An Inside Look at Vaer's USA Sourcing and Assembly
Why Do We Assemble Our Watches in America?
When we started Vaer in 2016, there were two paths available for an independent American watch brand - either mass-produce watches overseas and try to get big as quickly as possible, or stay small and keep things in the United States. Over the past several years we've worked to create a third path - investing in US sourcing and assembly, while strategically integrating global components where necessary to maintain best-in-class performance and affordability.
A Commitment to Quality
Our supply chain is based on added value first and foremost.
Assembling our watches in the United States instead of China (the standard choice for sub-$500 pieces), is more than a good story - it makes our watches better. USA assembly gives us far greater quality control, superior testing equipment and a more agile manufacturing schedule. This prioritization of quality is also the reason we continue to source global components where necessary. As an example, the Japanese made Miyota movements used in our A5 and D5 models are unrivaled in their class and will remain our choice until an US-based option becomes available.
A Deeper Understanding of Our Products
Insight from our technicians is a competitive advantage.
Our initial foray into USA assembly was small at first, assembling batches of a just few hundred quartz pieces. As we've grown, so has our expertise - and with each successive order we've always tried to improve the quality and complexity of our watch designs. Our current line-up now includes dozens of different models ranging from design-oriented automatics to ultra-functional solar-powered Divers. And thanks to US assembly and individual water-resistance testing, we have incredible confidence in the technical capability of every watch we ship.
The Resurgence of an American Industry
We're proud to support a new generation of US watchmakers.
The ability to maintain control over small and expensive watch components, while working efficiently at scale takes real talent. If you’ve purchased one of our watches in the past, hopefully, you’ll feel a small sense of pride in helping to support this type of craftsman with a new generation of watchmakers. For us, it’s definitely one of the most rewarding aspects of our American assembly process.
Moving toward "Made in USA"
American assembly and USA movements are just the start.
In 2021, we launched our first line of watches with US-built Ameriquartz movements - bringing certain Vaer watch models to a total US-source origin value of over 55%, which is comparable with the source origin requirement for "Swiss Made" watch. While a true "Made in USA" Vaer watch is currently out of reach due to stringent requirements and a lack of specialized manufacturing, our goal is to continue to push the limits of American sourcing at scale.
We're Proud to be the Largest Independent Watch Assembler in the United States
Though American Assembly hasn't been the easiest path, thanks to the continued support of tens of thousands of customers from around the world, we're proud to now be the largest independently-owned assembler of watches in the United States - and a small part of a much larger movement toward local craftsmanship and the resurgence of an American industry.
30x
Higher Assembly Cost than China
Quality costs money, and this is definitely true of US technicians, which are paid a similar wage to Swiss counterparts.
55%
US Origin for Ameriquartz watches
When paired with our Made in USA Horween leather straps, our C3 and C5 models are one of the most "American" watches on the market.
17
Models currently assembled in the USA
We started with a single model, but have slowly expanded the lineup to include a wide range of designs and pricepoints.
USA Assembled Watches
Starting at $209
We believe the best products are those that you can count on for years of everyday wear - from office, to ocean, to overseas travel. While luxury items have their time and place, we've built our USA Assembled Collection for those who want a beautiful, well-built watch that they never have to worry about.
The Perfect Outdoor Watch
Whether you're planning your own diving expedition, or just looking for a timeless and well-built watch you can trust around the water, Vaer has what you're looking for.
10ATM
Water Resistance Rating
All Vaer watches are ocean-ready. Our Divers go even further to 20ATM.
Sapphire
Domed Crystal
All watches feature a scratch resistant crystal, and optional sapphire caseback.
USA
Assembly and Testing
The watches from this shoot were assembled and water-resistance tested in America.
Protecting Our Wilderness
We've always been committed to a sustainable business model - our products are designed to last a lifetime, and be repaired not replaced. Additionally, we allocate 1% of our total revenue to protecting endangered wildlife and ecosystems.