Capturing the elusive. The pursuit of exact time measurement has fascinated humanity for centuries, addresing a variety of challenges over time. First, the survival of 15th-century navigators venturing across the seas, followed by geographical expansion, scientific advances, industrial production and, finally, commercial prestige.
While chronometry has evolved to meet different needs, one constant remains: the pursuit for absolute precision. This universal ambition lies at the heart of the COSC's history.
Founded in
1973
Created over half a century ago in La Chaux-de-Fonds at the initiative of Swiss watch brands, the COSC was established by five cantons (Bern, Geneva, Neuchâtel, Solothurn and Vaud) and the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. It was born from the ambition to create a neutral, independent and universally recognized institution to certify the legendary precision of Swiss watch movements.
IN
2023
50 years later, we have become the benchmark label, recognized worldwide for its strict standards and reliability. From the 200,000 certificates issued in 1976, 2.5 million mechanical and quartz watches were certified in 2023.
Each laboratory is designed as a perfect replica of the others: the same organization, the same equipment, the same procedures.
Today, the COSC consists of three laboratories in French-speaking Switzerland (Bienne, Le Locle and Saint-Imier), strategically located close to the manufacturers and coordinated by the management team based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is also, and most importantly, 164 highly-trained employees with a passion for their work, who certify over 2 million movements and watches each year.
