The verdict in three sentences
A client about to reserve a watch worth more than 40,000 CHF on the Bahnhofstrasse checks the retailer's website first: authorised dealer status exactly as granted, after-sales service, private appointments, discretion. A redesign makes sense as soon as the site weakens that proof, and it is won less on aesthetics than on a loss-free migration of the pages that already bring you clients. Budgets run from 2,700 CHF to over 100,000 CHF depending on the provider; the gap comes from scope, not perceived quality.
Is your current site holding back high-value clients?
In high jewellery and watches, the site does not always sell online: many brands tightly restrict distance selling of their pieces and impose precise digital guidelines on their dealers. Its job is to get the client through the boutique door or to trigger an appointment request. A few signs show it no longer does.
| Sign | What a wealthy client perceives | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Brand logos with no clear statement of the status granted | Doubt about authenticity and dealer status | High |
| No after-sales or workshop page | Worry about servicing a piece worth 25,000 CHF or more | High |
| Generic contact form, no private appointment | Lack of discretion | High |
| Nothing on certified pre-owned or waitlists | The client goes to a competitor for information | Medium |
| German only, or patchy English | International and hotel clientele lost | Medium |
| Load time over 4 seconds on mobile | A house that looks careless | Medium |
| Old privacy policy, written before the revFADP | Doubt about how data is handled | Medium |
Since 1 September 2023, the revised Federal Act on Data Protection (revFADP, nLPD) has applied, overseen by the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC); the GDPR may also cover visitors resident in the EU. A redesign is the right moment to review forms, cookies and the privacy policy. This is not legal advice.
What does a redesign cost in Zurich, and what are you paying for?
The local ranges below are a 2026 ballpark drawn from typical Zurich agency quotes and public agency rate pages. Kolonell's grid is fixed and published.
| Option | Budget | Typical timeline | What is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium Zurich agency (luxury) | 60,000 to 120,000 CHF | 4 to 8 months | Art direction, photo shoot, brand strategy |
| Generalist Zurich web agency | 25,000 to 55,000 CHF | 3 to 5 months | Custom design, CMS, basic SEO |
| Experienced freelancer | 8,000 to 25,000 CHF | 2 to 4 months | Design and build, little copywriting |
| Kolonell Starter | 2,700 CHF | 3 to 4 weeks | Custom site, native copywriting, project manager reachable in your time zone, 3 months of support |
| Kolonell Growth | 4,500 CHF | 3 to 4 weeks | Broader scope, expert pages, same inclusions |
| Kolonell Premium | 8,200 CHF | 4 to 6 weeks | Multilingual tier, languages set in the quote |
| Maintenance after delivery | 150 to 600 CHF a month (market assumption) | Ongoing | Kolonell: on quote after the 3 included months |
Gated areas (VIP clients, waitlists), integrations with your point of sale or stock software and custom applications are priced on quote. Kolonell prices are in CHF, with no conversion. Details are on the international offer.
Timeline, risks and safeguards
Once content is ready (approved copy, photographs cleared by the brands), delivery takes 3 to 4 weeks, or 4 to 6 weeks for Premium. The timeline depends mostly on brand approval of how their names and visuals are used.
| Phase | Duration | Main risk | Safeguard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping and URL inventory | Week 1 | Missing pages that generate appointments | Search Console export, full URL list |
| Design and copywriting | Weeks 1 and 2 | Copy that breaches brand guidelines | Review by the brand manager before build |
| Build | Weeks 2 and 3 | Slow pages from high-resolution images | Modern formats, lazy loading |
| Migration and 301 redirects | Week 3 | Losing rankings on "brand name + Zurich" | Page by page redirect map |
| Compliance review and go-live | Week 4 | Forms not aligned with the revFADP | Check before switchover, downtime of a few minutes |
When is a Zurich agency still the better choice?
To be candid: if you need an in-store photo shoot, weekly in-person workshops with your management or full art direction for a new identity, a local luxury agency is justified, even at several times the budget. A remote studio is a better fit when the identity already exists, photographs come from the brands or your own photographer, and you want a fast, credible site well written in German, English and possibly French.
Questions to ask any provider: who writes the German and English? How are brand guidelines handled? Who owns the code and the access? What redirect plan is delivered?
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Lukas Brunner runs Brunner Uhren & Juwelen, an independent retailer in Zurich. A local agency quotes 48,000 CHF over 4 months for a redesign. He compares it with Kolonell Premium at 8,200 CHF, plus a local photo shoot estimated at 6,500 CHF, or 14,700 CHF in total.
The gap is 48,000 − 14,700 = 33,300 CHF. If an average sale leaves him a 4,000 CHF margin, that gap equals 33,300 ÷ 4,000 ≈ 8 sales. Lukas chooses the remote studio because his identity is recent and his brands already supply the visuals.
FAQ
What does a jewellery website redesign cost in Zurich?
As a 2026 ballpark, budget 25,000 to 55,000 CHF with a generalist agency and up to 120,000 CHF with a luxury agency. Kolonell's grid runs from 2,700 CHF (Starter) to 8,200 CHF (Premium).
Can we sell branded watches online?
That depends on your contract with each brand, and many restrict distance selling. A site built around appointments and enquiries is often the route taken.
Will we lose our Google rankings?
The risk is real if 301 redirects are done badly. A full URL inventory and Search Console checks for the 4 weeks after switchover reduce it sharply.
Which languages do we need in Zurich?
German and English are the base for local and international clients; French or other languages are worth discussing. The Premium tier is multilingual, with languages set in the quote.
What happens after the 3 months of support?
Maintenance is offered on quote according to your needs. In the Zurich market, 150 to 600 CHF a month is a common market assumption.
Let's scope your project. A Growth or Premium redesign with a full redirect map can be delivered in 3 to 6 weeks once your content is ready. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
