n June 2024, an official ceremony marked the 100^th anniversary of the Société Suisse de Chronométrie (SSC) in the very same room, the Salle des Abeilles at the Palais de l’Athénée in Geneva, where it was founded. Just like 100 years ago, the event brought together government officials, university members, representatives of the city’s watchmaking school (itself celebrating its 200^th anniversary) and the technical departments of numerous brands.

While its roots are in Geneva, the SSC, which currently boasts around 1,500 members, has achieved not only national but worldwide recognition as the organisational body behind the triennial International Conference on Chronometry.

“For one hundred years, we have remained true to the core principles established in 1924, namely to unite the industry around knowledge sharing in order to spur innovation within the entire Swiss watchmaking ecosystem,” declared Olivier Kuffer, director of Research and Development at Rolex, who took the rotating presidency of the SSC at the beginning of the year. The organisation’s four regional offices each assume the presidency for three years and, by happy coincidence, this role falls to Geneva, its place of birth, for the centenary year.

Among the items on the agenda for the centenary of the Geneva Watchmaking School in 1924: the founding of the Société Suisse de Chronométrie (JSH, 1924)

The SSC’s story began “with the commemoration, in 1923 in Paris, of the one hundredth anniversary of the death of Abraham-Louis Breguet. At an edition of the national conference on chronometry, several voices expressed the wish to harmonise the standards and systems in place governing accurate time measurement. The Chambre Suisse de l’Horlogerie, convinced of the merits of such an organisation to protect the country’s interests abroad, took matters in hand and the idea was born to create an entity in Switzerland that would deal with these matters.”

In 1924, under the patronage of Léopold Defossez, then director of the Le Locle Watchmaking School, an Initiative committee was established at La Chaux-de-Fonds. Its work would lead to the founding of the SSC in Geneva on 5 October that same year, coinciding with the celebration of the 100^th anniversary of the Geneva Watchmaking School.

Olivier Kuffer, president of the Société Suisse de Chronométrie

The initial premise, namely “the study of all issues regarding chronometry from a scientific point of view and their applications in the industrial field,” has expanded over time to include all areas of watchmaking, from decoration and the introduction of new materials to the métiers d’art, design, and now the incorporation and benefits of new technologies and digital resources. In other words, an institution very much in tune with the times.

The SSC is open to anyone interested in matters relating to watchmaking. It is also founded on the goodwill of its members and the provision of resources by brands and actors in the watchmaking industry. During meetings, any “proprietary” issues are left at the door because, in the end, the contributions and exchanges are of benefit to all.

The Palais de l’Athénée, birthplace of the Société Suisse de Chronométrie, featured in the JSH in 1924.

Considered a place of interaction and debate, the SSC publishes its own newsletter, maintains a vast database of articles and every year holds a keynote Study seminar attended by the leading actors in watchmaking technology. The centenary celebrations, scheduled to take place on 25 September, will be held at CERN on the theme Artists of Time. For its 100^th anniversary, the organisation has also announced its first ever participation at EPHJ, the Swiss trade fair for high-precision industries and another important meeting place for the movers and shakers of watchmaking innovation.

What are the SSC’s development priorities? “Generation after generation, we will continue to maintain our values and build strong ties between the industry’s contributors,” answered Oliver Kuffer. “The events we organise on a regular basis are as much about exchanging from a technical perspective as they are about exchanges between individuals, where bonds of friendship are built over the years that shape the values of our organisation. We strive to unite players across the sector in order to sustain the different branches. We also look ahead and try to get new generations interested, so that schools can continue to forge the young talents who will secure our industry’s future success.”

Winners of the Concours de Réglage 2023 taking part in the SSC Study Seminar. No fewer than 114 candidates from 23 training centres took part in this edition.

Among its many initiatives, the SSC organises a Chronometry competition, open to final-year students at the different Swiss watchmaking schools. It also awards a gold medal to outstanding figures in the field and appoints honorary members. Olivier Kuffer also points to a project to reinstate its awards for excellence as a means of further boosting innovation in the industry’s different technical branches.

Article on the SSC published in Europa Star in 1978

As has been shown many times in the history of Swiss watchmaking, the industry stands stronger united, buoyed by healthy competition. Uniting brands that are both permanently jockeying for position and actively pursuing long-term collaborations, the Société Suisse de Chronométrie is perhaps one of the most symbolic organisations, embodying the very particular “community spirit” that underpins the watchmaking industry. The proof is its longevity.