Continuing to the present day, centuries of tradition, rigor, and the know-how of skilled artisans, has forged the world recognized reputation of the great Swiss watch houses.
Some of the watchmakers currently producing in the Watch Valley include OMEGA, Breitling, Corum, Gallet, Girard-Perregaux, Patek Philippe, Rolex, TAG Heuer, Blancpain, Ulysse Nardin, Chopard, Baume & Mercier, and others[who?].
It was a shock-absorber known as the “para-chute” which helped prevent delicate parts in a Watch from breaking when dropped.
This greatly improved the accuracy and dependability of watches at that time and paved the road to what we see in current timepieces.
Both Le Locle and its geographical twin town La Chaux-de-Fonds have now been recognised as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, for their horological and related cultural past.