Switzerland Banned Japan From This Competition. Here's What Happened Next.

Check out Chris's (OVTLYR) channel here : https://www.youtube.com/@10MinuteTrading In 1964, Seiko entered Switzerland's most prestigious watchmaking competition and finished 144th. They came back every year. By 1967, they were 4th — second only to Omega in manufacturer rankings. In 1968, at the Geneva Observatory, their movements swept positions 4th through 10th in the mechanical category. Both competitions closed immediately after. Then Switzerland created COSC — with one founding requirement: movements must be Swiss-made. Japan cannot apply. To this day. This is the story most watch brands don't put in their marketing. And once you know it, it changes how you look at every Japanese watch you will ever own. In this video I trace the full history — from Neuchâtel's first trials to the quartz revolution, from COSC's creation to what Japan built in response — with three watches that tell the complete arc: ⌚ Seiko Calibre 052 / R45 — The movements that won Geneva ⌚ Citizen Calibre 0100 — ±1 second per year vs COSC's ±6 seconds per day ⌚ Grand Seiko Spring Drive — Technology Switzerland hasn't replicated 📩 Business enquiries: jagswatches@outlook.com 📸 Instagram & TikTok: @jagswatches Chapters: 0:00 - The Competition Switzerland Never Expected Japan to Win 1:39 - What the Observatory Trials Actually Were 3:10 - Japan's Watchmaking Story (The Version Nobody Tells) 10:13 - Why the Competitions Closed — The Honest Answer 10:39 - COSC: The Certification Japan Was Never Allowed