History of the brands

The True Story of Sandoz of Switzerland Watches

Sandoz

The surname Sandoz is very common in Switzerland, and many people with that surname have been watchmakers. The Sandoz watches featured in this article are associated with Henri Sandoz-Robert, who began his business in Les Ponts-de-Martel in 1898.

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History of the brands

The true story of Société Horlogère Reconvilier

Reconvilier

Reconvilier watches suffered a double whammy: little appreciated during their existence because they were fitted with Roskopf calibers, and wiped out when American and then Asian quartz watches reached such low prices that the entire Swiss Roskopf watch industry disappeared.

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History of the brands

The true story of Repco watches

Repco

Founded by Pierre Nicolet, this Tramelan factory has remained faithful to mechanical watches and has not withstood the "quartz crisis".

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History of the brands

The true story of Degoumois et Cie, makers of Avia watches

Avia

This La Chaux-de-Fonds-based manufacturer marketed its watches under the Protector name before taking over the Avia brand following the bankruptcy of The Rode Watch. Its director is best known for having created the Société des Garde-Temps (SGT) in 1968.

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History of the brands

The true story of Rila watches

Rila

Rila is one of the many factories created by the Choffat family in Tramelan. Active until the "quartz crisis", it subsequently merged with the Dulux factory.

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