Watch production is one of Switzerland's most important industry sectors with a yearly turnover of approximately 11 billion Swiss francs. In total Swiss watch producers employ 39,500 workers. Apart from a few very large corporations Swiss watch producers tend to be small with a great majority of firms employing less than 100 workers. Each year the 650 Swiss watch manufacturers export products worth 10 billion francs, which corresponds to nearly 90% of total Swiss watch production. Watches are Switzerland's third largest export product accounting for approximately 8% of total exports.

For more than four centuries tradition, craftsmanship, leading technologies and ongoing innovation have helped the Swiss watch making industry to become the world's leader in watch fabrication. It was for example the Swiss watch industry, which developed creative new products like the first wristwatch, the first quartz watch or the first water resistant wristwatch.
Swiss watches are very popular worldwide and trusted for their quality and reliability. At the moment main importers of Swiss watches are Europe followed by Asia and Oceania, North America, the Middle East, South America and Africa.