Viceroy is a Spanish fashion brand that was founded in Switzerland in 1951, and currently specializes in watches and jewellery. The brand was acquired by Grupo Munreco, which also owns other watch brands such as Mark Maddox and Sandoz. Fernando Alonso As a brand that is proudly Spanish, Viceroy has an impressive portfolio including Madrid …
Armin Strom AG was founded in 2006 by master watchmaker Armin Strom and his son and former Omega director Daniel Strom. While factual on paper, the elder Strom’s story actually began much earlier in 1967 when he first opened a workshop in Burgdorf, Switzerland. Strom specialized in skeleton watches, which he first began exhibiting in …
Chronotech is an Italian watch company based in Milan, Italy. It is currently a subsidiary of the Binda Group, an Italian watch, jewellery, and leather accessories corporate group founded in 1906 by Innocente Binda. Other companies owned by the Binda Group include Breil, Hip Hop Watches, Feelo, and Wyler Vetta. Renault F1: Fernando Alonso and …
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 …
TW Steel was founded in 2005 by Ton and Jordy Cobelens in the Netherlands. Despite being a relatively young watch brand, the father and son team have built an impressive motorsport collaboration portfolio that belies their relatively short history. This was no beginner’s luck though, as Ton’s involvement in the watch industry stretches back to …
Oris SA was founded by Paul Cattin and Georges Christia in 1904 in the Swiss town of Hölstein, where the company is still based. The company name was named after a nearby brook, and started life as a manufacturer of pocket watches. In response to the growing wristwatch market, Oris began producing leather straps …
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 …
Audemars Piguet Holding SA was founded in 1875 by Jules Louis Audemars and Edward Auguste Piguet in the Vallée de Joux. The name Audemars Piguet & Cie was acquired in 1881, and today the company is based in Le Brassus, Switzerland and still owned by the family. Before being known as the company that makes …
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 …
Bell & Ross was founded in 1992 as a university project by Bruno Belamich and Carlos A. Rosillo. Early Bell & Ross watches were produced by Sinn, with the partnership ending in 2002 after Chanel became a minority shareholder. The company is currently based in Paris, and manufacturing done in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Bell & …