The roots of the EPOS Company date back to 1925. In that year, James Aubert founded the watch company James Aubert SA in the Vallée de Joux, well known as the center of the mechanical watch world. James Aubert was an enthusiastic mechanical watch engineer, who dedicated his life to developing new watch mechanisms. He was a master of his art and spent most of his efforts focusing on technical developments of chronographs and minute repeaters.
In the true watchmakers’ tradition, he handed down his knowledge to his son-in-law, Jean Fillon, who then became the leading watch maker for EPOS for many years. Jean Fillon was the origin of stunning EPOS innovations that have made this brand so unique. In his workshop many of EPOS’ own developments of complications were created, such as a Jumping Hour and a Regulator modification.
THE ORIGIN OF EPOS
In the early 80s, the success story of the traditional Swiss watch came to a standstill. The new quartz technology radically changed the face of the watch industry. Nobody wanted to produce mechanical watches any longer, with the notable exception of a few luxury brands.
Peter Hofer, a long-established expert in Swiss watchmaking, was one of the few who still believed in the future of the mechanical watch. With this vision, he and his wife Erna decided to form their own company in 1983: Montres EPOS SA. Their main assets were a passion for mechanical watches and the technical know-how needed to create mechanical masterpieces.
Personal contacts with key people in Swiss watch industry, as well as a vast knowledge of the global watch market, enabled Peter Hofer to fruitfully develop his own brand. From the very beginning, Hofer was supported by Jean Fillon who was the driving force behind many of the interesting EPOS innovations. For 20 years, Hofer remained faithful to his vision, developing stunning collections incorporating fascinating mechanisms, always in close cooperation with Jean Fillon.
A NEW ERA
In the early 2000s, Peter Hofer looked for successors who shared his passion for mechanical watches.
He finally found them in the Chonge-Forster family, a family with deep roots in the Swiss watch industry: Ursula Forster, who became the new president of the company, stems from a Swiss watchmakers’ family. Her husband Tamdi, who took over as CEO, has been working as a top manager in the Swiss watch industry for many years.
Together they took over from Peter Hofer in 2002 and have ever since developed the brand EPOS, broadening the product portfolio and expanding internationally. Building up on the long heritage and knowledge embedded in the company, they have always focused on creating highly sophisticated mechanical masterpieces at affordable prices, staying true to the company slogan: Artistry in Watchmaking.
ARTISTRY IN WATCHMAKING
SWISS PERFECTION IN ALL DETAILS
Switzerland has gained a unique worldwide reputation over centuries, thanks to the pioneering spirit and sense of perfection of its watchmakers. EPOS’ mission is to be a guardian of these traditional values and high standards. EPOS watches are designed and developed with passion, manufactured with precision in the Jura Mountains and the Vallée de Joux workshops, and assembled with care in Lengnau, areas which have always been the most famous in the watchmaking heritage.
The heart of each EPOS watch is its mechanical movement. The basic mechanisms come from renowned Swiss manufacturers, which are then transformed by the EPOS watchmakers, who add special functions and stunning decorations. The new creations are mostly manufactured in-house. Once completed, the movement is very carefully decorated, often by hand. Nearly all the EPOS models are equipped with a crystal caseback to allow its owner to admire the work. As a result, EPOS collections are greatly sought after by collectors and watch lovers.
EPOS offers high-quality mechanical watches with interesting functions but still at an affordable price. Finished with loving care, according to the traditional Swiss watchmakers’ heritage, they deserve to be called „Artistry in Watchmaking“.
BASE MOVEMENTS
EPOS only uses Swiss mechanical movements. Main movement suppliers are ETA (including Unitas, Valjoux, Peseux) and Sellita. Most of the movements that are used as base movements in EPOS watches are richly decorated, often with Côtes de Genève and blued screws.
EPOS INNOVATIONS
EPOS is especially proud of its in-house innovations such as the big date vertical, the 24 hours indicator or the over-sized jumping hour. Those complicated mechanisms require considerable watchmaking skills, which transform each watch into a work of art.
MILESTONE PRODUCTS
EPOS Hundertwasser Watch
It took the well-known Austrian painter Hundertwasser more than seven years to complete this masterpiece, which subsequently has been manufactured by EPOS as a limited edition in 1993. The case of the pocket watch consists of blacked 18 carat gold. The watch is held in the typical Hundertwasser designs. The watch sports two pairs of hands, thus showing the time in two different ways, true to the philosophy of the artist.
EPOS Vertigo
With the Vertigo, EPOS presented a special double-sided watch. An innovative system allows the watch to be turned while remaining on the wrist, revealing a nicely decorated AS 1727 movement via the mineral see-through back.
EPOS Ref. 3167 – Power Reserve
Based on a Peseux 7046 hand-wound movements, EPOS equipped this model with a power reserve indication at 9 o’clock. The elegant design of the stainless steel case gives this watch a classy look.
EPOS Ref. 3231 – Regulator with Moonphase
World’s first regulator with moon phase, based on a vintage movement Peseux 7046. Richly decorated movement with blued screws.
EPOS Ref. 3297 – Big Date
Another great in-house innovation from EPOS: This mechanical masterpiece is based on a hand-wound Unitas 6498 movement. Making use of drawings of historical vintage movements from Venus S.A., EPOS engineers have modified this movement with a big date indication at 12 o’clock. The beautifully finished interior can be seen through an open case back: a beautiful movement with blued screws and Côte de Gèneve.
EPOS Ref. 3340- 8 Days
This masterpiece is based on a more than a century old vintage Hebdomas movement. It is hand-wound and has an 8-days power reserve. The mechanical beauty can be seen through a semi-open lacquered dial that is housed in a stainless steel case. The unique design has given the EPOS brand its distinctive look for many years. Amongst others, this model has won the prestigious German “Goldene Unruh” award for being the most beautiful watch in its class in 2004.
EPOS Ref. 3373 – Five Minute Repeater – Limited Edition
Exclusive special edition, limited worldwide to 200 pieces. Based on a mechanical self-winding movement ETA 2892 with luxury finish with the “perlage” pattern and blued steel screws, this watch has a five-minute repeater function with pusher for repeater mechanism at 8 o’clock. The mechanism is housed in a numbered stainless steel case 316L with domed sapphire crystal and see-through back. The decorated movement and repeater-mechanism are visible through partially opened black dial with applied luminous indexes.
EPOS Ref. 3375 – Tourbillon – Limited Edition
The Art of Tourbillon is the incarnation of watch making culture. It is the symbol of the traditional craftsmanship, requiring exclusively the hand and care of the best watchmakers. Such a technical prowess deserves watch lovers’ attention and owe to be in the most prestigious collections. EPOS’ watch making passion has lead to producing these few masterpieces of an extraordinary complexity.
EPOS flying tourbillon is hand engraved, and features a mechanical pallet fork. It is a hand-winding watch, with a power reserve of 110 hours.
A round opening in the classically designed dial allows to observe the movements of the tourbillon. In addition to the usual second, minute and hour hand, an extra small hand is positioned at 12 o’clock, whose function is to indicate the date. All the magic of the impressive tourbillon movement is unveiled by a see-through caseback.
EPOS Ref. 3383 – Big Date Verticale
Unique worldwide: vertical big date display at 9 o’clock. The outstanding design and the highly sophisticated mechanical development makes this collection unique. The see-through back shows a wonderfully finished watch movement, another masterpiece by EPOS. Our new in-house innovation, the big date with vertical display at 9 o’clock, is an ‘homage’ to the traditional artistry in watch making. It is constructed on drawings of historical vintage movements from Venus S.A. and finally modified by Epos.
EPOS Ref. 3390 24h
EPOS’ exclusive in-house development. Based on an automatic movement ETA 2892 and modified by EPOS’ own engineers, this masterpiece accompanies you through the day with a full dial 24 hour time indication. Date indication at 6 o’clock. Stainless steel case and sapphire crystal, screwed see-through back. The dial is sub-divided in a day and night section, making it easy read time quickly, with a wonderful illustration of the starry sky and applied luminescent indexes.
EPOS Ref. 3391 Blue Stars
This model is a modern interpretation of the classic moon phase indication, in the design of a clear night sky. The mechanism is based on a mechanical self-winding movement ETA 2892 which is nicely decorated. The watch displays the phases of the moon, date-pointer, day of week and month. It has a stainless steel case with sapphire crystal and screwed see-through back.
EPOS Ref. 3400 – GMT – Limited Edition
Special edition, limited worldwide to 999 pieces. Two independent mechanical self-winding movements display simultaneously the time in two different time zones: ETA 2671 for local time and lokal date indication. ETA 2671 modified by Epos with inverse 24-hour-indication for 2nd time zone with date indication (world novelty). The watch has a oval stainless steel case with sapphire crystal and screwed see-through back. The guilloché decorated dial is black with white mother-of-pearl and applied roman figures.
EPOS Ref. 3405 – Jumping Hour
This EPOS innovation is based on a mechanical self-winding movement ETA 2892 which is decorated with the “perlage” pattern. Modified in-house, the EPOS engineers equipped this model with a calendar at 6 o’clock and the jumping hour at 3 o’clock. The watch has a stainless steel case with anti-reflective, scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and a screwed see-through back. The black dial is carefully decorated with the “Côtes de Genève” pattern.
EPOS Ref. 3429 – Limited Edition
The exclusive special edition is limited worldwide to 2015 pieces. This EPOS construction allows the timepiece to be either carried as a pocket watch, worn as a wristwatch or to be used as a table watch. The watch has a mechanical hand-wound skeleton movement Unitas 6498 that is carefully engraved. A small second is displayed at 6 o’clock. The case is stainless steel with sapphire crystal and see-through back. The dial comes with applied arab figures and luminescent indexes.
EPOS Ref. 3431 – Limited Edition
Based on a richly decorated mechanical self-winding movement SW 200, this extraordinary model sports a retrograde module. Retrograde hours and minutes. The case is stainless steel with curved sapphire crystal and a see-through back. The dial is decorated with Cotes de Gèneve. This masterpiece is limited to 888 pieces worldwide.
EPOS Ref. 3435 – Verso
Exclusive special edition, limited to 999 pieces. Mechanical hand-wound semi-skeleton movement Unitas 6497, decorated and engraved. The beautifully finished backside of the modified movement shines in the spotlight on the timepiece’s front. The small second on the timepiece’s back assumes the function of a pulsometer.
Some of these info was from:
https://www.epos.ch/about-epos/artistry-in-watchmaking/
https://www.epos.ch/about-epos/history/
https://www.epos.ch/about-epos/milestone-products/
Please remember that this is an unofficial account of the history of this company, Should you happen to find any mistakes with our information then please let us know at