1968 if you asked anyone who would dominate the world watch market in 1990 almost everyone would have answered the Swiss. Why because at that time the Swiss not only dominated the world watch market they had done so for decades. Moreover, they were not resting on their laurels they were constantly seeking to improve their watches inventing the minute hand, the second hand, better ways to manufacture the gears and mainsprings. They led the world on research into waterproofing watches.