Catamaran was launched in 1983 by historic Swiss watch brand Consul, which was founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1900. The Catamaran brand featured a nautical theme, and focused sponsorship activities on sailing in the 1980s. The brand began expanding into the world of motorsport in 1994, sponsoring several racing series including Formula 1. The Catamaran …
Rodania was founded in 1930 by Hans Baumgartner in Berne, Switzerland. Company highlights include creating the official watch for the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1937, designing a chronograph for the Royal Canadian Navy and Air Force in the late 1950s, and developing the shock-absorbing Hydrolastic technology in 1967. As of 2022, the brand is …
The Telda brand has its roots in Armand Nicolet, a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer based in Tramelan, Switzerland. The company’s history stems back to 1875 when Armand Nicolet set up his first watchmaking shop. Nicolet had registered additional brands, with the Telda name mainly associated with chronographs. After the founder’s death in 1939, his sons …
Braun GmbH was founded in 1921 by mechanical engineer Max Braun and in Frankfurt. Braun’s early focus was on radio components, which gradually evolved into completely radio sets. Braun eventually expanded into a variety of consumer household appliances, cameras, student learning kits, and watches. The company was owned by Gillette from 1984 until 2007, and …
The history of Girard-Perregaux SA extends back to the late 18th century when watchmaker Jean-François Bautte signed his first watches in 1791. Bautte is credited with creating a manufacturing company in Geneva that consolidated all facets of watchmaking under one roof for the first time in history. The Birth of the Girard-Perregaux Name Girard-Perregaux was …
Zeon is a British subsidiary of the Hong Kong-based Herald Group. Established in 1979 as an importer of LED watches, Zeon initially specialized in bringing the first kids’ character watches to the UK. Featured characters from this era included Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T., James Bond, Rambo, and Mr. T. Zeon watches were a staple …
Certina was founded in 1888 by Adolf and Alfred Kurth in Grenchen, Switzerland. Originally a movement and supplies factory, Certina did not start producing complete watches until several years later. Their first brand name was Grana, named after the Latin name of Grenchen. The name Certina first came into use in the 1930s, and was …
Universal Genève SA was founded in 1894 as Universal Watch by horology students Ulysse Perret and Numa-Emile Descombes. Originally based in Le Locle, Universal was relocated to Geneva in 1919 by Perret, where their headquarters resides to this day. World’s First Chronograph and Recent History Universal Genève is credited with creating the world’s first chronograph …
Breitling SA was founded in 1884 in Saint-Imier, Switzerland, by watchmaker and businessman Léon Breitling. The business was later run by Bretling’s son Gaston, and grandson Willy, before the Breitling name was purchased by Ernst Schneider of the Sicura Company in 1979 during the midst of the quartz crisis. Breitling is currently based in Grenchen, …
Omega SA is currently based in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, and was founded in 1848 by Louis Brandt in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The company originally operated as La Generale Watch Co. until the name Omega was incorporated in 1903, becoming Louis Brandt et Frère-Omega Watch & Co. The company name was officially changed to Omega SA in 1984, …