First off, you gotta understand, when you’re talking about “Swiss Movement” slapped on a watch, it’s not always straightforward. It’s like saying “Italian leather shoes” – yeah, *maybe* the leather is Italian, but who actually MADE the shoes? Big difference, see?
So, with Hermes, they’re a fashion house, a luxury brand, all that jazz. They’re *not* primarily watchmakers, ya know? They’re famous for scarves and handbags that cost more than my car. So, it makes sense that they’d outsource the movement.
Now, the articles I’m lookin’ at here are… uh, interesting. One’s selling “perfect replica watches” which, let’s be real, is code for “fake as all get out.” I wouldn’t trust *anything* that site says. Coupon codes for Rolex on a Hermes replica site? Come on, man.
The other article mentioning “Swiss Replica Hermes” and movements… kinda shady too. “18k gold to $100,000”? Sounds like they’re selling fantasies more than watches.
But, the more interesting thing is the Autodromo example. It hints at the real game! “Swiss Made” is a legal thing, not just a label. There are rules. You can have an ETA movement inside (ETA’s are SUPER common Swiss workhorse movements), but if it doesn’t meet the “Swiss Made” requirements, you can’t slap that label on it. Probably involving how much of the actual construction and finishing happened in Switzerland.
So, what does Hermes actually use? It’s likely they use ETA (or Sellita – which is a very close alternative) as a base. But, here’s where Hermes can make it their own. They might get it modified, add their own finishing, or even partially assemble it themselves (though, let’s be honest, probably not *everything*). That makes it a “Hermes” movement, even if the guts are from somewhere else.
And, personally, I think it’s fine. If Hermes is adding value with design, finishing, and quality control, then they deserve to call it their own. It’s like a chef buying ingredients. They don’t *grow* the tomatoes, but they can still make an amazing sauce, right?
Plus, the whole “Swiss Made” thing is sometimes overrated anyway. Yeah, Swiss watchmaking is legendary, but there are other places making good movements too. Don’t get me started on Japanese movements!