Saw on another forum a link to : http://www.businessmontres.com/breve_2777.htm how 30,000 ETA clones had been imported from China into Switzerland.


••• POSÉ UNE QUESTION NAÏVE
AUX AMIS FOURNISSEURS RENCONTRÉS VENDREDI AU SIHH...
Au fait, et ces 30 000 mouvements « clones d’ETA » entièrement faits en Chine, mais récemment dédouanés en Suisse : ils ont été commandés par qui, ils viennent d’où et ils sont destinés à qui, exactement ? Un travail de qualité, qui pourrait passer pour du Swiss Made tout ce qu’il y a de plus authentique, surtout une fois emboîté et réexpédié sur quelques marchés exotiques. La réponse à la question a de quoi faire trébucher quelques marques, qui ont voulu gagner du temps pour parer à la pénurie de mouvements orchestrée par le Swatch Group...

• • • Asks a question NAÏVE
SUPPLIERS TO FRIENDS met Friday at the SIHH ...
By the way, and these movements 30 000 "clones of ETA" made ​​entirely in China, but recently cleared in Switzerland: they were ordered by whom they come from and where they are for who exactly? Quality work, which could pass for the Swiss Made everything more authentic, especially when followed and returned a few exotic markets. The answer has something to trip a few brands that wanted to buy time to deal with the shortage of movements orchestrated by the Swatch Group ...

Makes the argument about a Selitta SW200 vs an ETA a bit redundant.

Just as well that I have no plans, FLE apart, to purchase a brand new watch from Switzerland then.

scooter

The worm turned... China's revenge for ETA not exporting movements into the people's republic (and the reason CW moved manufacture to a Swiss atelier I recall)?

Thought I would mention that Chris is aware of this situation and has told me that ".... rest assured they will never find their way into our watches"

would expect nothing less

Indeedy... I just love the irony (not a swatch)!

scooter wrote:Just as well that I have no plans, FLE apart, to purchase a brand new watch from Switzerland then.

scooter

Scooter,

I bought a Canon Camera two years ago. I thought Canon was an American Company but now I'm not sue where Canon originated from. Anyway, there's a sticker on the bottom stating "made in china". Do you know who originated the Canon Company?

Japanese surely

Russ-Shettle wrote:I bought a Canon Camera two years ago. I thought Canon was an American Company but now I'm not sue where Canon originated from. Anyway, there's a sticker on the bottom stating "made in china". Do you know who originated the Canon Company?

Is this a trick question?
OK, I'll bite... Japanese through and through...

Canon's predecessor, Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory, was founded in Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, to conduct research into quality cameras in 1933. 'Canon' was trademarked in 1935, the year after the first camera (the Kwanon - no joke) was produced. Canon didn't operate in the US until 1955 (OK I had to look this paragraph up)

... but your point, I think, is that this acme of camera technology gets it's cameras made in China - and if 'China made' is good enough for one of the top consumer precision instrument makers in the world then what's wrong with a Chinese 'ETA'? Well from a quality standpoint - probably not a lot, but...

You should have bought a Nikon - mine was made in Thailand <smug>

highway62 wrote:Japanese surely

I agree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_%28company%29

Yep, H is correct.

With that in mind I'm not really sure of the point you are trying to make Russ.

I found this useful in understanding the definition of 'Swiss made'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Made ... ned_by_Law

scooter

NIKON, Pah!
Canon every time.

Russ,

I don't think the real issue here is the quality of chinese watch movements. There is no doubt that makers such as Seagull make very high quality movements. The issue is that these ETA clones were imported to Switzerland, and seemed destined to end up in 'Swiss Made' watches. Your Canon camera was made in China, and is labelled as such. Would you feel the same about the camera if it was labelled 'Made in Japan' (or USA if you prefer), and actually had a Chinese clone of a Japanese camera inside the camera case?

Lavaine wrote:Russ,

I don't think the real issue here is the quality of chinese watch movements. There is no doubt that makers such as Seagull make very high quality movements. The issue is that these ETA clones were imported to Switzerland, and seemed destined to end up in 'Swiss Made' watches. Your Canon camera was made in China, and is labelled as such. Would you feel the same about the camera if it was labelled 'Made in Japan' (or USA if you prefer), and actually had a Chinese clone of a Japanese camera inside the camera case?

No, I get your point and I agree. I spoke out of context if you will. I was just relating on how so much has changed with seemingly everything being made in China these days. I was actually surprised to see the label on my Canon Camera. I'm not so sure I should be surprised with this news however.

highway62 wrote:NIKON, Pah!
Canon every time.

Nope. Panasonic. Of the Lumix variety.