Rolex is temporarily closing three production facilities in Switzerland amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Robb Report. And other Swiss watchmakers are doing the same.
Rolex CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour announced the decision in a letter to employees Monday evening. The plants were to close from 5 p.m. March 17 through March 27.
Dufour added that the date “may, of course, be pushed back according to the evolution of the epidemic.”
The plants are in Geneva, Crissier and Bienne.
Not long after the Rolex announcement, Patek Philippe and Hublot also stated that they would be closing manufacturing plants in Switzerland.
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Patek Philippe announced that it would close manufacturing operations from March 18 through March 27, the South China Morning Post reports.
And Hublot said it would close its factory for an indeterminate period.
“We are going through a period of crisis unprecedented in our recent history, with the expansion of COVID-19,” the watchmaker said in a press release. “The Federal Council, the Government of Switzerland, yesterday announced more stringent measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and in particular strict restrictions on movement applicable from today. This has led us to adapt our latest instructions to this new situation, with the same ongoing objective: protecting our employees and their families.”
As of March 18, Switzerland had reported over 3,000 cases of coronavirus, with 21 deaths. According to Swissinfo.ch:
On Monday, the government declared an “extraordinary situation”external link, instituting a ban on all private and public events and closing bars, restaurants, sports and cultural spaces; only businesses providing essential goods – such as grocery stores, bakeries and pharmacies – remain open. Schools are closed nationwide.
The government measures are in place through April 19.
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Read more at the Robb Report
