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The Sandoz brand was founded by Henri Frederic Sandoz in the 1870s. During his watchmaking career, he founded other watch brands such as Cyma which were mostly producing more complicated watches. On the whole, the Sandoz brand was priced at a similar point as it is today. Which is not luxury, but certainly well above fashion watches.
When Sandoz died in 1913, his factory had 1000 employees and was producing in the region of 900000 watches per year. Some 20 years later, this figure had reached over 1.3 million watches per year.
However, like many non-luxury Swiss watch brands, during the quartz crisis of the 1970’s – things changed rapidly. Almost overnight, Sandoz was unseated from its position selling mid-level watches. As the brand was inactive for so long after this shock to the market. The rights to the Sandoz brand name were sold to various companies around the world.
This has led to a very complicated structure that allows 4 different companies to sell their own line of Sandoz watches to specific regions. On the whole, these watches are very solid, although you should be aware from which region you are buying. USA and Europe will not have this problem, but you live elsewhere, you should be careful which country you buy a Sandoz from.
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Is Sandoz A Luxury Watch Brand?
No. Perhaps Sandoz was considered a luxury brand long before the quartz crisis, but in modern day it certainly isn’t. Overall, the brand can probably be placed slightly below the likes of Tissot and Bulova. All of these brands have decent, Swiss made watches, but none can really be called luxury. Sandoz watches are solid mid-level timepieces, but nothing more.
The only exception would be if you were to find a vintage Sandoz with a particularly fine movement, although this is somewhat unlikely.
Are Sandoz Watches Good Quality?
Yes, Sandoz watches are of good quality. Any Sandoz watch made available to the western market is made in Switzerland and uses movements such as ETA & Sellita. Whilst these are not the absolute best movements in the world, they are still head and shoulders above standard quartz movements such as Miyota.
Simply put. Sandoz watches are not fantastic, but they are made in Switzerland and are definitely good quality.
Are Sandoz Watches Good Value For Money?
Sandoz watches are pretty standard value for money. They are neither cheap nor particularly expensive. Overall though, you are able to purchase Swiss watches of similar quality for slightly cheaper and also from a more well known brand name. Unless you are a particular fan of the Sandoz brand, there is no real reason you would choose Sandoz over a more reputable watchmaker such as Tissot.
If you’re buying a Sandoz watch in Asia, you should be careful before handing over the money. Due to complications surrounding the rights to the Sandoz brand name, you should make sure the watch you’re buying is Swiss made before purchasing.
Where Are Sandoz Watches Made?
Due to the complicated breakdown of the Sandoz brand name. Depending on which country you purchase your watch in, you could be getting something very different than if you were to buy it in another place.
For the USA and Europe, if you’re buying a Sandoz from an authorized dealer or website such as Amazon. This watch will be made in Switzerland and typically contain an ETA movement. This can be confirmed by inspecting the dial of the watch. At the very bottom of the dial, it will say “Swiss made” confirming this.
The Best Sandoz Watches?
Chronograph
Dive Watch
Automatic
