Stephen Foskett | Source | Freelance Writer at Europa Star

Imagine being selected to judge a contest of fine watches and finding a counterfeit of your own company's product! That's exactly what happened to Adrien Philippe at the Universal Exposition in Antwerp in 1885, and the resulting furor (including government sanctions and a high-profile court case) laid the foundation for anti-counterfeiting measures to this day. Incredibly, the perpetrator of this fake (labeled "Pateck & Cie, Genève") was a respected watch trader, Armand Schwob, who insisted that it was Patek Philippe that was in the wrong. Let's take a look at the "Affaire Pateck-Schwob"!

Two revolutionary technologies emerged nearly simultaneously in 1933. Nivarox and Incabloc addressed the key shortcomings of watches in daily use: accuracy and durability. Both were created by colourful engineers, and they reflected the transformation of the Swiss watch industry and materials science. Let's take a closer look at these vintage technologies – created 90 years ago – that are still with us today!

It has often been said that the Swatch saved the Swiss watch industry, and March 1, 2023 marks 40 years since its introduction. Although this view is mostly accurate, a look at the contemporary coverage in the Europa Star archives reveals some interesting details about the initial reaction and lasting legacy of this affordable Swiss watch. It received surprisingly little coverage for the first few years of its life, but the Swatch was recognized even then as a technical and marketing milestone.