A White Paper for Fine Watchmaking

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A White Paper for Fine Watchmaking - Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie
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This White Paper sets out a definition of Fine Watchmaking whose different protagonists occupy different realities.

Fine Watchmaking is a label we frequently use without being entirely sure what falls within its boundaries. The Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH) had a duty to lay down the principles of Fine Watchmaking which governed its creation. It set about this task with honesty and humility. The result is the White Paper on Fine Watchmaking.

The FHH assigned this task to its Cultural Council of 46 independent, international experts who carried out their function with complete impartiality and on a pro bono basis. Working from the ground up, they spent three years giving shape to this White Paper. The finished document presents a synthesis of their conclusions in the unifying spirit of the FHH, whose mission is to inform, train and recognise expertise in Fine Watchmaking.

This White Paper is the result of a methodological consideration of the notion of Fine Watchmaking and its defining values. It sets out a definition and a categorisation of its different players and lists the competencies and 7 areas of expertise of the brands (R&D and Production, Style and Design, History and DNA, Distribution and After-Sales Service, Collectors, Brand Image and Communication, Training), and specifies 28 objective and whenever possible measurable criteria across these 7 areas. Each brand has been evaluated against these criteria by the Cultural Council experts.

This evaluation then determines the contours of the select circle that is the Technical and Precious Fine Watchmaking Perimeter. Its members* are shared between 4 categories that reflect the diversity of Fine Watchmaking: Historic Maisons,

Contemporary Brands, Luxury Brands, and Artisan-Creators.

In all, 86 brands were evaluated and 64 entered the Perimeter. This evaluation will be repeated every 2 to 3 years to stay current with developments in the field.