Watches Blog

Hamilton Watch Company is an American brand of wristwatches founded in 1892 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The company has a rich history and has played a significant role in the development of the American watchmaking industry.

Here are some key moments in the history of Hamilton watches:

• In 1893,

The company produced its first series of pocket watches, which were named after Andrew Hamilton, a prominent figure in the American Revolution.

• In the early 1900s,

Hamilton began to produce watches for railroad workers, which had to be extremely        accurate and reliable to prevent train accidents. These watches became known as “railroad grade” watches and were highly sought after.

• During World War I,

Hamilton produced wristwatches for the U.S. military, which were used by American pilots       and other servicemen.

• In the 1920s,

Hamilton introduced some of its most iconic designs, including the Hamilton “Piping Rock” watch, which was named after a famous racetrack, and the Hamilton “Skeletor” watch, which had a unique skeletonized design.

• In the 1930s,

Hamilton became known for its innovative designs and technology, including the first electric watch, which was introduced in 1957.

• In the 1960s,

Hamilton became the official timekeeper of the first commercial airline flights between New    York and Paris, and its watches were worn by pilots and astronauts on early space missions.

• In the 1970s,

Hamilton introduced a number of popular models, including the “Thin-o-Matic” and the “Pan-   Europ”, which became known for their distinctive designs and high-quality construction.

• In the 1980s,

    Hamilton became part of the Swatch Group, a Swiss conglomerate that also owns other well-       known watch brands such as Omega and Longines.

Today, Hamilton watches continue to be highly regarded for their quality, durability, and distinctive designs. The company offers a wide range of models, including sport watches, dress watches, and aviation watches, and is a favorite of watch enthusiasts around the world.

Hamilton watches are known for their unique designs, high-quality construction, and long-standing history in the watchmaking industry. The brand offers a wide range of watches, from sporty and casual to elegant and dressy, and has become a favorite among watch enthusiasts.

Some popular models of Hamilton watches include:

• The Khaki Field:

A rugged and durable watch designed for outdoor use, featuring a stainless steel case, water resistance, and a variety of dial and strap options.

• The Jazzmaster:

An elegant and sophisticated dress watch featuring a variety of dial and strap options, including leather and stainless steel.

• The Ventura:

A unique and iconic watch designed in the 1950s, featuring a distinctive triangular case and retro-futuristic design.

• The Pan Europ:

A sporty and stylish watch designed for racing enthusiasts, featuring a chronograph function, tachymeter scale, and a colorful dial.

• The Intra-Matic:

A classic and minimalist dress watch featuring a clean dial, thin case, and leather strap.

Hamilton watches are also known for their collaboration with Hollywood, having appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including “Men in Black”, “Interstellar”, and “Jack Ryan”. The brand’s connection to the film industry is further emphasized by the fact that it sponsors the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, which recognize the achievements of up-and-coming filmmakers.

Please remember that this is an unofficial account of the history of this
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Glashütte Original’s roots stretch all the way back to 1845. More than 175 years ago, the first watchmakers came to Glashütte in Saxony to manufacture watch parts and watches in the small town.

The Glashütte watch soon became a byword for high quality worldwide. Glashütte Original is descended from this tradition of precise, elegant craftsmanship, and continues to write the uninterrupted story of the art of German watchmaking to this day.

GUB was a watch company founded in 1904 in Glashütte, Germany by watchmaker Uhren-Rohwerke-Fabrik Glashütte AG. The company was known for producing high-quality watches that were reliable and precise.

During World War II, the company was forced to produce military watches for the German military. After the war, the company was nationalized and merged with other watch companies to form VEB Glashütter Uhrenbetriebe (GUB) in 1951.

Under the new socialist government, GUB continued to produce high-quality watches, but the focus was on producing watches for the people, rather than for profit. The company was responsible for producing watches for the East German military, as well as for the general public.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, GUB was privatized and restructured. The company changed its name to Glashütte Original in 1994 and continued to produce high-quality watches, using the same precision and craftsmanship that had made GUB famous.

Today, Glashütte Original is considered one of the top watch brands in the world, known for its innovative designs and exceptional quality. The company remains headquartered in Glashütte, Germany, and continues to produce watches that are highly coveted by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

GUB watches, now known as Glashütte Original, are known for their high-quality craftsmanship, innovative designs, and exceptional accuracy. The company produces a wide range of watches, including classic dress watches, sports watches, and complicated timepieces with multiple functions.

Some of the most popular models produced by Glashütte Original include:

1. Senator:

The Senator collection features classic dress watches with simple, elegant designs. These watches are known for their clean lines and understated sophistication.

• Pano:

The Pano collection features watches with asymmetrical dials, giving them a unique and distinctive look. These watches are often more complicated than the Senator models, featuring additional functions such as moon phase indicators and power reserve displays.

• SeaQ:

The SeaQ collection features sports watches designed for diving and other water activities. These watches are highly water-resistant and feature a unidirectional rotating bezel for tracking dive time.

• Vintage:

The Vintage collection features watches with retro designs, inspired by the classic watches produced by GUB in the mid-20th century. These watches are often more affordable than other Glashütte Original models, making them a popular choice for collectors and enthusiasts.

Overall, Glashütte Original watches are known for their exceptional quality, precision, and attention to detail. They are highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts around the world.

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In 1894

It was founded in by German-born watchmaker Dietrich Grün. Gruen Watch Company was formerly one of the largest watch manufacturers in the United States and was in business from about 1894 to 1958 and was in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Gruen was one of the first US watch companies to offer basic movements produced in Switzerland.

In 1876

Dietrich Gruen started the Columbus Watch Manufacturing Company In partnership with W.J. Savage to imported and finished watch movements imported from Madretsch, Switzerland.

In 1882

The company started manufacturing their own movements directly in the U.S.A. then the shareholders forced Gruen out of the company and the New Columbus Watch Company continued in existence until 1903.

In 1888

production was about 45 watches per day; the company would grow to 300 employees and output to 150 watches per day.  Although the company continued to issue stemwind watches, they also manufactured keywind movements for some of their less-expensive models.

In 1894

Dietrich Gruen founded a new company D. Gruen & Son, a partnership with his son Frederick G. Gruen which designed a series of pocket watch movements which were manufactured by a German watchmaking.

In 1900

The new company became partially a Swiss company and the corporate name became D. Gruen, Sons & Co.

1903

A subsidiary was formed, “The Gruen Watch Manufacturing Company”, located in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.

In 1904

The company introduced the VeriThin pocket watch movement, a new arrangement of components that allowed the movement to be made much thinner.

 In 1908

The first Gruen wristwatches were introduced

In 1911

Dietrich Gruen died and control of the company passed to his son Frederick.

In 1917

The company moved to a newly constructed building named Time Hill, located at 401 East McMillan Street in Cincinnati.

In 1922

The company built the Precision Factory in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland.

In 1923

The company moved into a new facility, in Biel/Bienne.

In 1930

An arrangement was made with Alpina, with the production of a dual branded Alpina/Gruen watch

In 1935

Gruen introduced the first Curvex wristwatches for men, the company’s most famous design.

In 1940s and 1950

Gruen launched the ’21’ series of wristwatches (named for their 21-jewel movements) which were entirely made in the United States.

In 1953

The Gruen family sold their interest in the company

In 1958

The watch manufacturing business moved to New York under new ownership, and manufacturing was done exclusively in Switzerland.

In 1977

The operation in Biel/Bienne closed its doors

In 2000

TM Gruen is currently owned worldwide by MZ Berger, Long Island City, New York.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gruen_Watch_Co.#:~:text=Gruen%20was%20one%20of%20the,of%20Hans%20Wilsdorf%2C%20of%20Rolex.

Founded by a master watchmaker name Georges Graham in 1695
in London, United Kingdom . he invent the pendulum system made from mercury for
enabling a clock to keep accurate time despite temperature increases or
decreases. He also created the first stopwatch.

Today Graham watches located at the company’s La Choux de
Fonds manufacturing facilities in Switzerland.

In 1715

He Invented the Graham escapement (deadbeat anchor
escapement for pendulums).

 

in 1721

He was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society and
contributed over twenty papers to its scientific journal, Philosophical
Transactions. George Graham became Master of the Clockmaker’s Company  

 

1725

Improvement of Thomas Tompion’s cylinder escapement for
watches. It was the first cylinder escapement in history. Finalized in 1722, it
was fitted on all Graham watches after 1726. The Frenchman, Julien Le Roy, who
received one in 1728, recognized the superiority of the system.

 

1726

Invention of the Graham clock (mercury clock) which reduced
the effects of temperature variations. Combined with the Graham escapement,
this clock produced a degree of precision that was only to be exceeded with the
development of the invar by Charles Edouard Guillaume in 1895. Clocks of this
type were known as regulators.

One of the most well-known products produced by the brand
continues to be the Graham Chrono fighter series. What sets the watches apart
is the left-hand dial installed on a steel, ceramic, or carbon case. This line
also features GMT variations, which entail sapphire bezels, as well as a
straightforward GMT indicator for simultaneously keeping a record of multiple
time zones. These Classic GMT variants boast stylish retro looks.

The Silverstone series combines traditional and athletic
styles. It is also among the complicated Graham timepieces.

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Glycine used extensively in commercial and military aviation. Glycine  used during World War II by the German army for its land forces and United States Air Force pilots during the Vietnam War and astronaut Pete Conrad during the Gemini 5 and Gemini 11 spaceflights.

The design allowed servicemen to simultaneously know the time at home and the local time while in combat. The Airman featured a date function, as well as a 24-hour dial and engraved, rotating 24-hour bezel with locking mechanism that allowed capability to tell time in two different time zones. Shortly after its military success.

In 1914

Swiss watchmaker founded in 1914 by Eugène Meylan  in Biel/Bienne, the manufacturing and headquarters at Switzerland.

In 1930

Glycine released the first mass-produced automatic watches

In 1942

Glycine owner Ferdinand Engel died and the company was turned over to Charles Hertig of the Altus Watch Company

Glycine’s in-house movement was acquired by ASUAG

In 1959

Glycine developed vacuum-sealed cases, allowing for more durable and water-resistant timepieces by Hans Ulrich Klingenberg, working for them

in 1963

Altus and Glycine merge

In 1980

Through a series of mergers, ASUAG will become part of The Swatch Group to join elite group including Omega, Longines, and Hamilton

In 1984

Hans Brechbühler, a businessman in the watch industry, purchased Glycine and join by his daughter Katharina.

In 2000

The father-and-daughter duo released the Airman 7 designed for pilots in the United States. it was the first watch available with four time zones of the contiguous United States.

In 2005

Katharina assumed sole control of Glycine.

In 2010

After Hans Brechbühler died in 2010 Katharina sold Glycine to Altus Uhren Holding AG andshe remained with the company to supervise design.

Altus, Glycine re-released the Airman in its original 36 millimeter case size as the Airman No. 1 and released a 60th anniversary Airman AM/PM model.

In 2016

Invicta Watch Group purchased Glycine

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Glashütte Original watches are one of the most highly respected luxury watch brands within the watchmaking community. Each Glashütte Original timepiece offers a unique balance of premiere elegance and innovative functionality.

For nearly two centuries, the German luxury watch manufacturer Glashütte Original has stood for exceptional quality and an expert eye for detail. Although it’s difficult to limit a list to only ten, here are our ten reasons why we – along with many watch enthusiasts around the world

In 1845, the first watchmakers began to settle in Glashütte, with the help of a loan from the Kingdom of Saxony. they began to train the people in the town, who then became independent watchmakers.

Glashütte watches is extremely well respected and I certainly consider them generally equivalent to their Swiss counterparts.

This laid the cornerstone for the Saxon watch industry and the outstanding quality of Glashütte watches which gained a worldwide reputation. In order to preserve this knowledge for the future, the German School of Watchmaking Glashütte was founded in 1878.

The changes to the economic system led to the merger of all existing Glashütte watchmaking companies in July 1951.

After German reunification, the Glashütter Uhrenbetrieb GmbH was entered into the commercial register on 16th October 1990. The company became the official legal successor to the majority of the watchmaking enterprises that had existed in Glashütte since the end of the Second World War.

In 2000, Glashütte Original became part of the Swatch Group. This watch group – the largest in the world.

Today, Glashütte Original is synonymous with the pinnacle of the German art of watchmaking. Almost 95% of all their watch parts are manufactured in-house, including their filigree dials.

Over the years, Glashütte Original has nurtured a culture based on excellence, the results of which are clear to see in the timeless elegance and sophisticated technology of the company’s timepieces.

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In 1791

Jean-François Butte began crafting high-end timepieces.

In 1852

when Constant Girard founded the company Girard & Campagnie.

In 1856

He marry Marie Perregaux, a member of an established family of watchmakers from Le Locle.              The respective surnames of the couple were combined to form Manufacture Girard-Perregaux, This name lives on to this day.

In 1860

Girard created a pocket watch equipped with a tourbillon and three parallel bridges which received a first class award from the Observatory of the Canton of Neuchâtel.

In 1883

the styling of the bridges arrow like tips featured on the three bridges for the first time. This design was later patented in the United States. The shape of the three golden bridges has remained relatively consistent since this period, becoming part of the Girard-Perregaux paradigm.

In 1966

Girard-Perregaux released its first high frequency movement. The balance wheel oscillated to and fro at 36,000 vibrations per hour (5 Hz). The increased frequency of the movement conferred greater accuracy.

In recognition of the research and development undertaken by Girard-Perregaux, the Administrative Council of Neuchâtel chose to recognise its achievements by awarding the Observatory Centenary Prize

collection of recent years has included chronographs, dual-time watches and full-calendar timepieces. Irrespective of the model selected, each watch exhibits a tasteful quotient of style.

In 1970

A famous pocket watch created by Constant Girard was “La Esmeralda”. Arguably the most celebrated timepiece he was responsible for, it bore his monogram and an enamel dial. The watch is said to have been given to the President of Mexico

In 2011

The Swiss holding group of Girard-Perregaux, Sowind Group, has been a subsidiary of the French luxury group Kering. Headquartered in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, the company opened the Girard-Perregaux Museum near its headquarters in Villa Marguerite in 1999

In 2013

The Girard-Perregaux scooped further silverware with its ingenious Constant Escapement L.M. The watch won the GPHG, Grand Prix D’ Horlogerie de Geneva, “Aiguille d’Or”, the most coveted prize in the watchmaking field.

In 2014

the Swiss brand adapted the three bridge design for a modern audience, releasing the Neo-Tourbillon with Three Bridges. In this instance, the bridges were made of titanium, sandblasted and treated with black PVD, evincing a contemporary air.

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Genève watches Swiss luxury watch company founded in 1894 based in Le Locle by co-founder Ulysse Perret as Universal Watch. From beginnings, the company has produced complete watches with in-house movements’.

Throughout the 20th century, distributed many notable and important timepieces. Along with neighboring Geneva great timepieces watch companies, Universal is internationally regarded for its style of craftsmanship and manufacture.

The brand makes historical claim for creating the first-ever chronographic wristwatch in 1917.

After the pocketwatch started to lose usefulness in favor of the more convenient wristwatch during the first world war, Universal seized the opportunity by creating the Compur in 1933 and the Aero Compax (“Aviator’s Compact Chronograph”) in 1936 which made it a suitable device for soldiers.

1894

The origins

Talented watch makers Numa Emile Descombes and Ulysse Georges Perret, found a company specializing in making complicated watches. Foreign trade develops rapidly and products are enthusiastically received

1897

Early successes

Descombes dies and Perret associates with Louis Edouard Berthoud in making complete pocket-watches. In 1898 they present a chronograph with 30-counter, the Universal Watch Extra, and subsequently release their first wristwom chronograph in 1917.

1934

A legend in the making

The company is renamed Universal Watch, relocates to Geneva and enjoys impressive and international growth. A succession of elegant and complicated models — the Compax, Aero-Compax and Tri-Compax (1930-40), Polerouter (1954) and Microtor UG66 (1966) — leave and indelible imprint on their area

1960’S

A brand on the move

In keeping with its taste for innovation, Universal Genève launches the world’s thinnest quartz calibre in 1975. During the 1980s and 90s, the brand enjoys an impressive international reputation and its represented in South-East Asia, the Middle East and Italy.

2005

Renewal

While the 2005 and 2006 models reinterpret the house design in harmony with the Universal Genève spirit, the arrival of the Microtor UG100 and the series-production launched in 2007 of the Calibre UG101 provide powerful confirmation on the brand renewal.

2008

Another bold next release

On the occasion of Baseworld 2008, and 80 years after the launch of its first reversible watch, the Cabriolet, Universal Genève presents the Microtor Cabriolet, the first shaped timepiece (since the brand’s renewal) distinguished by a daring and contemporary spirit.

1894

January 18th, creation in Le Locle of the Decombes & Perret watch company headed by Numa Emile Descombes (1863-1897) and Ulysse Georges Perret (1868-1933).

1925

Two international patents (N° 91051 and 91463) are registered for the Auto-Rem, the first self-winding wristwatch by Univesral (a mechanism equipped with buffers).

1927-1929

Presentation of the Cabriolet model and of watches endowed with an 8-day power reserve.

1934

Creation of the double push-button Compur chronograph wristwatch (a trademark registered under patent N°83340); the first movement used is equipped with two column wheels.

1935

Launch of the Compax chronograph wristwatch with 12 hour and 30 minute counters.

1936

Presentation of the Uni Compax chronograph wristwatch with 45 minute counter.

1937

Universal Watch Co. Ltd is renamed Universal Genève. Creation of the smallest ladies chronograph wristwatch of the era, equipped with a 19 1/2” movement.

1940

Launch of the Aero-Compax (patent N° 235608). This is a Compax chronograph equipped with a fourth subdial featuring hour and minute hands at 12 o’clock and enabling the user to memorise the start of an operation by means of an additional crown at 9 o’clock.

1943

Universal Genève presents the calendar watch, with or without moon-phase display, showing the small seconds at 9 o’clock, the day at 12 o’clock and the months and moon phases at 6 o’clock.

1944

Manufacture des Montres Universal, Perret & Berthould SA Genève. To commemorate its 50th anniversary, the company presents its latest launch: the Tri-Compax. This hour counter chronograph with triple-date calendar and moon-phase display is to become one of watchmakings’s greatest.

1945

Introduction, within the Compax range, of the Medico-Compax, a chronograph featuring an hour counter bearing a pulsometric scale; and of the Dato-Compax, a chronograph with our counter fitted with a 4th subdial at 12 o’clock indicating the date from 1 to 31.

1954-1955

Launch of the Polerouter or Polarouter. SAS (Scandinavian Airlines System) makes the inaugural flight along the first air route between Europe and the United Stats to accross the North pole. The crew is equipped with a high-precision self winding watch (Cal. 138) capable of withstanding the powerful magnetic fields around the Pole.

1955

Creation of the Microtor (patent N°329805), a new type of self-winding movement with oscillating weight integrated within the movement (Calibre 215).

1963

Presentation at the Basel Fair of the Universal Genève Railrouter and Polerouter Electric models.

1966

Launch of the Golden Shadow, the world’s thinnest self-winding watch, driven by Calibre 66 and Calibre 67 with date display (2.5 mm thick).

1968

Introduction of the Tuning Unisonic, a watch with a tuning-fork type frequency regulator.

1975

At the Basel Fair the brand presents the Calibre 74, the world’s thinnest analog-display quartz driven movement (just 3.45mm).

1994

To celebrates its centenary year, Universal Genève launches a world first (UG Calibre 42-83/4”): the Janus watch, inspired by the Cabriolet model. Its reversible dial features a single movement allowing one to read off the time on two dials, including one with jumping hours.

2005

Universal Genève launches two new collection: Okeanos (for men) and Anthea (for ladies).

2006

Presentation at Baselworld of four new moels: the Microtor UG 100, the Okeanos Compax, the Okeanos Aero-Compax and the Okeanos Moon Chronograph.

2007

Presentation at the Baselworld of three new steel men’s watches: the Microtor UG 101 (self winding proprietary movement), now produced in series; the Uni-Timer, with two counter chronograph Calibre UG 71.5; and the Timer Chronograph, with three-counter Calibre UG 71.6, the two latter being equipped with and openworked oscillating weight. For ladies, the Anthea steel watch is available in two new jewelry versions: one set with 46 brilliant-cut diamonds and the other with 132 brilliant cut diamonds.

2008

Universal Genève presents the Microtor Cabriolet, a new timepiece inspired by the Cabriolet, the first reversible watch launched by the brand in 1928. A daringly shaped model in a decidedly masculine spirit and a marvel of mechanical ingenuity, the Microtor Cabriolet is driven by the signature Microtor UG 101 movement and is distinguished by its impressively understand design. Meanwhile, another new release sees the Microtor UG 101 welcoming a new dial and an exclusive steel bracelet.

… TODAY

Universal Genève continues to offer chronographs and keep a quality after-sales service. Our watches are, in particular, available for order on City Chain Hong-Kong. Universal Genève watches are also available in Singapore, Thailand, China and Malaysia.

From the company website

https://universal.ch/en/about-us/history-and-chronology/

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
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Romain Gauthier was born in 1975 in the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, the cradle of fine Swiss watchmaking. It was here that Romain developed his passion for traditional Haute Horlogerie, his grasp of mechanics and engineering, and his eye for design. Having specialised in precision mechanics at technical college, Romain qualified as a constructor of precision machinery in 1997.

A year later, he started his first job as machine programmer-operator at a horological components manufacturer that he helped turn into one of the best-performing facilities in Europe.

Determined to build from scratch not just his own high-end watch, but also his own high-end watch brand, Romain completed an MBA in 2002. His final thesis was the business plan for his own watch company. After working behind closed doors on his own timepieces for three years, he launched the Romain Gauthier brand in 2005, unveiling its first timepiece, Prestige HM, at Baselworld 2007.

This was followed by Prestige HMS (2010), Logical One (2013), Logical One Secret (2014) and Insight Micro-Rotor (2017). These encompass classically refined pieces, contemporarily casual creations and ethereal objets d’art, all featuring supremely finished in-house movements. In 2013, the jury of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève – the Oscars of watchmaking – awarded Romain Gauthier’s Logical One the prize for Best Men’s Complication.

Romain Gauthier’s ability to create exquisite timepieces is in large part thanks to his manufacture, based in Le Sentier, Switzerland, that he has steadily built up.

The manufacture employs skilled craftsmen and time-honoured watchmaking tools alongside experienced technicians and cutting-edge production methods, allowing Romain Gauthier to design, produce, decorate, assemble and regulate in-house all movements for the brand’s timepieces.

KEY DATES

1998

At technical college, Romain finds his forte: making machine parts on lathes. He specialises in precision mechanics and, on graduating, starts his first job as a machine programmer-operator at a horological components factory.

1999

Romain reflects on his Vallée de Joux roots, grasp of engineering and ability to make components, and he asks himself why he has not yet tried designing his own watch. In his free time, he begins work on designs that become more and more elaborate.

2000

Romain sets his sights on building not just his own watch but also his own watch brand. He studies for an MBA in his spare time to get the know-how he will need. His final thesis is the business plan for his watch company.

Romain Gauthier et Philippe Dufour

2002

Romain visits watchmaker Philippe Dufour to see if, in the modern age, one person can still create a movement on their own. Inspired, Romain is even more determined to pursue his dream of creating his own watch and brand.

Mouvement Romain Gauthier

2002

Impressed by Romain’s design and ambition, his boss grants him after-hours access to the factory’s tools and machines so he can develop parts for his movement. Over three years, Romain spends evenings, weekends and holidays doing just that.

2005

Romain sets up his eponymous company in Le Sentier, Switzerland. Within the first year he employs his first watchmaker to hand-finish and assemble the movement he has been working on, Calibre HM 2206.

HM 2206

2007

Calibre HM 2206 powers Romain’s first watch, Prestige HM, which the brand presents at its debut Baselworld. The show is a success. Exuding all the traits of fine Swiss watchmaking, Prestige HM is the first piece to grace the Romain Gauthier Heritage collection.

2008

To complement the brand’s watchmaking atelier, Romain invests in a number of automatic lathes and sets up a team of production specialists to ensure that Romain Gauthier movements can continue to be developed entirely in-house.

Prestige HMS

2010

Launch of Prestige HMS, an evolution of Prestige HM with added seconds and a more contemporary aesthetic, including a partly openwork dial.

Prestige HMS Natural Titanium

2011

Launch of Prestige HMS Natural Titanium, the brand’s first watch in titanium, launching Romain Gauthier’s Freedom collection of timepieces featuring high-tech materials and a more casual style.

Logical One

2013

Featuring Romain’s revolutionary constant-force movement with ruby-link chain and push-button winding, Logical One is launched to much acclaim and puts Romain Gauthier on the horological map. Logical One wins the prize for Best Men’s Complication Watch at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

Logical One Secret Diamonds

2014

Logical One Secret Diamonds is launched and begins Romain Gauthier’s Exception collection of unique pieces lit up by virtuoso displays of decorative crafts.

Le Sentier, Suisse

2014

Romain Gauthier brings production and watchmaking operations together at a brand-new, purpose-built manufacture in Le Sentier.

Prestige HMS Black Titanium, Logical One Natural Titanium et Black Titanium

2016

The launches of Prestige HMS Black Titanium, Logical One Natural Titanium and Black Titanium, plus ‘Enraged’ limited editions of Logical One and Prestige HMS, ensure the growth of the Romain Gauthier Freedom collection.

Insight Micro-Rotor

2017

Boasting a finely-finished in-house calibre featuring a bidirectional micro-rotor and 80-hour power reserve, Insight Micro-Rotor – Romain Gauthier’s first automatic timepiece – is launched.

From the company website

https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/en/watches-and-culture/partner-brands/history/h/romain-gauthier/

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

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Founder Tom Kartsotis created the company to import fashion watches from China to retail in the US. Having founded the brand to import watches, along with his brother, he had soon begun importing leather goods too.

The company’s growth was rapid and in quick succession they acquired Zodiac watches, high-end Swiss brand Michele Watch and retail chain Watch Station. They’d later add Danish brand Skagen at a cost of $225M, a wearable technology company, for $260M.

It is a young brand founded in the mid-1980s. The Fossil Group owns a handful of other brands with Zodiac Watches probably being of most interest to watch fans.

 As a watch manufacturer, they produce watches for a selection of household names including, Burberry, DKNY, Emporio Armani, Michael Kors and Adidas. Although positioned as a fashion watch brand they do have design studios in Biel, Switzerland and manufacturing facilities in China.

Fossil stood out as being the only fashion brand  This, along with the ownership of the Swiss Zodiac Watches, has allowed them to produce Swiss-made ‘Fossil Swiss’ watches.

1984

Founded in 1984, Fossil represented the second entrepreneurial effort launched by Tom Kartsotis, a Texas A&M dropout living in Dallas.

TimeLine

1985

The Company introduces the first Fossil® brand watches.

1986

the Kartsotis brothers launched Fossil watches on the American market.

1987

Fossil, Inc., as the company was now called, was collecting $2 million in sales a year after having established a solid reputation among Texas retailers.

1988

Kosta Kartsotis joined the company in 1988, midway through the most prolific period of growth in Fossil’s short history.

1989

Fossil introduces its iconic “tin box” packaging with designs inspired by graphics from the American fifties. • The packaging is a hit with consumers and Fossil begins packaging all of its watches in tin boxes.

In 1989, the company generated $20 million in sales, having increased its revenue volume tenfold in two years, and made one important change in its marketing approach that spurred further growth in the years ahead.

1990

Fossil participates in their first Basel World watch and jewelry tradeshow in Basel, Switzerland.

they introduced leather goods under the Fossil brand, and the Relic line of watches.

1991

Macy’s opened a 300-square-foot Fossil Watch “Super Shop” in one of the most ideal locations for a small, but fast-growing company to attract attention.

1992

In order to master the acquisition of finished watches, Fossil took over a company in Hong Kong in 1992 and renamed it Fossil (East). It was responsible for supplying watches to the headquarters in America.

They also launched Skagen Denmark, a watchmaking brand.

1993

Fossil completed its initial public offering of stock, selling 20 percent of the company to investors, with Tom Kartsotis retaining 40.5 percent control over the company and his brother Kosta retaining 18.8 percent ownership.

Fossil, Inc. goes public on the NASDAQ exchange as FOSL. • Fossil launches a line of men’s small leather goods including key chains, personal organizers and wallets.

Fossil B.V. was formed in 1993 as a holding company for these three European subsidiaries, with Texas-based Fossil, Inc. controlling 70 percent of its newly formed European holding company.

They opened its capital in 1993 and adopted a strategy based on three main axes – supply control, banching out into fashion brands and distribution verticalization.

1994

The company achieved strides in each direction through three noteworthy developments.

1995

The extensive line of Fossil fashion watches were sold in department stores and in other upscale retail settings in more than 50 countries, giving the company a broad geographic foundation to support its business.

Single-brand Fossil stores were launched in 1995.

1996

Toward this end, the company acquired 81 percent of the Seiko-owned Fostim in April 1996, paying $700,000 in cash to gain greater control over the distribution of Fossil products in Japan.

1998

Fossil develops Big Tic® – a part analog, part digital watch that quickly becomes one of the company’s signature designs.

1999

Fossil, Inc. signs a worldwide licensing agreement to produce and distribute watches for DIESEL and DKNY. • Fossil launches a line of optical frames through an agreement with Safilo, one of the world’s leading eyewear manufacturers.

The company’s growth has relied on the development of online sales, the creation of a network of shops, and the acquisition of distributors.

2000

Fossil launches an extensive collection of clothing and denim sold exclusively in FOSSIL clothing stores and on fossil.com. • Fossil opens stores in UK, Germany and Singapore. • Fossil introduces jewelry in Germany.

2001

Fossil acquired Zodiac and invested in various companies that produced components and assembled watches.

2004

Fossil, Inc. acquires MICHELE watches. • Michael Kors announces a partnership with Fossil, Inc. for men and women’s timepieces. • Fossil, Inc. announces a partnership with Marc Jacobs for men and women’s timepieces. • Fossil, Inc. enters a worldwide watch licensing agreement with ADIDAS.

Purchase of Michele Watch completed the cycle by offering a high-end Swiss watch with a designer flair.

2006

Fossil publishes “Tinspiration,” a retrospective design book showcasing popular tin designs from years past. • Fossil opens its first retail store in Austria.

Fossil launched a Swiss Made collection for Georgio Armani that was exclusively sold in the shops of the Italian designer.

2007

In September, Fossil was accused of infringing a patent owned by Financial Innovations Systems, LLC, in a lawsuit filed in the Northern District of Texas.

The Watch Station International chain was purchased from Luxottica/Sunglass Hut in December 2007.

Fossil launches jewelry in the United States • Fossil launches first e-commerce site outside the United States in Germany.

2009

Fossil celebrates its 25th Anniversary with the re-issue of its most iconic watches.

2010

Fossil opens its first clothing stores outside the United States in Germany and U.K.

2012

Fossil, Inc. agreed to purchase Skagen Designs and some of its partners for approximately $225 million in cash and 150,000 Fossil shares.

2013

Fossil introduced their upscale and more expensive “Fossil Swiss” line of watches which are made in Switzerland.

2015

Fossil acquired Misfit for $260 million, with plans to incorporate Misfit’s technology into traditional-looking watches.

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Frederique: Frederique Schreiner 1881-1969

Constant: Constant Stas 1880-1967

The current Managing Director of Frederique Constant S.A., Peter Stas, is a 4th generation descendant of Mr. Constant Stas, who founded his company in 1904, making printed clock dials for the watch industry.

Frederique Constant was established in 1988. Aletta Bax and Peter Stas launched their first collection in 1992, comprising six models fitted with Swiss movements and assembled by a watchmaker in Geneva.

Frederique Constant is involved in all the stages of watch production, from initial design to final assembly. Watches manufactured under its trademark are either designed by Frederique Constant or by independent designers contracted for a specific series of models. Strong emphasis is placed on watch design to keep abreast of trends and customer preferences. Frédérique Constant uses cutting-edge computer software, principally computer aided design software, to assist in the watch design and development process.

Frederique Constant has exhibited at the World Watch, Clock and Jewelry Show in Basel since 1995. As the company flourished, Aletta Bax and Peter Stas decided to move to Geneva themselves, to develop the brand in the heart of the watchmaking capital.

The new Frederique Constant manufacture is 3200 square meters, divided over four floors, offering an attractive working environment in the sectors of movement component production, caliber assembly, watch assembly, and extensive quality control. Numerically-controlled machines of the latest generation are located in a large atelier in the basement, where all component manufacturing is concentrated. Caliber, watch assembly, and state-of-the-art quality control are primarily organized on the first floor of the new Frederique Constant building. The building is also the brand’s international headquarters.

https://us.frederiqueconstant.com/

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Eterna is a Swiss luxury watch company founded in Grenchen, Canton Solothurn, on 7 November 1856 by Josef Girard and Urs Schild.[1] The company is now owned by Hong Kong-based Citychamp Watch & Jewellery Group Limited, an investment holding company formerly known as China Haidian Holdings-

The name Eterna is synonymous with timepieces of the highest quality, with Swiss watchmaking Tradition, and with an outstanding Spirit of innovation. The passionate desire to master horological challenges as well as to constantly improve existing Features has been driving Eterna since 1856.

It is therefore no surprise that the Workshops in Grenchen have time and time again enriched and revolutionized the art of watchmaking.

Today, Eterna is still characterised by this ingenious creativity. The current collections reflect the brand’s respect for tradition, alongside Eterna’s commitment to pioneering new designs and movement technologies.

Milestones in Eterna’s history

Eterna has since 1856 manufactured high-quality mechanical timepieces born of traditional craftsmanship. Over its more than 150 years of existence, numerous major developments have emerged from the company’s workshops.

In 1937

A newly married Thor Heyerdahl decided to extend his honeymoon on the Marquesas Islands, ideally located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The geography and zoology he had studied at the University of Oslo gradually led the young Norwegian to formulate a daring hypothesis. He came to suspect that the prevailing winds and maritime currents could have made possible the human colonisation of Polynesia by people from South America rather than from the continent of Asia. Furthermore, the name of an Inca sun-god, Kon-Tiki, seemed to appear in Polynesian religious myths.

Ten years later, Thor Heyerdahl found himself in Callao, on Peru’s Pacific coast, overseeing the construction of a balsawood raft similar to those known to have existed before the Spanish conquest. The budding explorer named it Kon-Tiki in salute to the Inca sun-god.

After rounding up sufficient financial backing, he and five other Scandinavians with varying scientific interests sailed from Callao on April 28 1947, with minimal supplies and a radio set. The six men relied on Pacific winds and currents to propel them all the way to Polynesia.

Strapped to his wrist, each Kon-Tiki crew member carried an Eterna timepiece, the contribution of one of the few watch manufacturers of the day to have truly mastered watchcase watertightness.

After 101 adventurous days and nights, covering some 8,000 kilometres (4,320 nautical or 4,971 land miles), the voyage ended somewhat abruptly on the coral reefs of the Raroia atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago. The crew was fine, the raft a bit the worse for wear. The Eterna watches, for their part, were running as smoothly as ever, unaffected by water, moisture, salt corrosion and temperature variations. Back in Granges, Switzerland, Eterna’s technical teams drew the appropriate conclusions.

From a legendary figure and name, Kon-Tiki would now become an exceptional horological dynasty.

1948

Since 1948, Eterna’s added value to time

From 1948 on, Swiss-made self-winding movements benefited from a major technical advance devised and implemented by Eterna: ball-bearing assisted rotational movement. Swiss wristwatches fitted with this revolutionary innovation soon enjoyed worldwide success, solidly consolidating Eterna’s reputation internationally. Today’s revival of the “1948” in a dimensionally updated version and a choice of two dial styles preserves the technical inventiveness and overall excellence of the original. A contemporary classic in its own right, its shapely contours and typically incurved case lugs are back essentially unchanged

1948 – the year of a pivotal invention

Eterna’s epochal 1948 development proved a major step forward for self-winding technology, with a ball-bearing greatly easing the oscillating weight or winding rotor’s rotation around the pivot axis. Reducing wear and tear on vital parts, Eterna’s development extended the watch’s working time, hence its useful life – a smart way to increase its value.

Eterna knew it had a winner and made the most of it. Management lost no time turning the five spheres of the now-famous bearing into its now-celebrated corporate symbol.

The “1948”, acclaimed the world over

In a matter of months, the watch’s reputation, quickly followed by the watch itself, established itself all over the world. Runaway sales of the model delighted then surprised Eterna, the company finding itself with a worldwide best-seller. For years to come, the “1948” would find discerning   customers everywhere. Its popularity set new records.

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ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse develops and produces quartz, mechanical and Swatch watch movements. The company’s headquarters are in Grenchen (Solothurn). ETA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse is the motorist of time at the heart of the Swatch Group www.swatchgroup.com

Before becoming a single undertaking in 1985, the ETA SA brand consisted of a number of ébauche factories across the whole of the Swiss Jura arc grouped together under the name Ebauches SA. This plurality allowed Ebauches SA to offer a wide range of products, as each affiliated company specialized in a particular niche (simple watches for men, chronographs, small watches for women etc.).

The group’s first ébauche workshop and business was opened in Fontainemelon (Neuchâtel) in 1793 by four master watchmakers. This date marks the founding of what is now ETA SA Manufacture Horlogère Suisse, who would continue to act as a motorist of time over the next four centuries thanks to the expertise of its employees and their mastery of watchmaking techniques.

FIRST PROTOTYPES

1967

The Centre Electronique Horloger (Neuchâtel) presents the first prototypes of Swiss quartz watches. Ebauches SA is the largest CEH shareholder, holding 39.5% of the capital. The Beta 21 calibre (industrial version) is presented at the 1970 Basel Watch Fair.

Legend: Prototypes Bêta 1 et 2, Centre Electronique Horloger

CALIBRE 9181

THREE-HAND QUARTZ

1972

The 9181 calibre is the first three-hand quartz movement developed by Ebauches SA in collaboration with Ebauches Electroniques Marin.

Legend: Calibre 9181, Ebauches SA

CALIBRE 940.111

PARTICULARLY FLAT DIMENSIONS

1976

This three-hand quartz calibre is characterised by particularly flat dimensions. The total height of the movement is just 3.7 mm. 

Legend: Calibre 940.111, Ebauches SA & Ebauches-Fabrik ETA

CALIBRE 900.231

SECOND TIME ZONE AND DIGITAL CHRONOGRAPH

1978

This calibre is characterised by an analogue-digital display. The LCD model enables chronograph functions (minute and seconds) and second time zone functions to be displayed.

Legend: Calibre 900.231, Ebauches SA

CALIBRE 999.001

CASE SERVING AS THE MAIN PLATE

1979

The case of the Delirium serves as the main plate. The height allowed for components is just 1.98 mm in this first model. In 1980 this will be reduced to a thickness of 0.98 mm.

Legend: Calibre 999.001, Ebauches SA & Ebauches-Fabrik ETA

CALIBRE 500 SWATCH GENT

INTEGRATED INHIBITION CIRCUIT

1983

The industrialisation of production methods and the automation of assembly processes allow pieces to be manufactured in large volumes.

The operation of Swatch watches is controlled by an integrated inhibition circuit.

Legend: Calibre 500, Ebauches-Fabrik ETA

CALIBRE 958.331

CONTROL VIA ELECTRONIC SHAFT

1984

This multifunction calibre is equipped with a bi-directional motor and an analogue-digital display (LCD). An electronic shaft controls the alarm, timer and chronograph.

Legend: Calibre 958.331, Ebauches-Fabrik ETA

CALIBRE 255.511

TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION VIA SECOND QUARTZ

1985

First temperature compensation system made by ETA. Integration of a second quartz thermometer oscillating at a frequency of 262 kHz, achieving an accuracy level of +/- 10 seconds per year. The adjusted operation is stored in a non-volatile memory.

Legend: Calibre 255.511, ETA SA

CALIBRE 255.241

INCLUSION OF TWO MOTORS

1986

This calibre is characterised by the overlaying of two motors: one for the movement, the other for the chronograph function which can be read in analogue way.

Legend: Calibre 255.241, ETA SA

CALIBRE 255.485

MOON PHASE

1987

The 255.48x calibre is available in four different versions. All include the Moon phase function at the 6 o’clock mark, only the position of the day and month discs differs.

Legend: Calibre 255.485, ETA SA

CALIBRE 251.262

CLASSIC CHRONOGRAPH APPEARANCE

1988

The chronograph function can be read in analogue way thanks to the three counters at 2 o’clock, 6 o’clock and 10 o’clock. This layout gives the model a classic appearance.

Legend: Calibre 251.262, ETA SA

CALIBRE 252.411

PERPETUAL CALENDAR

1990

This calibre has a perpetual calendar window programmed until 2099.

Legend: Calibre 252.411, ETA SA

CALIBRE 255.513

NEW TEMPERATURE COMPENSATION

1994

ETA develops another temperature compensation system. Unlike the 1985 technology, the temperature is no longer measured using a second quartz but instead directly within the integrated inhibition circuit.

Legend: Calibre 255.513, ETA SA

CALIBRE 251.274

https://www.eta.ch/en/enterprise/history

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The History of Bovet Watch

Founded by Edouard Bovet (1797–1849)
who learn the watch making in his early life by his father who was a watchmaker
himself. He later in 1814 sent to UK to learn in the school of watch making
then to China in 1818 where he made several sale and like the Market there. In
1922 he started his watch company in London. The majority of his product
shipped to China to be sold there.

The company sold several times until
2001 when The Company was acquired by Pascal Raffy, its current president.

From http://www.bovet.com/maison/history/

1797

Edouard Bovet was born in Fleurier.
He is the son of a master watchmaker Jean-Frederic Bovet. –

1814

Edouard Bovet completeshis
watchmaking apprenticeship and leaves Fleurier with his brothers Alphonse and
Frédéric for London, at the time one of Europe’s leading watchmaking cities but
more importantly a major trading centre for clocks and watches

1818

Edouard Bovet leaves London on April
20th on board of the Orwell, a vessel operated by the East India Company. He
arrives on the 16th of August in Canton where he very quickly sells four
watches for the sum of 10.000 francs, the equivalent of one million dollar in
our day

1822

Edouard Bovet, living in Canton,
creates with his brothers who remained in London, and with his third brother
Gustave, a watchmaker in Fleurier, a general partnership with a view to trading
in watches with China. The first bill of the sale of the Bovet Company written
in London bears the date 1st May 1822. Faith with a rapide growth in business,
the company transfers its manufacturing.

1830

Construction begins on the BOVET
house in Fleurier commonly called “the Chinese Palace”, it will eventually
become the city hall named “Hôtel de Ville” in 1905 and today also houses the
Fleurier Quality Foundation, for which BOVET is one of the founding members.

1835

The Château de Môtiers, built in the
14th century and dominating le Val-de-Travers and Fleurier, is sold to
Henri-François Dubois-Bovet. His great grandchildren would make a gift of it in
1957 to the state of Neuchâtel.

2001

Mr Pascal Raffy becomes the owner
and sole shareholder of Bovet Fleurier

2006

Mr Pascal Raffy acquires DIMIER 1738
Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Artisanale and DIMIER 1738 Manufacture de
cadrans et sertissage.

2006

Mr Pascal Raffy purchases from the
state of Neuchâtel the Château de Môtiers, classed as a historic monument. Here
he installs the BOVET workshops.

2010

Special Jury Prize of the Dutch
magazine 00/24 Horloges for the “Fleurier Amadeo Tourbillon 5 jours Heures
Sautantes” featuring a miniature painting of a “Geisha”. This distinction for
exceptional timepieces has been awarded only twice in eleven years.

2010

Introduction of the AMADEO
convertible case system

2010

Revolution awards the 2010 Prize for
Best Achievement in Watch Design to the BOVET Tourbillon OTTANTA® by
Pininfarina.

2014

Introduction of the Virtuoso II
movement, first in-house non-tourbillon calibre à spécialités horlogères

 

Here is the Key dates from https://www.hautehorlogerie.org/en/brands/brand/h/bovet-1822/

 

1797

Edouard Bovet was born in Fleurier,
the son of Jean-Frédéric Bovet, himself a master-watchmaker in
Fleurier in Val de Travers, a valley that runs through the Swiss Jura
mountains.

1814

Edouard Bovet completed his
watchmaking apprenticeship and, with brothers Alphonse and Frédéric, left
Fleurier for London, then an important centre for the manufacture but
most of all the hub of the European watch trade.

1818

Edouard Bovet left London on April
20th onboard the Orwell, a ship of the East India Company. He came
ashore in Canton on August 16th. Shortly after his arrival, he sold
four watches for 10,000 Swiss francs, the equivalent of one million dollars
today.

1822

Edouard Bovet, now living in Canton,
brothers Alphonse and Frédéric, who had stayed behind in London, and a third
brother, Gustave, a watchmaker in Fleurier, set up a partnership to sell
watches to China. The first bill of sale for the Bovet company was drafted in
London, on May 1st. Business thrived, and the company transferred its
manufacturing activity to Fleurier.

 

1824

Bovet began production of watches in
matching pairs. These were highly prized gifts for the Chinese, who considered
twins to be a sign of good fortune.

1830

Maison Bovet, better known as the
“Chinese Palace,” was built in Fleurier. In 1905 it
became the Town Hall and the seat of the Qualité Fleurier Foundation, of which
Bovet is a founder-member.

 

1835

The fourteenth-century Château de
Môtiers, which stands above Val-de-Travers and Fleurier, was sold to
Henri-François Dubois-Bovet. His great-grandchildren gifted it to the State of
Neuchâtel in 1957.

1840

Frédéric Bovet left London for
Fleurier where he managed the company’s watchmaking workshops, which then
employed 175 people.

1849

Edouard Bovet died in Fleurier at
the age of 52, by which time “an aura had formed around the Fleurier watch in
China where, for many years, a Bovet was the very epitome of a watch. Bovet
watches were even used as currency for trade within the country.” (La
Montre Chinoise; A. Chapuis)

1855

At the first Exposition Universelle
in Paris, Bovet was awarded a GoldMedal in the Luxury category for
a pair of enamelled watches, a commission from the Emperor of China.

Bovet continued to sell to China
until 1900, when the company began to lose ground to rival
production from Besançon in France and from the United States, as well as
countless imitations.

1889

Fritz Bovet, eldest son of Alphonse
Bovet, filed a patent for a single-pusher chronograph with
seconds hand, minute counter and hour counter that could
measure a period of up to 24 hours. His ingeniousmechanism meant
the chronograph could double as a second time zone.

1930

Bovet filed two patents: one for the
portfolio watch, a system that transforms a wristwatch into a desk watch, and a
second for thechronograph with single flyback hand, still a highly
desirable collector’s item.

1950

Bovet watches were sold in Geneva,
London, New York and Bombay.

1989

The revival of Bovet in Fleurier.
Since then the company has produced watches in very small quantities: fewer
than 2,000 a year. Over a third of these are one-off pieces, made
to order.

Bovet wristwatches are distinctive
in that they are housed inside a pocket watch case, with a crown
and a hinged bow at 12 o’clock. This distinguishing
feature, along with the serpentine hands, is directly inspired by the watches
Bovet made in the 19th century for the Chinese market.

2006

Pascal Raffy, the brand’s owner and
sole shareholder since 2001, bought three companies manufacturing
tourbillons, movements andbalance springs, grouped under the name
STT Holding, which became Dimier 1738. Bovet now had an independent
supply of manufacture-made movements. Pascal Raffy bought, from the
State of Neuchâtel, Château de Môtiers, now a historic monument. It became the
new site of Bovet’s workshops.

2011

Revolution magazine gave its Best
Achievement in Design award to the Tourbillon Ottanta®.

2012

BOVET and DKSH, the leading Market
Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia have signed a collaboration
agreement for enhancing the position of BOVET timepieces in Asia. DKSH will
assume marketing, sales and after-sales services throughout Asia, while also
taking a strategic shareholding of 20% in BOVET and both its manufacturing
facilities (DIMIER).

 https://www.bovet.com/

 

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Innocente Binda’s intuition had
already alerted him to the potential of a creative approach to publicity, way
back in the Thirties. He had several watches with Incaflex movement thrown from
the top of the Eiffel Tower, in order to demonstrate the reliability and
resistance of the Wyler Vetta products. The movement worked perfectly after
being dropped three hundred metres and this became the first publicity stunt in
the history of the Company. This was how Binda associated its products with the
value of excellent design, the use of high quality materials, and also with the
actual idea of modernity that was evoked by the Parisian tower. This
sensitivity with regard to communication, which is fundamental for anyone
operating in the world of style, has characterised all the publicity choices
made by the Group. The strongly innovative capacity of the approach and the
message marked the relationship between brand, sector and the media. For
decades, watch producers had been investing only in the medium of print; Binda
chose television and undermined traditional models, thus surprising the market
and

encountering success amongst
consumers. The Binda brands’ methods of communication, with their strongly
emotional impact, forged ahead into new territories of expression, creating
phenomenal new trends. A publicity campaign that was at the centre of the
re-launch of the Breil brand in 1994 has entered into the history of
communication. A claim that was inspired by sensuality and dynamism,
«Toglietemi tutto ma non il mio Breil», had a decidedly strong impact on
Italians. It then became associated with actresses and top models such as
Monica Bellucci, Shana, Carré Otis and Jane Campbell, and helped make the brand
the leader of its market. When the claim went international with «Don’t Touch
my Breil» in 2002, it helped the brand’s fame to spread on an international
level. 2007 sees Charlize Theron as new ambassadress for the Breil Milano brand
worldwide, not only on account of her natural beauty but above all her modern
personality. She has been assigned the important role of following the brand in
its international expansion and in the development of the high-end segment of
Breil Milano. 2008 sees Charlize Theron again with Breil Milano. In these
coming campaign she will show not only Breil Milano watches and jewels but also
the new lifestyle extensions of the brand, like leather bags and eyewear
glasses. Breil Milano has also the male face of famous actor Edward Norton,
featuring Breil Milano watches and jewels. 2009 saw an actual return to the
natural origins of the Breil brand and, at the same time, the claim ”Take
everything, but not my Breil” which has made it so famous over the years. The
new campaign, targeting a public with a strong personality, strongly reiterates
the original values which made it an iconic brand.

Binda’s three main business units
are watches, jewelry and leather. It produces and distributes its own brands,
including Breil Milano, Breil Tribe, Wyler Genève and Details.

The company also licenses watch and
jewelry brands from Dolce & Gabbana (D&G Time and Jewels), Moschino
CheapAndChic, Ducati and Nike. In 1997

1906

Innocente Binda opens a watchmaker’s
shop in a small town on Lake Maggiore; this is just the beginning of an
enterprise that would, in future, make his company the most important of its
kind in Italy.

1932

The sale of watches by Wyler Vetta
begins; the brand which marks a pivotal milestone in the history of watches
thanks to Incaflex, a revolutionary system with a double-armed balance wheel that
makes it shockproof, finally allowing watches to be worn in a relaxed and
functional way.

1934

Italy are the World Champions for
the first time ever and Wyler Vetta is on the wrist of most of the champions in
the National squad: Meazza the captain, Pozzo the trainer and Combi the
goalkeeper all praise the watches for their reliability, infrangibility and
resistance to shocks.

1935

This is the year in which the first
automatically self-winding Wyler Vetta watch is made, one of the first
completely automatic models to be created with a patented movement.

1939

The beginning of a great success:
this is the year that saw the release of the first watch by Breil; already the
first watches were distinguished by their feeling for the aesthetic trends of
the moment and by the careful design research involved.

1939

The beginning of a great success:
this is the year that saw the release of the first watch by Breil; already the
first watches were distinguished by their feeling for the aesthetic trends of
the moment and by the careful design research

involved.

1956

In Paris a great public show of the
resilience of Wyler Vetta watches takes place; a number of watches are thrown
from the Eiffel Tower, a drop of 302 metres, and found to be still intact and
in perfect working order.

1978

The arrival of Radius.  A young
eclectic brand that, with its excellent quality and eye-catching appearance,
carves out a large share of the lower price range of the market.

1979

Beabourg is the watch of the year; a
watch that brings back the elegance and uninhibited style of the Thirties.
Beabourg launches the button strap fashion and establishes itself as a watch of
sober style and refined design.

1980

Pareo is born: the colourful dials
and energetic young design make it the summer phenomenon for this year.

1985

Hip Hop is the new watch with both
bracelet and case in coloured rubber. Designed to express young people’s
vitality and character.  Hip Hop establishes itself with vivacious
chromatisms, novel materials and a distinctive fragrance.

1993

This is the year that re-launched
Breil with the famous publicity campaign and the claim ”Take everything, but
not my Breil” which achieved an unprecedented success and indelibly fixed the
company brand in the mind of the consumer.

1997

Binda acquires the distribution
rights to Seiko and Lorus for the Italian market; two of the most well-known
brands in the world thanks to their synthesis of technology and aesthetics.

2000

This is the year that the D&G
fashion house make their entrance into the world of watchmaking with Binda.

2001

An important stage for Binda: the
first collection of “Breil Stones” jewels.

2002

2002 is a fundamental year for Binda
which, amongst other things, registers market leadership with the Breil brand.
The Binda Retail channel is launched: a vital framework that helps to make the
world of Breil even stronger and more visible through a successful and dynamic
image. In December the first monobrand shop was opened: the Breil Shop is based
in Milan on Corso Vercelli. In September the Wyler Vetta brand was
re-launched.  The programme is aimed at underlining the tradition and the
prestige which have made these watches famous all over the world. New
functional and versatile collections, characteristically elegant lines with
maximum attention paid to technical and design detail. With Wyler Vetta newly
positioned on the market Binda releases its Luxury Range Division. In the same
year the Breil claim was also changed becoming ”Don’t Touch my Breil”: a
strategic

evolution, a move made to support
brand internationalisation politics. The new claim had an instant impact and
was met by the firm approval of the consumers. An important milestone for
Binda: the first collection of jewellery under the name of Breil Stones is
released.

2005

2005 marked a year of international
success for Binda:  Binda Iberia opened in January with its head offices
in Barcelona; in February, the American subsidiary opened in Miami, and in
September it was the turn of the German headquarters in Monaco. In September
two new jewellery brands were also launched: the D&G Jewels and Trudi
Jewels collections made their debut on the market. In addition, the licence for
the production and distribution of D&G watches was also renewed.

2006

One century after it’s foundation,
the Binda Group is celebrating it’s Centenary by looking to the future, and to
the challenges and the goals for the next 100 years. From 1st January 2006
Binda will have a new company structure with the objective of enhancing its
principle company assets. This structure consists of a holding company, Binda
Spa and two specialised companies: Binda Italia Srl and Binda Retail Srl. The
opening of Binda Asia, the China branch, is also geared towards the same goal.

2007

Binda launched the first Breil
Milano eyewear line and obtained distribution rights for Italy of the Paris
Hilton Watches brand and of the Glam Rock watches brand for Italy, the US and
Canada. This is in addition to world

licensing agreements for the
Moschino CheapAndChic, Ducati and Ducati Corse watch and jewellery brands. The
Binda Group now distributes products in over 60 countries. At the end of 2007
Binda UK opened, joining those in the USA, Spain and Portugal, Germany and
China. The B-Hip! distribution project is launched. Stores that sell all the
Group’s brands.

2008

Binda launches a new jewellery brand
– Details – on the market. Breil Milano Leather launches N° Zero, the new
women’s bag for day and evening. A new concept is introduced for the Breil
shops and the first stores to be restyled are those in Florence and Barcelona.
New monobrand stores opened in Berlin, New York and Roma. Binda do Brazil opens
in São Paulo. The Binda Group acquires US Geneva Watch Group.

From BindaGroup website.

www.bindagroup.com/en/

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

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John Arnold is an English watchmakers who born in 1736 and died in 1799.  His reputation established as a fine watchmaker when he set
up a chronometer factory at Chigwell In 1756 and this give him the credit to be
the first watch maker to design a watch that was both practical and accurate.

Here is about him from Arnold and
son website

http://www.arnoldandson.com/home/history.aspx

A finger on the pulse of his time

John Arnold was born in Cornwall in
1736. His father was a watchmaker and his uncle a gunsmith, which probably
explains his early interest in precision engineering and metalwork. A talented
craftsman and scholar, he left England for the Netherlands at the age of 19
after completing his apprenticeship to hone his watchmaking skills. He returned
two years later speaking excellent German, which stood him in good stead later
at the court of George III, and had established himself as a watchmaker of
repute in London’s Strand by his mid-twenties.

After Arnold presented the smallest
repeating watch ever made to King George III and to the court, he rapidly
acquired a wealthy clientele. He was one of the most inventive watchmakers of
his day and held patents for a detent escapement, bimetallic balance and
helical balance spring . Arnold’s “No. 36” was the first timepiece to
be called a chronometer, a term reserved for unusually precise watches to this
day.

Arnold also played a central role in
the events of his day. Along with other watchmakers, he addressed the problem
of determining longitude, and won several grants and awards offered by the
British Parliament. He enjoyed such respect in his profession that he became a
close friend of Abraham-Louis Breguet. They exchanged ideas and even entrusted
their sons to each other for their apprenticeships.

This is a story worth telling.
Starting with this catalogue, we shall look at some of the achievements that
assured John Arnold and his son of their place in watchmaking history.
Following with

the stories, we shall read how his
timepieces accompanied famous explorers on their voyages of discovery, helped
the East India Company establish its empire and how Napoleon Bonaparte himself
presented an Arnold clock to the Observatory of Milan in 1802.

1736

John Arnold is born in Cornwall. At
the age of 19, after completing an apprenticeship as a watchmaker with his
father, he leaves for the Netherlands, where he learns German.

1762

John Arnold opens his first
workshop, in London’s Strand, and gains immediate recognition when he repairs a
repeating watch owned by William McGuire, a renowned watch connoisseur.

1764

John Arnold makes a ring containing
a half-quarter repeater, which he presents to King George III, and instantly
creates a wealthy clientele.

1770

John Arnold presents his first
marine chronometer to the Board of Longitude. Impressed by the watch’s quality,
the Board promptly awards him a grant of £ 200, the first of many he is to
receive.

1771

Admiral Harland uses the first
Arnold chronometer on his voyage to Madagascar.

1772

Arnold’s No. 3 chronometer is aboard
when Captain Cook sets out on his second voyage to the Pacific.

1773

Following the invention of a detent
escapement and other significant design improvements, John Arnold builds his
first pocket chronometer (No. 8).

1773

Captain Phipps chooses an Arnold
chronometer for his voyage towards the North Pole.

1775

John Arnold is awarded patents for
the helical spring and an improvement to the bimetallic balance.

1778

John Arnold creates a minor storm in
precision timekeeping with the Arnold No. 36. The timepiece reviewed at
Greenwich is applauded for its precision. Following this success, Arnold
advertises his achievement with a document in which he calls the timekeeper a
“chronometer”, a term used to this day to denote a supremely accurate
timepiece.

1780

An Arnold astronomical pendulum
clock is installed at the Observatory of Mannheim, Germany.

1780

The Board of Longitude presents
Arnold’s chronometer No. 2, declaring it superior to all those produced
previously.

1782

John Arnold is granted patents for
helical spring terminal curves, a spring detent and epicycloidal teeth.

1788

An Arnold chronometer is used by
George Robertson to chart the China Sea.

1792

His son, John Roger Arnold, studies
in Paris for two years under his father’s friend, Abraham-Louis Breguet.

1792

Arnold’s No. 4 chronometer is the
instrument of choice for Captain George Vancouver’s voyage to America’s west
coast.

1794

Arnold’s No. 64 chronometer
accompanies Captain Thomas Butler on his voyage to China.

1796

John Roger Arnold joins his father’s
firm. Arnold & Son quickly becomes the leading supplier of timepieces to
the Royal Navy.

1799

John Arnold dies.

1802

Napoléon Bonaparte offers an Arnold
astronomical clock to Milan Observatory.

1806

Baron Von Krusenstern takes two
Arnold chronometers (Nos. 128 and 1856) with him for his circumnavigation of
the world.

1808

In reverent memory of John Arnold,
Abraham-Louis Breguet presents his son, John Roger, with his first tourbillon
escapement, mounted in one of Arnold’s first pocket chronometers. Today, this
exceptional watch is a highlight of the British Museum’s collection in London,
and bears a personal inscription.

1818

Two Arnold chronometers (Nos. 25 and
369) accompany Captain John Ross on his voyage to Baffin Bay.

1820

John Roger Arnold is awarded a
patent for his keyless winding system.

1820

Arnold’s No. 2109 chronometer goes
with Captain Edward Perry on his voyage toward the North Pole.

1821

John Roger Arnold receives a patent
for the “U”-type balance.

1830

John Roger Arnold and Edward John
Dent (another London clockmaker) finalize a 10-year partnership contract.

1843

John Roger Arnold dies and ‘Arnold
& Son’ is repurchased by Charles Frodsham.

1845

Sir John Franklin sets out with a
crew of 130 to chart the infamous Northwest Passage in the Canadian Arctic. On
board is an Arnold chronometer (No. 294). The expedition is a disaster and no
one survives. Rediscovered over 150 years later, the chronometer is found to be
so extensively modified that it is virtually unrecognizable. How it found its
way back to the UK remains one of the greatest mysteries of watchmaking.

1857

Arnold & Dent’s No. 4575
chronometer accompanies Dr David Livingstone on his expedition to South Africa.

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

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Us

The Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury groups in the world today with around 5000 employees and 13 factories. It designs, manufactures, distributes and retails fashion and lifestyle products including apparel, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewelry, home interiors, fragrances and cosmetics under a range of brand names: Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Mani, Emporio Armani, AJ | Armani Jeans, A/X Armani Exchange, Armani Junior and Armani Casa. The Group’s exclusive retail network currently comprises: 57 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 12 Armani Collezioni stores, 121 Emporio Armani stores, 68 A/X Armani Exchange stores, 13 AJ | Armani Jeans stores, 6 Armani Junior stores, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessory store and 15 Armani Casa stores in 36 countries.

Giorgio Armani. was founded in Milan on July 24th, 1975 by Sergio Galeotti and Giorgio Armani – the company’s current President, Chief Executive Officer and sole shareholder – and later that year, the first Giorgio Armani Borgonuovo 21 ready to wear collection (S/S 1976) was presented.

After an extremely successful first year of operations, Giorgio Armani began to broaden its portfolio of clients and expanded its European presence. 1978 marked an important turning point in the company history when it

established a licensing agreement with GFT (Gruppo Finanziario Tessile), giving Giorgio Armani the opportunity to invest in a new headquarters that included showrooms and press offices.

In 1979 the business started its overseas expansion by establishing the Giorgio Armani Corporation in the United States. By the end of the 70’s Giorgio Armani had emerged as one of the leading international fashion house and had launched several new lines: Le Collezioni, Mani, Armani Junior, Giorgio Armani accessories, underwear and swimwear.

In the early 80’s Giorgio Armani established an important license agreement with L’Oreal (formerly H.Rubinstein) for fragrances and also launched the Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans lines. In the same period he opened the first Emporio Armani store (Milan) followed the next year with the opening of the first Giorgio Armani boutique (Milan). The company also began to strengthen its commercial and marketing divisions, while building the values of its brands and the philosophy of management, which continue to be an important focus today.

In the second half of the 80’s, Giorgio Armani continued the overseas expansion by opening Giorgio Armani Japan through a joint venture with Japanese Itochu Corporation and the Seibu Department Store in 1987, followed by a licensing agreement for eyewear with Luxottica Group Spa in 1988.

As part of its strategy to maintain control over product quality and distribution, Giorgio Armani initiated a series of share investments, which today include Intai Spa (100%), Antinea Srl (100%) and the manufacturing company Simint Spa (100%), which complete acquisition was finalized in 2001.

In 1999, a new Accessories Division was created, and the first e-commerce presence initiated with armaniexchange.com in the United States.

In 2000, Giorgio Armani’s 25th anniversary year, the company acquired the production facilities of Armani Collezioni men’s line and of sales and distribution of the Armani Collezioni and Mani labels in the United States. The company also launched its global web site, established a joint venture with Zegna Group (51% Armani, 49% Zegna) for the production and distribution of the Armani Collezioni men’s line, launched Giorgio Armani Cosmetics, Armani Casa and opened the worldwide flagship store Armani/Via Manzoni 31.

In 2001, to further enhance the Armani Group’s continuing strategy to take greater control over all aspects of manufacturing, distribution and retail throughout its various product lines and businesses and to further focus on the ‘Made in Italy’ value of its brands, a joint venture company with Vestimenta SpA, which has been one of the Armani licensees since 1979, was formed for the production and distribution of the men’s and women’s Giorgio Armani top line. The company also opened the first Giorgio Armani Accessori store (Milano) and a headquarter’s office including the new Armani/Teatro realized in collaboration with architect TADAO ANDO.

In 2002, the Group’s retail investment programme continued at a fast pace with 30 new store openings in strategically important cities worldwide, including the new multi-brand 3,000 square meter Armani / Chater House flagship store in Hong Kong signalling the launch of an important retail expansion programme for China, and 16 store renovations. On the manufacturing front, two important acquisitions were completed: Deanna for the production of high quality knitwear and I Guardi, which controlled four specialist shoe makers, to support the further growth of the Group’s shoe business. Product line expansion continued with the highly successful launches of two new prestige fragrances, Armani Mania for men and Sensi for women; the launch of Emporio Armani Jewellery; the expansion of the Armani Jeans line in Japan and the United States; and, the further growth of the Armani Casa brand around the world through the opening of seven new stand alone stores in Milan, Istanbul, Zurich, Hong Kong, Moscow, Marbella and Riyadh; the decision to award Safilo a new license for the manufacture and distribution of Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani Eyewear.

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

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