% of total Swiss goods exports in 2022.
11
Singapore as re-export hub handled 2.1 billion CHF Swiss watches in 2022.
12
Australia Swiss watch imports up 25% to 450 million CHF in 2022.
13
Dubai imported 650 million CHF Swiss watches in 2022.
14
Import of components for Swiss watches: 2.5 billion CHF in 2022.
15
Italy Swiss watch imports: 1.3 billion CHF in 2022.
16
Turkey Swiss watch exports grew 40% to 250 million CHF in 2022.
17
South Korea imports: 550 million CHF Swiss watches 2022.
18
Canada Swiss watch imports: 420 million CHF in 2022.
19
Russia exports dropped 85% to 150 million CHF due to sanctions 2022.
20
Brazil imports: 180 million CHF Swiss watches 2022.
21
Taiwan imports: 380 million CHF in 2022.
Interpretation
Export And Import Data Interpretation
In the export and import data for Swiss watches, 2022 saw a record 24.8 billion CHF in exports, up 10.5% from 2021, with major buyers driving growth such as the USA reaching 5.2 billion CHF and Japan rising to 1.2 billion CHF year over year.
03 · Category
Innovation And Brand Performance19 stats
01
Omega introduced 25 new models with METAS Master Chronometer certification in 2023, featuring 15,000 gauss magnetic resistance.
02
Patek Philippe launched the Aquanaut 5164A with a new in-house calibre 30-255 PS IRM, offering 40-hour power reserve.
03
TAG Heuer's Carrera Plasma introduced lab-grown diamond bezel with 11 carats total weight in 2023.
04
IWC Schaffhausen's Portugieser Eternal Calendar features 7,800 components in perpetual calendar module.
05
Audemars Piguet's Code 11.59 Starwheel uses rotating sapphire discs for time display innovation.
06
Breguet's Tradition Automatique 7067 has openworked dial revealing 57N balance wheel.
07
Zenith Defy Skyline with chronograph beats at 5Hz frequency, 100m water resistance.
08
Vacheron Constantin's Les Cabinotiers Celestia Astronomical has 23 complications.
09
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Automatique with 70-hour power reserve and ceramic bezel.
10
H. Moser & Cie Streamliner Flyback Chronograph with fume dial gradient.
11
Number of patents filed by Swiss watchmakers: 450 in 2022.
12
Rado Captain Cook High-Tech Ceramic Diver with 300m resistance.
13
Piaget Polo Skeleton with ultra-thin 2.2mm movement.
14
Chopard Alpine Eagle with Lucent Steel and 41mm case, 168h reserve.
15
Montblanc 1858 Geosphere with dual globe world time.
16
Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF Minute Rattrapante with guilloché dial.
17
Richard Mille RM 27-04 for Rafael Nadal with 14000g shock resistance.
18
Glashütte Original PanoMaticInverse with reversed movement display.
19
F.P. Journe Chronomètre Bleu with 56h power reserve titanium case.
Interpretation
Innovation And Brand Performance Interpretation
In the Innovation and Brand Performance race, leading Swiss makers are proving momentum with measurable breakthroughs such as Omega’s 25 new METAS Master Chronometer models and TAG Heuer’s 11 carat lab grown diamond bezel, showing that brands are turning advanced technology into distinctive, certified product stories.
More related reading
04 · Category
Market And Consumer Trends18 stats
01
Rolex held a 30.9% market share in the Swiss luxury watch export value in 2022, leading all brands.
02
Luxury watches over 3,000 CHF accounted for 92% of Swiss export value in 2022.
03
Global Swiss watch market share was 52% in value terms for luxury segment in 2022.
04
Average watch price in Swiss exports rose to 1,416 CHF per unit in 2022 from 1,200 CHF in 2021.
05
Millennial buyers increased Swiss watch purchases by 22% in 2022 per Deloitte survey.
06
Rolex Daytona models saw 450% secondary market premium over retail in 2022.
07
NFT-linked watches sold 15% of luxury Swiss inventory in 2022 auctions.
08
Pre-owned Swiss watches market valued at 20 billion USD globally in 2022.
09
Domestic Swiss watch sales were 1.2 million units valued at 1.5 billion CHF in 2022.
10
E-commerce sales of Swiss watches grew 28% to 3.5 billion CHF in 2022.
11
Gen-Z interest in mechanical watches up 35% per 2022 surveys.
12
Rolex service centers worldwide: 120 in 2022.
13
Watch fair attendance at Watches & Wonders: 50,000 visitors in 2023.
14
Hybrid watch sales (smart + mechanical) up 50% in 2022.
15
Grey market discount on certain models averaged 10% in 2022.
16
Sustainability reports published by 65% of major brands in 2022.
17
Direct-to-consumer sales rose to 22% of total in 2022.
18
Women purchasing luxury watches: 38% of market in 2022.
Interpretation
Market And Consumer Trends Interpretation
In Market and Consumer Trends, Swiss luxury watch demand is concentrating sharply at the top, with Rolex taking 30.9% of Swiss luxury export value in 2022 and models like the Daytona trading at a 450% secondary premium, while millennial buyers still lifted purchases by 22% and higher pricing pushed the average export price to 1,416 CHF from 1,200 CHF the year before.
05 · Category
Production Statistics19 stats
01
Switzerland produced 18.1 million watches in 2022, including 1.2 million mechanical watches and 16.9 million quartz watches.
02
In 2022, the number of Swiss watchmaking companies stood at 1,400, concentrated in 17 cantons.
03
Mechanical watches represented 7% of Swiss production volume but 65% of export value in 2022.
04
Swiss watch production capacity increased by 5% in 2022 due to new facilities in Jura region.
05
80% of Swiss watches are produced in the Arc Jurassien region, spanning 6 cantons.
06
Total Swiss watch movements produced: 1.8 million mechanical in 2022.
07
Quartz watch production in Switzerland declined to 15% of total volume in 2022.
08
Number of microbrands in Swiss watch industry grew to 150 in 2022.
09
Swiss production of complicated watches (over 10 jewels) was 450,000 units in 2022.
10
Export rate of Swiss watch production reached 95% in 2022.
11
Automation reduced manual assembly time by 30% in ETA movements production 2022.
12
Sustainability certified watches reached 15% of production in 2022.
13
Production of gold watches in Switzerland: 120,000 units in 2022.
14
Swiss watch recycling rate for scrap metal: 98% in 2022.
15
Energy consumption per watch produced dropped 12% to 45 kWh in 2022.
16
Number of complications average in high-end Swiss watches: 8.5 in 2022.
17
3D printing used in 20% of prototype production in 2022.
18
Water usage per watch: reduced to 8 liters in 2022 production.
19
Carbon footprint per watch: 25 kg CO2 eq. in 2022.
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
In 2022, Switzerland produced 18.1 million watches and backed that volume with a clear production tradeoff where mechanical units were just 7% of output but drove 65% of export value, showing that Swiss production is scaled primarily for mass quartz while the highest export value still comes from mechanical capacity.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Switzerland Watch Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/switzerland-watch-industry-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Switzerland Watch Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/switzerland-watch-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Switzerland Watch Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/switzerland-watch-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
39 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level