Watch subcontracting in Geneva
Independent watch subcontractor. From the machined part to the finished product, in a single workshop.
Get in touch →CLD Design SA is an independent watch subcontractor based in Plan-les-Ouates, south of Geneva. We operate downstream from machining workshops and carry out finishing, assembly, inspection and after-sales work through to delivery of the finished product. All seven operations take place in one workshop, with a single point of contact and batch-level traceability.
Work carried out in the canton of Geneva
All our operations are performed in Plan-les-Ouates. The Geneva Seal (Poinçon de Genève), awarded by the official Timelab foundation, is reserved for mechanical watches assembled, cased, adjusted and inspected within the canton.
The assembly, casing and inspection we carry out therefore meet that territorial criterion, for brands seeking the Seal. We do not award the certification, which remains the responsibility of the official body, but our location makes our work compatible with the requirement.
An operator independent of any brand group
We are not part of any watch group. A brand, a manufacture or another subcontractor can entrust us with a one-off operation or a regular flow with no conflict of interest.
We work for independent brands, with no minimum batch, as well as for manufactures at a production peak and subcontractors who need to complete a job.
What we carry out
Seven operations, all carried out in the Plan-les-Ouates workshop.
- 01Watch jewellery laser, welding and case adjustment
- 02Polishing mirror polish, satin-finishing and mixed finishes
- 03Case assembly crystal, crown, case back and bracelet
- 04Crystal bonding sapphire or mineral, UV adhesive or oven
- 05Movement and casing through to the water resistance test
- 06Final inspection visual, functional and instrumented water resistance
- 07Turnkey after-sales diagnosis, restoration and packed return
Frequently asked questions about watch subcontracting
What does a watch subcontractor do?
It carries out some or all of the finishing, assembly and inspection operations on behalf of a brand, a manufacture or another workshop. At CLD Design, we receive machined components and can return a finished product, inspected and packaged.
Why entrust the whole sequence to one workshop?
The client hands over a batch and gets back a finished product, with one quote and one point of contact. There is no need to coordinate several workshops or arrange transport between them.
Which operations can be outsourced in Geneva?
Seven operations are available in Plan-les-Ouates: watch jewellery, polishing, case assembly, crystal bonding, movement assembly and casing, final inspection, after-sales service. They can be ordered separately or chained together. A client that already does its own polishing can entrust us with casing and inspection only.
Do you handle one-off pieces or production runs?
Both. The jewellers and polishers work on one-off pieces and production runs, in steel, alloy or precious metal. There is no imposed minimum batch: an independent brand can have a few pieces treated, a manufacture can hand over a production peak. The inspection method and the batch documentation remain the same in either case.
How does a first order proceed?
- First contactDescription of the need by e-mail or telephone. Reply within one working day.
- QuoteScope of operations, quantities and indicative lead time. Non-disclosure agreement signed on request before any technical exchange.
- Batch receiptComponents registered on arrival and the traceability file opened.
- ProductionOperations carried out in the workshop, visual check at every stage, non-conformities isolated and recorded.
- Final inspectionVisual inspection of the case, functional movement test and instrumented water resistance test.
- DeliveryPackaging and return of the batch. Inspection report available on request.
How is confidentiality ensured?
We never name the brands we work for, on this site or in our sales communications. A non-disclosure agreement is signed on request before a technical file is opened. We never discuss ongoing jobs outside the company.
Let's discuss your project
Tell us what you need; we reply within one working day.
CLD Design SA · Chemin du Pré-Fleuri 15 · 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva
+41 22 794 37 64 · info@cld-design.com · IDE CHE-370.688.199