Swiss Technology Production

STP originated in 2006 when a group of Lugano investors, led by Hans Ulrich Saurer, established Prime Watch Holding Production (PWP) to assemble and finish movements qualifying as Swiss Made. Located in Ticino for cost-effective labor compared to traditional centers like Biel, it produced an initial batch of 2,000 movements in 2010, scaling up in 2011-2012 with highly automated lines employing just 28 watchmakers. In 2012, Fossil acquired a 51% stake in PWP, renaming it STP to secure Swiss provenance for its fashion and heritage watches amid ETA supply constraints post-2009. Production surged to 140,000 units by 2014, with movements featuring Côtes de Genève finishing, 5-position testing, and ±15 seconds/day accuracy. Fossil later integrated STP as wholly owned, sourcing components from Swiss suppliers and producing over 60% in-house to meet stricter Swissness rules. Output stabilized at around 100,000 movements annually. The factory emphasizes robotic automation, combining U.S. efficiency with Swiss expertise.