Watch Words This Week: Geneva Seal

Also known as the Hallmark of Geneva or Poincon de Geneve in French, the Geneva Seal is a mark of quality bestowed by a non-profit body administered by the cantonal government of Geneva.

Originally develop to combat counterfeits of watches made in Geneva – the city was historically associated with high-end watchmaking – the Geneva Seal is now a test of both the decorative and functional qualities of a watch movement. Consequently, to qualify for the seal, a watch has not only to be made in Geneva, but its movement also needs to be finished to fixed standard as well as pass functional tests.

Haute-horology brands that are closely associated with the Geneva Seal include Vacheron Constantin and Roger Dubuis. In fact, the entire production of the latter brand bears the Geneva Seal.