That was in , and it began a substantial legacy of watchmaking for the traditional Swiss company which, for most of its existence, was almost exclusively a knife maker. Victorinox as a company has existed and survived through multiple major global events and conflicts, including a number of wars and economic downturns. Doing this leaves Victorinox far less exposed to spikes in materials and commodity costs, as well as labor interruptions.
All of these policies were learned by a cautious yet highly disciplined tool-making firm selling products in nearly all corners of the world. What truly impressed me about Victorinox is that compared to many if not most of the Swiss companies I follow, Victorinox is a value leader in its marketplace segment.
Very few Swiss Made watch companies the aBlogtoWatch team visits can faithfully claim to make one of the best-quality and best-priced products on the market. Victorinox, on the other hand might be involved in a competitive watchmaking landscape, but its knives and cutlery are in most regards bested by no one else for the money. Sure there are more expensive hobbyist knives out there at much higher prices, but for a mainstream tool product in a folding multi-tool, no one really beats Victorinox.
This goes especially for the core pocket knife products, which come in a dizzying array of colors, styles, and purposes. Like many long-term-minded Swiss companies, Victorinox is more motivated by stability and quality, as opposed to speed and perception. After purchasing competitor Wenger a fellow Swiss company that for many years competed head-to-head with Victorinox in , the former Wenger facility in Delemont, Switzerland was transformed into where Victorinox produces watches.
Victorinox does not produce all parts for its watches, but does make the cases, assembles, and tests all of its watches in-house. A glimpse into the complicated testing regimen Victorinox developed for its timepieces began in when Victorinox first released the now iconic INOX timepiece collection. The idea behind INOX was to provide the market with an affordable and attractive Swiss Made watch that could withstand a long list of environmental and chemical stresses.
