History of the brands

The True Story of Irénée Aubry and 8-Day Watches

Irénée Aubry

The watch with an 8-day power reserve enjoyed considerable success in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Although it was marketed by many manufacturers, it was Irénée Aubry who invented the famous version with a visible balance wheel.

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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 Recta watches

Recta

A curious destiny for this Biel-based manufacturer, founded in 1897 and best known today for its superb compasses, which are used the world over.

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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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History of the brands

The true story of Pronto watches

Pronto

Unusually, for over a century, Pronto watches were run by the same family, from the company's creation in 1890, to its demise in 2000.

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History of the brands

The true story of The Rode Watch Co, Fabrique Avia

Rode Watch

This American-Swiss manufacturer from the very early 20th century produced high quality watches, and created the Avia brand, taken over much later by Degoumois & Cie.

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History of the brands

The true story of Mido

Mido

Mido is a typical example of a discreet Swiss brand, little known to the general public, but particularly appreciated by collectors. What collector doesn't dream of owning a Multicenterchrono chronograph, a Multifort from the 1950s, or even a more recent Ocean Star?

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