Among the certifications in the watchmaking world, the one awarded by the Fondation Qualité Fleurier (FQF) is the only one to concern the finished watch, as it will be offered on the market. Initiated by four independent brands based in Fleurier, a locality belonging to the municipality of Val-de-Travers, it is based on both technical and aesthetic criteria, focused on the satisfaction of the end customer. It is also one of the most demanding and complex labels and certifications to obtain, following several certification stages.
Origins and Objectives of the FQF
The Fondation Qualité Fleurier is an independent watchmaking certification body that targets the high-end segment. Its purpose? To propose criteria for defining high watchmaking quality that take into account the expectations of the end customer, the one who has chosen to dedicate a significant sum to acquiring a timepiece and who wishes to be best informed about the merits of the finished product: precision, durability, and the aesthetic care brought to the object. This vision brought together four independent brands, all located in the municipality of Val-de-Travers, in the heart of the Swiss Jura:- Bovet Fleurier
- Chopard Manufacture
- Parmigiani Fleurier
- Vaucher Manufacture Fleurier
The Certification Procedure Established by the Fondation Qualité Fleurier
Although all Swiss high-end mechanical watchmaking houses are entitled to request FQF certification, the procedure proves as complex as it is precise. Handled by an objective technical commission, independent of the four brands that participated in its founding, it proceeds as follows:- With the exception of unworked materials, the manufacture of the watch must have been carried out exclusively in Switzerland, namely: all stages of design, manufacturing, and assembly, up to the inspection of the watch head and its components.
- For its aesthetic finish, the timepiece must meet the quality criteria established by the FQF—use of plastic materials prohibited, decoration resulting from expert craftsmanship, mechanical manufacturing methods, etc. More details on the dedicated page of the FQF official website.
- The movement integrated into the candidate watch must have been certified as a chronometer by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
- The movement must pass a battery of aging tests (“Chronofiable”) conducted by the Dubois S.A. laboratory, located in La Chaux-de-Fonds: resistance tests to magnetic fields, shocks, tension-pressure, water resistance, etc.
- Finally, the finished watch must be monitored for 24 hours by a simulator called “Fleuritest,” which reproduces the wearer’s movements by alternating active phases and rest phases. To pass the test, the watch must display a margin of error of +5 seconds maximum per 24 hours.