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Cabestan

Cabestan has its own manufacture situated in the Vallée de Joux.
With a team of six highly qualified watchmakers, it is one of the rare independent watchmakers of its size to have its own truly complete production facility.
Cabestan Winch Tourbillon Vertical has been a sensation in terms of design and technical ingenuity.
With its chain and fusée, a tourbillon placed vertically, drums for reading the time and a miniature winch to rewind the movement and set the time, it breaks with the design constraints of traditional watchmaking.
In 2010, the manufacture developed the Cabestan Nostromo, the second interpretation of the spectacular Cabestan movement.
Sporty and masculine, with ingenious drums and bridges, and a never before seen nocturnal life, Cabestan Nostromo is amazing.

Cabestan continues to seduce and to inspire watch collectors around the world.

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Candino

The history of CANDINO begins with two Swiss Uhrmacherfamilien & Flury And Hug from the Solothurner "Thal", end. Jhd.
1867 Mention of a uhrenfabrik A. Flury in Herbetswil
1947 Family business of Adolf Flury Hug, Herbetswil
1953 Entry as Ad. Flury uhrenfabrik CANDINO, Herbetswil
1958 Eestablishment of the CANDINO WATCH CO Ltd. transformation into a Corp 1989 New building of a factory in Herbetswil.
Development of a gentleman clock with the smallest mechanical altimeter of the world.
1994 Developed Their own course reserve system "on basis ETA 2892
1997 Automats with decentralized second hand and pointer of date

2002 Lack family follow-up and a friendly assumption by the Festina group

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Cartier
La fondazione della maison Cartier risale al 1847, anno in cui Louis-François Cartier  riprende l’insegnamento del suo maestro, Adolphe Picard, al numero 29 di via Montorgueil a Parigi.
L’indirizzo cambia nel 1899 quando la manifattura si trasferisce al numero 13 di Rue de la Paix, l’attuale sede della prestigiosa maison.
A prendere le redini della compagnia sono i tre fratelli Cartier: Louis, Pierre and Jacques, che aprendo filiali a Londra (1902) e New York (1909) gettano le basi della Fondazione.
In particolare è grazie ai loro numerosi viaggi nel mondo (India, Russia, Stati Uniti, Golfo Persico) se le creazioni Cartier custodiscono un fascino esotico e misterioso, oltre ad esplodere di creatività e originalità..
“Gioielliere dei re e re dei gioiellieri”, così il Principe di Galles nel 1904, poco prima di diventare Eduardo III, proclamò pubblicamente la maison “Reale di fornitore della corte d’Inghilterra”.
Ancora oggi le collezioni Cartier godono dello stesso prestigio, unendo al “savoir-faire” delle origini la ricerca dell’innovazione mai abbandonata.
Oltre ai gioielli, le competenze e l’estro della celebre maison hanno investito anche la produzione degli orologi: è nel 1888 che i cataloghi Cartier menzionano i primi orologi da donna, mentre il 1904 è l’anno di nascita del Santos, creato appositamente per l’aviatore brasiliano Santos-Dumont, amico di Louis Cartier. 
Da allora si registra un susseguirsi di date e rispettivi modelli prodotti che hanno segnato la storia della maison.
A partire dal 1906 con l’orologio Tonneau, proseguendo con le “Pendole misteriose” e l’orologio Tortue del 1912, il Tank del 1919, il Baignoire del 1957, il Tank Must nel 1977, il Santos acciaio e oro l’anno successivo, fino ad arrivare ai modelli più recenti, il Panthère nel 1983, il Pasha nel 1985 e il Pasha C dieci anni dopo, il Tank Américaine nel 1989, il Tank Française nel 1996, e a quelli di ultima generazione, Roadster nel 2001, Santos 100 nel 2004, per celebrare il centenario del celebre modello della maison e il Pasha 42mm nel 2005.
L’ultima creazione venuta alla luce è la nuova versione del Ballon Bleu de Cartier: un tocco mascolino e luxury per un orologio che ha fatto la storia.
A testimoniare l’interesse che da sempre la maison nutre nei confronti dell’arte, oltre alla pubblicazione della rivista Cartier Art Magazine, ha istituito una Fondazione per l’arte contemporanea che dal 1984 sostiene i giovani artisti promuovendo l’arte contemporanea.

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Carven

Carven is a well-established name in the world of fashion, more than 55 years of experience in Haute Couture, Ready-to-wear, Fashion Accessories, Timepieces and Fragrances.
In 1945, the founding designer, Mademoiselle Carven opens her first fashion house at Champs Elysees, one of Paris's most prestigious locations.
Following this, Madame Carven has been designing haute couture fashion wear, jewellery and accessories made to the highest quality to suit her growing international clientele.
Following her great success in the fashion arena, Madame Carven has diversified her company's operations to include a wide range of luxury products for men and women.
These include leather goods, casual wear, sportswear, fragrances, jewellery, as well as watches, all made with the same refined sense of taste and high quality.
Today, Carven boutiques are representatives of "haute couture" and other luxury product lines in many countries around the world and at the same time, maintaining an image, which evokes the very best of French fashion.
Carven timepiece, one of the successful product lines from the house of Carven, aims to show that simplicity and classicism can be designed to be strikingly powerful.
With the ingenious blending of 18 karat gold plating, bi-color or all stainless steel, Carven timepiece has an excellent combination of French design and Swiss technology, ensuring precision in a self-assuring harmony and style.
Carven timepiece, designed exclusively for both men and women, manifests excellence of French design and advancement of Swiss technology. Montres Carven S.A., the main office for Carven timepiece, is situated in Geneva, Switzerland; the heart of Swiss watch making technology.
Carven timepieces of today continue in this proud tradition of fine Swiss watchmaking, producing quality watches, which are classic, yet contemporary to today's world of state-of-the-art technology and timeless creation.
With the ingenious blending of 18 karat gold plating, bicolor or all stainless steel, Carven has been successful in providing a range of competitively quality watches to meet the demands of our international clientele.
"Our mission is to create watches that exude character," says our President, Mr Jean Zollinger.
It is this philosophy that drives Carven to become one of the most respected names in the watchmaking industry.


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Catorex
The story of CATOREX Watchmakers started in the 19th century with Georges Ignace Cattin, born in 1785, a watchmaker and peasant at the same time.
His only son, Constant Cattin, born in 1819, a watchmaker and peasant as well, founded the company Cattin in 1858.
He had nine children.
His youngest son, Numa Cattin, born in 1861, continued to produce the high quality watches, while still established in Les Breuleux, in the heart of the Swiss Jura.
The fourth generation was represented by both of Numa's sons, Armand Cattin, born in 1885, and Maurice Cattin, born in 1887.
They were no longer peasants but only watchmakers.
CATOREX became a registered brand during the fifth generation, a hundred years after its actual founding and at the time was managed by Guy Cattin, born in 1932, and his wife Wilhelmine.
Today, the company is led by Guy A. Cattin who maintains the proud tradition of mechanical watchmaking while unceasingly creating new types of watches adapted to the personality, taste and need of a very large amateur and expert clientele.
It is the reason why CATOREX watches benefit of an international fame, for its products manufactured with the "savoir-faire" of professional watchmakers.

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Cauny

CAUNY fu fondata nel 1927 nella città svizzera di La-Chaux-de-Fonds, sede dei più prestigiosi marchi di orologi del mondo.
Il marchio è diventato commercialmente CAUNY in Spagna negli anni '20.
Da allora ha avuto una brillante carriera.

In Spagna, il marchio CAUNY è presente con grande successo da oltre 80 anni.

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Certina
In Grenchen, brothers Adolf and Alfred Kurth open their first movement and supplies factory for the watchmaking industry, with three employees in a workshop annexed to the family home.
The creation of complete timepieces begins a few years later, in parallel to the production of discrete high-quality watch movements.
1906: FIRST WRIST WATCHES For the first time, a brand name is used.
Adolf and Alfred choose to call their watches "Grana", short form of "Granacus", the Latin name for Grenchen.
The first wrist-watches appear on the market, for the larger part ladies' models as men still categorically reject the idea of wearing time on one's wrist.
For their exceptional performance, the two founders receive the Milan Fair's prestigious gold medal.
Later, in 1910 in Brussels and four years later in Bern, the Grana brand name takes two further awards.
1936: Creative pioneers in their field, the Kurth Brothers create a mechanical first : the digital watch.
Driven by a standard spring movement, rotating disks bearing inscribed numbers are used to display time.
1938: Grana and its 250 employees celebrate the company's 50th anniversary.
A search by the directors for a new brand name finds "Certina", taken from the Latin "certus", meaning "assured, certain".
This neologism, easily pronounced in most languages, enhances the company's image and helps to open new market frontiers beyond its native Switzerland.
1948: The Kurth Brothers' manufacturing facility in Grenchen celebrates its 60th anniversary.
It now has a staff of 350 workers and its production and exports toward world markets ride a strong upward curve.
Certina's first subsidiary is opened in Germany.
1949: An even larger number of Certina watches are produced by the Kurth Brothers factory.
The Grana name fades slowly, a trace of times past, which only complicates the marketing and production of two brand names at once.
In time it will disappear completely, with all efforts concentrated on Certina.
1959: In an increasingly competitive marketplace, Hans and Erwin Kurth and their engineering and technical teams set their objectives on creating a unique market niche based on a concept defined by quality.
From that effort springs the idea of a specially suspended movement inside a highly reinforced case, appropriately named DS or "Double Security".
Self-winding (automatic) watches of that era withstood shocks of only 1.8-2.2 meters.
The innovative Certina DS raises that figure to 6 meters and the level of water resistance to 20 atmospheres (ATM), placing the company at the forefront of its trade.
1960: The Certina DS claims new heights on the Himalaya.
A successful first climb of the Dhaulagiri (8,222 m) is made by a Swiss team exclusively equipped with Certina DS watches, which withstand all changes in pressure and altitude.
1961: Thanks to its having produced the most resistant watch in the world, Certina is now also amongst the world's greatest names in watchmaking.
Introduced to the public and other professionals at the MUBA, the Blue Ribbon watch and its extraordinarily flat automatic movement are big hits.
Named after the coveted title for the record-setting transatlantic steamship crossings of the Queen Mary, the Normandie and the United States, the Blue Ribbon rides a wave of success.
1970: The US Navy and NASA lead a series of geological and biological studies in the Caribbean Sea.
In the Tektite I experiment, motions and sounds are monitored by cameras and microphones.
Participating divers are equipped with Certina DS Super ph 1000m watches, which at the conclusion of the project are rated as excellent.
A Japanese expedition to Mount Everest is equipped with Certina watches.
During this expedition, the great Japanese skier Miura and his Certina DS-Chronolympic complete one of the most daring downhills in the history of skiing, from 8000 m. to 7000 m.
Certina's rugged equipment resists perfectly to all changes in temperature and records the key moments of the expedition.
Certina garners two prestigious awards for its diamond-adorned jewellery watches.
The "International Diamonds Award", the top USA distinction for creators of jewellery timepieces and watches, for one with 167 diamonds of 9.5 carats, and the "Golden Rose of Baden-Baden" for another with 138 diamonds, approx. 16.10 carats.
Certina participates in the Canaris Project crossing of the Atlantic.
An enormous two-by-three-meter polyester egg weighing 350 kg is equipped with a camera to film the voyage, as well as two Certina DS calendar watches to record time.
The egg is considered to be the first artistic creation ever to have made the unmanned trip across the Atlantic.
The two Certina watches kept perfect time throughout their journey.
1971: The Certina Biostar is the world's first watch to display human daily biorhythms. At a glance, one can follow one's physical, mental and emotional rhythms.
Certina expands its line of chronographs and launches the regatta chronograph Chronolympic.
Its tremendous precision allows the timing of different and highly demanding sporting events.
The company sponsors the Swedish National Hockey Team and every player is given a Certina DS watch.
Before 7,000 spectators, the Swedish hockey star Rolle Stoltz propels a puck and its specially-mounted internal Certina DS watch at a speed of 120 km/hour into a goal.
1977: Car manufacturing giant Volvo celebrates its 50th Anniversary and orders for each of its 64,113 workers an engraved Certina watch to commemorate the occasion.
The Certina Dia-Master Quartz with its precise measurement of solar and stellar positions proves to be indispensable equipment on an international Trans-Saharan geographic expedition.
1983: Certina joins the SMH Group formed by the merger between ASUAG and SSIH.
1995: Certina becomes the "sport" brand within the SMH Group. Its new "Cascadeur" line spearheads the collection.
Its character is the boldest to date, with a bracelet shaped like a motorcycle chain, a hyper-resistant case and a sapphire glass protected by two metal bars.
The brand begins a strong association with motor sports, most specifically with motorcycle racing.
Certina becomes official timekeeper of the International Motorcycling Championship and sponsor of world-champion Mike Doohan.
2000: Certina broadens its market by demonstrating that a watch can be at once sporty and elegant.
SP for sport, EL for elegance, the SPEL timepiece is born, a subtle name game of meanings between attraction and fascination.
2004: Once again, Certina reasserts its steadfast experience in sporty designs with the release of its DS 3 1000m.
This innovative self-winding diver is a friendly wink back to the Seventies, sure to please all active gentlemen of this new Millennium with its contemporary touch.
The DS 3 1000m meets the most stringent requirements for underwater exploration and aquatic sports, with a tested waterfastness to 1000 meters.

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Charles Oudin

Parisian Charles Oudin is a rare character in the world of timepieces.

With a long history, the brand today is the true definition of a boutique watch maker.

Unassuming, their client list and qualities are nonetheless very impressive.

Today they specialise in tasteful jewellery watches made entirely in Paris.

You could say that Charles Oudin is more “joaillerie” than “horlogerie”.

We had an opportunity to meet with the brand at their Place Vendôme office.

Unavailable to the public, the showroom is a private meeting space for the brand’s international client base.

Perched in cabinets are the historic clocks and other creations made by Charles Oudin himself.

The namesake of the brand was a talented watch maker from the early 19th century who began his career in 1797.

Oudin was a student of Abraham-Louis Breguet, who was arguably the most talented and famous historic watch maker of his (and our) time.

Anyone who spent time as an apprentice to Breguet quickly gained a reputation themselves.

Today’s Charles Oudin brand is about celebrating traditional and delicate forms.

Their wrist watches are mostly simple from a mechanical standpoint, but they shine (literally) in their ability to create lustrous jewellery creations.

Their signature watch is the Curvex. It comes in four styles and in its standard form is 23mm wide by 46mm tall, making for a timeless and ageless feminine look.

The rectangular case is slightly curved to fit over a lady’s wrist, and was specially designed to be fully gem-set.

The watches are all in precious materials such as 18k gold.

Charles Oudin specialise in using diamonds and other precious stones in a series of shapes and sizes to create delicate designs on the cases and dials.

An excellent example is this Spectre de la Rose Curvex watch (named after a Russian ballet based on a French poem – how fitting) with the case, dial, and bracelet fully covered with 21 carats of stones.

It uses diamonds with both pink and blue sapphires to create a range of floral displays.

The weighty case is in 18k white gold, with curiously soft edges and a bracelet-like feeling in the hands.

Charles Oudin can outfit its timepieces with either Swiss quartz or mechanical movements.

The majority of the brand’s business is the creation of bespoke timepieces for elite men and women.

It is a brand that prefers to keep a slightly underground persona reserved for special clientele.


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Chaumet

The history of Chaumet dates back to 1780 and is closely interwoven with the history of France.

Over five centuries, Paris has been celebrated for the magnificence of its jewelers.

It was in this tradition that the founder of Chaumet, Marie-Etienne Nitot, distinguished himself in the late 18th century.

Through more than 200 years Chaumet has created masterpieces for the aristocracy and the elite.

The company was acquired in the 1990s by the luxury giant Louis Vuitton, Moet, Hennessy and the watch collection was launched.

Despite significant investment in launching and marketing the line market share was minimum.

The watches seen today are typically close-outs at excellent price to value ratio.

Since their dive into luxury timepieces in 1995, Chaumet has deftly combined the world's finest gems with its already world famous creativity to create incredibly unique luxury timepieces
The Chaumet rectangular 'Khesis' watch collection was its first, and is available in steel as well as in 18K gold. With or without diamonds, Chaumet's 'Khesis' comes in a number of dial variations, from pink mother-of-pearl to black lacquer with pave diamond center.
'Khesis' is a very versatile, yet glamorous watch, and its white gold model totally set with princess cut diamonds is one of the many 'Khesis' watches that are absolutely unforgettable.
The extremely popular unisex 'Class One', launched in 1998 is the first dive watch collection created by Chaumet.
Combining steel, mother of pearl, and black or white diamonds with round dial and rotating bezel, colored gemstones are also featured on some 'Class One' watches.
Also sporty, and more classic-looking, the Chaumet ladies' 'Oval' watch is a gorgeous timepiece in 18k gold, glamorous watch in 18K Yellow Gold with quartz movement and sapphire crystal.
Chaumet 'Precious Hours' is a high jewelry limited edition watch collection, featuring watches like the gem and diamond-dialed 'Le Grand Frisson' and 'Attrape moi...si tu m'aimes'.
The limited edition naturalistic line 'Attrape moi...si tu m'aimes' ('catch me...if you love me') features everything insect, from a pave dial with spider web motive, and diamond bezel decorated with a bejeweled spider and bee, to a green 'frandol' pattern pave dial, also covered in bejeweled bees.
'Precious Hours' pieces are definitely showstoppers!
Just as glamorous, but less ostentatious are Chaumet's 'Mihewi' collection. 'Mihemio' is a Ladies' 18K gold watch collection that features various diamond decorated 20 x 28mm cased watches.
Other notable collections from Chaumet are the sleek, sophisticated and highly fashionable 'Dandy' (also carries a couple of 'vintagey', art deco-looking models) , the delicate 'Liens de Chaumet', and the classic 'Style de Chaumet'.

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Chopard
Il primo laboratorio della maison Chopard viene aperto nel 1860 a Sonviller grazie a Luis-Ulysse Chopard.
In pochi anni il successo dei suoi prodotti attraversa Europa dell’Est, Russia e Scandinavia.
Nel 1920 la sede della manifattura viene trasferita a Ginevra, dal nipote del fondatore Paule-Andrè.
Dal 1963 l’azienda passa in mano a Karl Scheufele, discendente di una dinastia di orologiai e gioiellieri tedeschi, portando l’azienda a un grande sviluppo e facendola diventare uno dei nomi più quotati e riconosciuti nel settore dell’orologeria e della gioielleria.
I suoi figli sono gli attuali presidenti dell’azienda: Caroline Grousi-Scheufele è responsabile delle collezioni donna e della gioielleria, mentre il fratello Karl-Friedrich gestisce le collezioni uomo e la Chopard Manifacture, luogo di ricerca e produzione dei movimenti L.U.C. con sede a Fleurier.
Nella collezione donna si annoverano ricchissimi modelli in oro bianco e diamanti, acciaio, cronografi con movimento al quarzo o meccanico in numerose varianti: la linea Happy Sport, Happy Spirit e Happy Diamond; Le serie Classic, Two o Ten, La Strada, Your Hour e le collezioni più sfarzose Ice Cube e Imperiale. 
Da ricordare anche l’edizione speciale dei due modelli dedicati alla star inglese Elton John, creati per supportare la sua fondazione nella raccolta fondi per la lotta all’Aids.
Nella collezione uomo sono invece presenti tutti orologi con movimento meccanico o grande complicazione, tourbillon e cronografi.
Le linee sono: Historique e la serie limitata del 1996 dedicata al Tenore Josè Carreras, L.U.C., Mille Miglia, Gran Prix de Monaco.Il primo laboratorio della maison Chopard viene aperto nel 1860 a Sonviller grazie a Luis-Ulysse Chopard.
In pochi anni il successo dei suoi prodotti attraversa Europa dell’Est, Russia e Scandinavia.
Nel 1920 la sede della manifattura viene trasferita a Ginevra, dal nipote del fondatore Paule-Andrè.
Dal 1963 l’azienda passa in mano a Karl Scheufele, discendente di una dinastia di orologiai e gioiellieri tedeschi, portando l’azienda a un grande sviluppo e facendola diventare uno dei nomi più quotati e riconosciuti nel settore dell’orologeria e della gioielleria.
I suoi figli sono gli attuali presidenti dell’azienda: Caroline Grousi-Scheufele è responsabile delle collezioni donna e della gioielleria, mentre il fratello Karl-Friedrich gestisce le collezioni uomo e la Chopard Manifacture, luogo di ricerca e produzione dei movimenti L.U.C. con sede a Fleurier.
Nella collezione donna si annoverano ricchissimi modelli in oro bianco e diamanti, acciaio, cronografi con movimento al quarzo o meccanico in numerose varianti: la linea Happy Sport, Happy Spirit e Happy Diamond; Le serie Classic, Two o Ten, La Strada, Your Hour e le collezioni più sfarzose Ice Cube e Imperiale. 
Da ricordare anche l’edizione speciale dei due modelli dedicati alla star inglese Elton John, creati per supportare la sua fondazione nella raccolta fondi per la lotta all’Aids.
Nella collezione uomo sono invece presenti tutti orologi con movimento meccanico o grande complicazione, tourbillon e cronografi.
Le linee sono: Historique e la serie limitata del 1996 dedicata al Tenore Josè Carreras, L.U.C., Mille Miglia, Gran Prix de Monaco.

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Christian klings
Christian klings, born in 1957 in Dresden Germany, is a highly skilled artist, manufacturing unique wristwatches with various complications.
The process of creating such masterpieces with old traditional watchmaking tools requires incredible mechanical ability of extraordinary talents.
His skill of making watches depends mostly on the touch of his hands, and not the machinery.
The detail of the mechanism is visible through the exhibition back, and sometimes on the dialside of the watch.
Some of his designs and innovations, like tourbillon Nr.7, or modified versions of pivoted detent escapements in wristwatches which are resistant against shock, cover one of the most difficult aspects of watchmaking.
Some of his complicated timepieces may have more appeal to the scientist than the watch collector.
Already as a child , Christian developed a keen interest, figuring out , how mechanics work.
When he was eleven years old, his father brought him a watchmakers lathe.
Since than, Christian could not stay away from watches anymore.
At 16 years of age, he served an apprenticeship as a watchmaker with very good results.
Soon after that, Christian opened his own business in antique clock and watch restoration. 1996 he started to build his own watches with various complications.
The ingenuity and craftsmanship reminds of the inventive spirit of watchmaking in 17 and 18 century.
Sometimes, it takes a lot of research, and experimenting, figuring out new mechanical constructions, or other designs.
Christian prefers to create single unique timepieces.
Therefore his work is limited to serve the needs of watch collectors.
In 2009 Christian is starting to manufacture a series of 5 watches with tourbillon and 5 watches without tourbillon.

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Christiaan van der Klaauw
The Netherlands has an age-old tradition in the field of traditionally-made timepieces.
The traditional techniques are passed on from generation to generation.
These technical skills are combined with great creativity.
The Dutch province of Friesland is famous for the technically-ingenious and stunning clocks that are designed and made there.
In the picturesque Frisian village of Joure, Christiaan van der Klaauw started designing and making exclusive hand-made astronomical timepieces in the early nineteen-seventies.
Christiaan van der Klaauw received his education at the instrument-maker school founded in 1901 by Nobel Physics prize winner Prof. Heike Kamerlingh Onnes.
It was at this school that helium gas was liquefied for the first time in 1908.
Some contemporaries who worked for the same laboratory were Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, H. Lorentz and W. Röntgen.
During his education, Christiaan did his apprenticeship with the oldest observatory in the world, founded in 1633.
The world-famous astronomer Prof. J.H. Oort (discoverer of the Planetoid belt named after him) was attached to this observatory.
During his apprenticeship, Christiaan became increasingly interested in everything connected with astronomy, which showed later on in the production of his Frisian clocks, table clocks and, eventually, his watches.
The well-known astronomer from Leiden, Christiaan Huygens, maker of the first Pendulum clock, inspired Christiaan van der Klaauw to design his first timepieces.
The bracket clocks made early on in his career were technically very complicated and had, even at this early stage, ingenious astronomical applications.
The timepieces from this period are real collectors’ items nowadays.
In 1990 Christiaan van der Klaauw presented a true masterpiece: the Astronomical Clock.
This clock was one of the reasons why he was asked to become a member of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI). 
The AHCI is a society whose members belong to the best clock makers in the world.
The members of this society are artists in the true sense of the word, and they are praised world-wide by experts, connoisseurs and collectors for their skills in the field of ‘haute horlogerie’.
A few of the most famous members are: Vincent Calabrese, George Daniels, François-Paul Journe, Franck Muller and Svend Andersen. 
In 1992 Christiaan van der Klaauw won the prestigious gold medal at the watch fair of Basel with his ‘Pendule Variable’, which won him a definite place among the great contemporary masters.
The jury was full of praise and motivated their choice as follows: “With the design of the ‘Pendule Variable’, Christiaan van der Klaauw has proved to be a real innovator in the field of technology and design.
His creative abilities enable him to get round seemingly insoluble problems, and this earns him a lot of admiration from connoisseurs and colleagues.”  When making his wristwatches, Christiaan van der Klaauw drew his inspiration from astronomy, just like he did with his clocks.
His first wristwatch was the ‘Satellite du Monde’.
The design and the specifications astounded the world of watches, and Christiaan van der Klaauw Astronomical Watches immediately became one of the very exclusive watch brands.
At the end of the nineteen-nineties Christiaan van der Klaauw designed one of his most ingenious timepieces: the Planetarium.
Inspired by astronomers like Christiaan Huygens and Eise Eisinga, he succeeded inbuilding a planetarium into a watch, which made it the smallest planetarium in the world.
At the fair of Basel in 2009, Christiaan van der Klaauw surprised the world of watches once again with his bar-shaped ‘Tourbillon’.
This unique technological masterpiece proved, once again, that Christiaan van der Klaauw belongs to the absolute top of watchmakers.

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Cimer
In 1925, the first ads from a company Lapanouse SA appeared, featuring Swiss watches under the brand name CIMIER. The company had been founded the year before by the watchmaker R. Lapanouse in Hölstein, a small and structurally weak town in the canton Baselland.
The family enterprise had been producing the so-called “Roskopf” watches since its relocation to the neighbouring Bubendorf.
Roskopf movements are very robust and exceptionally reasonably priced movements, featuring vertically standing steel pins instead of the usual stone palettes for the time scaling.
A whole new range of customers was addressed with the production of these affordable watches, and Lapanouse SA rushed from success to success. 
The fifties The age of the beginning economic boom demanded more striking and distinctive wrist watches, and CIMIER launched pieces with luminescent numerals, centre second, as well as a novel chronograph.
The company’s pioneer role in this field was to pay off: The striking timepieces were sold very successfully worldwide, and even the company’s stationery proudly announced: “Production of 5000 watches daily”.
An incredible 1,5 million watches were produced yearly by the 500 employees in Bubendorf.
The sixties In the 60s’ a pin lever chronograph with seven stones and two pushers for controlling diverse functions, as well as several additional dials was launched.
The simultaneous arrangement of tachy and telemeter scale completed its impressive appearance. 
The seventies In the seventies, pulsating quartz crystals were introduced to the watch industry.
Lapanouse SA applied itself to this new technology and once again adopted a pioneer role in developing its own quartz movement. 
The eighties In a risky transaction, a large part of the production machines was sold to a competitor at the beginning of the 80s, who was henceforth to be a supplier of the company.
This outsourcing measure, however, did not result in the expected reduction of production costs.
On the contrary; due to the now costly purchase of movements, Lapanouse-Cimier clearly suffered a competitive disadvantage when it came to competitors from abroad, and particularly when it came to the important new domestic player. 
Disaccord within the owner family concerning the future strategy and the choice of a successor to head the enterprise finally lead to the provisional production shut-down in one of the largest Swiss watch manufactures in 1985. 
Today Since 2003, the long-standing tradition of the brand is being carried toward the future by CEO Martin Baertsch and his team with experience in different Swiss watch manufactures.

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Citizen

Our beginnings go back to 1924, when Citizen's forerunner, the Shokosha Watch Research Watch Institute produced its first pocket watch the "CITIZEN".

The then Mayor of Tokyo, Mr Shimpei Goto, named the watch "CITIZEN" with the hope that the watch, a luxury item of those times, would become widely available to ordinary citizens and be sold throughout the world.

Time and again Citizen has pioneered groundbreaking technologies and helped to make watches an indispensable part of modern life.

Introduced in 1956, Parashock was the first shock resistant watch made by a Japanese manufacturer.

And three years later, Parawater was hailed as the country's first water resistant watch.

One of the latest milestones is our Eco-Drive system.

Bringing new thinking to the art of watchmaking, this is a light powered solution that eliminates the need to change batteries - a revolution that made it the first watch technology to receive the Japan Environment Association's Eco Mark for environmentally friendly products.

And in 2003, Citizen continues to evolve and be ahead of its time with the launch of Stiletto.

This is the World's thinnest light powered watch - a watch so revolutionary it combines eco-drive technology with a refined, sleek and sophisticated case and bracelet from 4.4mm thick.

Citizen is, however more diverse then simply watches.

In fact watches only represent less than 40% of the company's business.

Today we are drawing on a heritage of proven quality and technologies as we develop the market for watches, clocks, jewellery, eyeglass frames and health care products.

The Citizen Watch Company, Ltd. was established in 1930.

Citizen Watches NZ was established in 1975 with its Head Office in Auckland.

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Clerc

Founded in 1874 and based in Geneva, CLERC is endowed with a rich and inventive heritage to which unique creations continue to bear witness.

These include one-of-a-kind models crafted for royalty, heads of state and artists.

In keeping with this longstanding tradition handed down from one generation to the next, Gérald Clerc cultivates the family passion for exceptional horology. 

Clerc manufactures an exclusive and limited selection of mechanical watches offering a broad range of complications and original functions.

Several clerc creations can lay claim to the title of “world première”.

Bespoke models are developed and crafted on request. 

Clerc watches are hand-crafted in switzerland according to the highest standards of Haute Horlogerie.


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Corum
Il marchio Corum nasce ufficialmente nel 1955 a La-Chaux-de-Fonds in Svizzera, grazie al talento di Gaston Ries, più attento ai dettagli, e suo nipote René Bannwart, più attento all’estetica. 
“La chiave per il tempo perfetto” è il motto d’origine del marchio, oltre ad esserne il logo e il simbolo grafico (una chiave in verticale, appunto) che ne decora i quadranti.
Il nome dell’azienda invece deriva dal latino Quorum, ad indicare metaforicamente che è stato raggiunto il numero di persone necessarie a costituire un’azienda.
Nel 1958 si assiste alla creazione del Chinese Hat, un orologio da donna in cui la forma della lunetta richiama i famosi copri capi cinesi.
Gli anni Sessanta iniziano con la prima versione del modello Admiral’s Cup, il primo orologio quadrato impermeabile e continuano con la creazione del Coin Watch, sul modello del Double Eagle Coin da 20 $, un simbolo evocativo dello spirito d’avventura, indossato da numerosi presidenti statunitensi. 
Il 1966 è l’anno di produzione dell’orologio Romulus con la marcatura delle ore sulla lunetta e non sul quadrante; dieci anni dopo nasce il Rolls-Royce, creato in collaborazione con il celebre brand automobilistico. 
Gli anni Ottanta iniziano con il lancio del Golden Bridge, continuano con una reinterpretazione contemporanea del modello Admiral’s Cup  e con il lancio del Meteorite, con quadrante tagliato da un vero meteorite.
Nel 1992 l’Admiral’s Cup “Tides” prodotto da Corum è provvisto di un esclusivo movimento che  indica lo stato attuale della marea, l’altezza dell’acqua e la stima delle correnti.
Tra i modelli di ultima generazione merita una menzione il Bubble.
Dopo oltre 40 anni di passione per l’orologeria il brand inizia il nuovo millennio all’insegna del cambiamento, passando sotto la direzione e la proprietà di Severin Wunderman, insignito del titolo di Cavaliere della legione d’onore da Jacques Chirac nel 2005, per le numerose azioni culturali e filantropiche, oltre che per il successo nel mondo degli affari. 
Wunderman muore all’età di 69 anni il 25 giugno 2008.


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Croton
Switzerland, an iconic country famous for a people of an impeccable nature, from whom the most precise instruments of time measurement are generated, located in a region that is married to the greatest producer of high fashion the world over, Italy. 
Within the Italian landscape lies a city, historically known for the intelligence, strength and physical beauty of its inhabitants; CROTON.
The global position of a land possessing people who excelled at precision, strength and beauty led to the natural selection of Croton as the namesake for a timepiece company who sought to establish its very essence on quality, precision and style back in 1878, more than 130 years ago.
As Croton evolved through the years it remained loyal to its origins, always striving to innovate and captivate consumers with its ability to consistently create highly sought after timepieces, ever so precise, at a value all are quick to recognize.
By the mid 1900’s Croton had become one of the most sought after and respected names in watches.
In 1991 the brand was acquired by Nationwide Time, a family owned business specializing in the manufacture and wholesale of fine timepieces for generations. 
Nationwide Time had been searching for the right brand to infuse their experience, energy and passion into and they found it in Croton. 
Nationwide Time President David Mermelstein explains “ our family had been quite successful in the watch business since the 1960’s. 
We were looking to take our business to the next level and we knew that the time had come to either create or acquire a brand that we could build and work with, for generations to come. 
When we learned about Croton’s rich and prestigious history coupled with the fact that like our company, Croton had always been family owned, we instinctively knew that Croton was exactly what we had been waiting for.”
From the start, the Mermelsteins' goal for Croton was clear; to embellish Croton’s already stellar image by producing the highest quality timepieces at the best value possible, supported by a rare lifetime warranty on every watch movement. 
Within this very demanding framework, Croton assembled an impressive team of experts who continually challenged themselves to produce wonderous time tracking devices, built from concept to production, by the very best designers and craftsmen utilizing the very finest materials available.
Demand for Croton merchandise has never been stronger with more than one million watches sold in 2007 alone. 
To meet those demands, production has increased to a minimum of 250 new styles annually.
Croton has unequivocally established itself as the “benchmark of quality, precision, style and design” within the timepiece industry. 
With over 5000 points of distribution in place, Croton has become a recognized brand name that resonates affectionately with retailers and consumers alike. 
In addition to Crotons retail presence, the brand also sits at the pinnacle of one of the most watched shopping channels, ShopNBC, reaching an estimated 67 million homes on a monthly basis.
Open just about any timepiece publication and most likely you will find advertisements, editorials or both featuring the Croton brand name.
Croton’s popularity has increased significantly, not only with the general public, but the celebrity set as well.
Some of the Hollywood’s most recognizable names are Croton owners such as; Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, Natalie Cole, Quincy Jones, Joe Mantegna and Josh Groban just to name a few.
This year Croton reached a milestone with its 130th anniversary and reinvented itself as the “Croton Group.”
Based on the company’s winning philosophy of creating high quality, value based products, the “Croton Group” segmented its portfolio of brands, which include Nicolet, Andre Girroud, Manhattan and Paul DuPree each targeting specific demographics and price points, as well as its first foray into the prestigious exotic leather goods market, with the introduction of its Nina Raye handbag and accessories collection.

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Cuervo y Sobrinos
Havana 1882: un mondo lontano dalla routine quotidiana incalzante nell’escalation della società industriale occidentale di fine ottocento.
La ricerca d’aristocrazia e avventura hanno fatto dell’Havana un circolo d’intellettuali, navigatori, affaristi, avventurieri e «bons vivants».
Un mix ideale, consapevole ma incurante di tutto ciò che il progresso inevitabilmente stava portando già in quegli anni; il rimedio era ovvio e naturale: «coltivare lo spirito...».
Cent’anni dopo, il mondo, invaso dallo stress, darà vita alla nuova «ricerca globale» e alla diffusa «esigenza di una sempre migliore qualità della vita».
È con questo spirito che infatti Don Armando F. Rio y Cuervo dirige, con la collaborazione dei suoi fratelli, con competenza e dedizione l’orologeria fondata da suo zio Don Ramon.
Da qui il nome Cuervo y Sobrinos.
Questi abili e riconosciuti gioiellieri allestiscono la loro boutique nella Quinta Avenida dell’Havana, per offrire alla selezionata ed esigente clientela oggetti preziosi, eleganti e capaci di resistere alla moda nel tempo.
Grazie al coraggio delle scelte e all’originalità delle proposte, la Casa si distingue in pochi anni come un sicuro punto di riferimento per tutta l’America, sino a raggiungere, nel volgere di mezzo secolo, quella notorietà che altri gioiellieri si sono garantiti a New York, Parigi e Roma, tanto da costringere la Casa ad aprire tre nuove succursali habanere: la prima a Pforzheim nel granducato di Baden in Germania, successivamente a Parigi nella lussuosa «rue mezlay» e a La Chaux-de-Fonds cuore dell’orologeria Svizzera.
Questa continua ricerca d’eleganza e raffinatezza porta la casa Cuervo y Sobrinos, già nella metà del secolo scorso a divenire marchio famoso e riconosciuto in tutta l’America sull’onda della popolarità calda e meritata dell’Havana di quegli anni che, persino in Europa, è conosciuta come la «Perla dei Caraibi».
È in questo periodo che L’Havana è meta d’intellettuali, artisti, affaristi e amanti dello stile di vita elegante provenienti da ogni parte del mondo.
Cuervo y Sobrinos distribuisce e vende in questi anni le più importanti marche dell’orologeria mondiale.
Raggiunge tali livelli di raffinatezza e notorietà esclusiva da indurre i produttori d’orologeria «top» dell’epoca a incidere il suo marchio accanto al loro sui rispettivi quadranti degli orologi che gli vendevano, come già usavno fare con Tiffany a New York e Cartier a Parigi, affiancando al «gotha» dell’orologeria mondiale il proprio nome che diviene famoso e ricercato.
Nella continua ricerca di perfezione meccanica e di scelta del «bello» nelle forme e nel disegno, seguendo il gusto e lo stile che via via nel tempo si modifica e s’impone al pubblico, Cuervo y Sobrinos continua per anni a produrre e vendere orologi che saranno consacrati, dal competente ed esigentissimo pubblico dei collezionisti mondiali, come tra i più raffinati e belli dell’orologeria.
Orologi che non a caso si sono guadagnati l’appellativo di «classici» per le loro caratteristiche d’eleganza che ne hanno imposto lo stile capace di resistere al tempo e alle mode.
Molti di questi orologi sono giunti a noi grazie alla passione dei collezionisti, che vanno ricercando tali modelli considerati di pregio proprio grazie al doppio marchio, che conferisce loro duplice garanzia e rarità.
Tutto ciò porterà il marchio Cuervo y Sobrinos ad essere riconosciuto, già sul finire degli anni ’40, come uno dei più importanti di tutta l’America, diventando così, la sua boutique, meta obbligata dei più illustri visitatori dell’Havana di quell’epoca, Albert Einstein, Caruso, Churchill, Hemingway, Clark Gable, Pablo Neruda, Eleonora Duse, tutti nomi che Cuervo y Sobrinos annotava scrupolosamente in un «libro de oro», registro storico della Casa.
In oltre 100 anni d’attività, Cuervo y Sobrinos ha avuto il piacere di inserire in questo registro il nome d’eminenti personaggi di tutti i settori, scienziati, pittori, musicisti, scrittori e artisti, persone diverse fra loro per competenza ed estrazione culturale, ma tutti con una caratteristica comune: uno stile di vita eccellente, una forte personalità, buon gusto per le cose belle della vita ed il piacere di possedere oggetti assolutamente belli al di sopra delle mode e dei gusti comuni, un modo inequivocabile per distinguersi e per esaltare i propri piaceri.
Queste caratteristiche contraddistinguono da sempre i possessori dei nostri orologi, poiché Cuervo y Sobrinos percorre da sempre il cammino «per un alto livello di vita», quasi fossero un circolo di persone che, attraversando diverse epoche, sono accomunate da uguali desideri e contraddistinte da una classe propria al di sopra di tutto.


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Cyma
Le Locle. Cradle of watch making nestled in the heart of the Neuchatel Mountains.
It is in this rude and idyllic landscape that CYMA is founded in 1862.
The label surrounds itself with the best artisans and specialists to assemble its first mechanical movements.
The brand rises from its beginning in the Swiss watch making tradition, posing the milestones for its future worldwide renown.
From 1891, CYMA, as a true precursor, produces movement-repeaters, big complications and chronographs.
Close to 150 of these precision timepieces are produced everyday from then on in the workshops of the brand.
Sustained by its first successes, CYMA continues its tremendous ascent to the highest level, standing daringly next to the biggest Swiss labels.
At the beginning of the 20th century, CYMA creates astonishment amongst its peers, inventing a new extra-flat movement fitted in a pocket watch.
Its exceptional precision is praised by the experts at the time and validated by a chronometer certificate of the Observatory of Neuchatel.
Since 1903, this unparalleled watch is produced in series.
Two years later, in 1905, CYMA singles itself out again and walks through the main entrance of watch making history by creating a new caliber, the famous 701, 3.85 mm thin.
Testimony of true inventiveness and incredible technological triumph at the beginning of this century, it is sold all around the world that same year.
In 1910, CYMA obtains the first prize of the World Fair of Brussels, major witness of the exceptional character awarded to the brand’s creations.
The number of watches produced is significant : 2500 movements are assembled daily in our workshops.
From 1915, CYMA and its highly skilled designers elaborate shock-resistant movements of unparalleled strength.
The first waterproof models are of equal finish thanks to the talent of the label’s technicians.
A new feat punctuates CYMA’s history in 1921.
Thanks to the unique mastery of its watchmakers, the family business achieve to the interchangeability of all parts.
In 1929, CYMA takes advantage of the biggest workshop in Europe and employs 2,000 people that assemble with passion and fervor 4,000 watches per day.
The label experiences a dazzling growth, becoming the biggest watchmaker of precision timepieces in Switzerland.
During the same year, the watch-making world again rewards the brand during the International Barcelona Exposition.
This prize salutes the refinement and elegance of its creations.
In 1930, while men’s watches become the major attraction, CYMA creates The Captive, opening the way to the ladies’ dream watch.
Collette, in the summit of her fame, adopts this creation whose renown asserts itself everywhere for its elegance and precision.
The legendary French writer describes the item with love in the style so characteristic of her: “It is a captive in the most romantic sense of the word; we buy it, we sell it… Sensitive and easy, it gives in if you press it with master hands, reveals its face, divulging all its secrets, and every assent is one more charm in its favor…”
In 1943, the brand launches its first automatic watch, endowed with a 420 caliber armed with a unidirectional rotor.
Always at the peak of innovation, in 1945, CYMA launches its famous “8 day alarm” with a single key wind.
Even today, many people remember this illustrious product or still possess the most beautiful alarm clock of its generation.
In 1956, the golden model "Time-O-Vox" receives in turn the Certificate of chronometer.
It is the only alarm clock watch with the pleasant timbre of that period allying a 464 caliber, 12 ½, with a unique barrel and a small sweep second at 06:00.
The alarm clock Sonomatic is made in 1957 by the talented time craftsmen working at CYMA.
It will become, over the years, world famous for its quality and infallible sound precision.
In the 60s, the collection Cyma-Navystar is launched, first model that succeeds in combining perfect water-resistance with refined elegance.
Its newly conceived watchcase, all the while improving upon precision and resistance, materializes the realization of the waterproof ultra-flat watch.
More than twenty international patents will protect the technological innovations conceived specifically to allow these timepieces to resist shocks such as immersion, under particularly demanding circumstances.
In 1980, a modern extra-flat steel watch of CYMA’s, endowed with a caliber manufactured  6 x 7 ¾, that had escaped the charms and vicissitudes of history, is the one that is bestowed the Bijorhca d’or in Paris.
1989 sees the advent of CYMA’s most legendary collection: the Signature : A timeless creation with pure lines, transcending the trends and playing with the seasons.
The finest connoisseurs proudly wear these Quartz models, delicate combinations of gold, steel and diamonds, worldwide in any circumstances.
The Charisma line will be introduced on the markets three years later, in 1992.
This elegant range of models either made of steel or of steel and gold, in a classic style and a sophisticated elegance, will unite women and men of all horizons.
At the end of the 90s, the brand's designers and creators both develop the exalting line Imperium.
Its unique case design with screws on the side and the purity of its lines make of this collection an exploit of technicality and inventiveness.
It will evolve over the years into a large selection of models and shapes (rectangular, round or tonneau), conferring upon this sport-chic line its individual character.
The beginning of the 21st century will be influenced by the reminiscence of the most popular collection in the brand’s history.
The Navy Star, stupendous and innovative technique of the 60s, is re-launched in 2000, reaching by now the success deign of its famous name and inscribing itself forever in collective memory.
Carriers of renewal, these timeless models of remarkable style combined with advanced quartz technology suit perfectly modern lifestyle and delight amateurs of extreme sports.
In 2004, CYMA launches the Nineteen Forty collection, inspired of the illustrious models of the 1940s.
Chef-d’oeuvre of precision, available in the quartz, automatic or certified chronometer version, these timepieces are the perfect marriage of classical style and a complex state-of-the-art technique.
Born in 2005, the Silver collection, drawing its inspiration from the magnificence and fascination aroused from the 20th century means of transportation, such as locomotives, cars or streamers, is an airy line made of steel, combining refinement and an unmistakable robustness.
In 2006, CYMA presents, for the first time in 144 years of history, four-numbered collector's Limited Editions to 200 pieces per model: The Dominator – Big Date, The Dominator Classic–Small Seconds, l’Imperium XL-GMT, l’Imperium XL-Power Reserve.
Presented in luxurious commemorative boxes, each of these incomparable pieces is valued by a chronometer certificate from the Observatory of Neuchâtel.
In 2007, the brand's management changes radically.
Its owner, man of revival, who has always accompanied CYMA through its successes, takes a well-deserved retirement.
Acting toward immortalizing the tradition and quality that made of CYMA a world-renowned label, the young generation of the Guilgot family will definitely follow his trail.
It is in an innovative state of mind, determinedly marked by modernity, but in keeping in touch with the fundamental traditional values, that the new management of the label wishes to get even closer of its clients and ardent supporters of the illustrious Swiss brand.

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