This smaller maker is moving its brand upmarket using inhouse components
It is neither the largest nor the longest established of Swiss watch brands, but the past few years have been good to Jean Richard and it has grown rapidly.
'Asia, and particularly China, has been the driving force for growth,' said sales and marketing manager Michel Santschi.
'The brand is moving more towards the manufacture of our own movements and more ladies' watches.'
This, he said, was helping the company move its watches into a higher price bracket.
'This is not just a question of price,' he said. 'It's a question of product.'
This year sees the release of the company's first manual movement in a ladies' watch and a minute repeater, and Mr Santschi said the brand would have its first chronograph ready by 2007. The company had also decided to become '100 per cent Swiss made', he said and would no longer be importing any components from the Far East.