Among the certifications in the watchmaking world, the one awarded by the Fleurier Quality Foundation (FQF) is the only one that applies to the finished watch, as it will be offered on the market. Initiated by four independent brands based in Fleurier, a locality within 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 Fleurier Quality Foundation is an independent watch 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 fully informed about the merits of the finished product: precision, robustness, and the aesthetic care given to the object.

This initiative 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 FQF certification was created in 2001 and officially launched in 2004. Its idea was simple: to adopt these customer-centric criteria to form the requirements of a new certification, itself intended to assess mechanical watches manufactured 100% in Switzerland and presented in their final casing. This initiative was supported from the outset by several public bodies, notably by the municipality and the Val-de-Travers Region Association, the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Swiss Confederation – as well as by the Philippe Jéquier Foundation.

The Certification Procedure Established by the Fleurier Quality Foundation

Although all Swiss high-end mechanical watchmaking houses are entitled to apply for FQF certification, the procedure proves to be as complex as it is precise. Overseen by an objective technical commission, independent of the four brands that participated in its foundation, it proceeds as follows:

  • With the exception of raw materials, the watch’s manufacturing 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 advanced craftsmanship, mechanical manufacturing methods, etc. More details on the dedicated page of the official FQF website.
  • The movement integrated into the candidate watch must have been chronometer-certified by the Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC).
  • The movement must undergo a series of aging tests (“Chronofiable”) conducted by the Dubois S.A. laboratory, located in La Chaux-de-Fonds: tests for resistance to magnetic fields, shocks, traction-pressure, water resistance, etc.
  • Finally, the finished watch must be monitored for 24 hours by a simulator named “Fleuritest,” which reproduces the wearer’s movements by alternating active and resting phases. To pass the test, the watch must show a maximum error margin of +5 seconds per 24 hours.

Upon successful completion, the foundation issues a guarantee certificate “FQF, certified high watchmaking.” In addition to a written document, the manufacturer has a logo affixed to the awarded watch.

Suffice it to say that obtaining FQF certification is akin to a true obstacle course, as the requirements are numerous and the prerequisites meticulous – not least the need to accumulate successful results in the Chronofiable, COSC, and Fleuritest tests. Watches fortunate enough to be distinguished by the FQF thus embody undeniable watchmaking perfection.