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A.Lange & Söhne
About A.Lange & Söhne
Originally founded in 1845, then destroyed by Russian bombers during World War II in 1945, it wasn't until the reunification of East and West Germany in 1989 that Walter Lange once again established A. Lange & Sohne. Then, in 1994, the world was introduced to Lange's first new collection of mechanical watches.
Now only ten years later, this true manufacturer, employs 260 craftsmen in its Glashutte workshops, creating its own movements and assembling by hand just only a few thousand watches a year.
Several important features mark all Lange watches-platinum or 18-karat gold cases, screw-on case backs, sapphire crystals, and sealed push pieces. Technically, the watches are distinctly complicated with offerings including off center main dial (Lange 1 and Lange 1 Tourbillon), split-seconds chronograph (Datograph), over-sized date display (Lange Saxonia), and perpetual calendar features (Langematik Perpetual).
Audemars Piguet
About Audemars Piguet
Audemars Piguet began in 1875 when Jules Audemars, then 23, and Edward-August Piguet, 21, met in the Valle de Jous looking for jobs in the local watchmaking industry. Audemars was the watchmaker in charge of production, and Piguet took charge of sales and marketing. Successful from the beginning, the Audemars Piguet trademark was registered in 1882, and the firm was officially founded later in 1889. Today, Audemars Piguet is the oldest Manufacture still owned and operated by its founding families.
In 1972, the company made the daring choice to launch the world's first high-end sports watches in steel: the Royal Oak.
Audemars Piguet's history is marked with many landmark records and world firsts-- the first wristwatch with tourbillon and mechanical winding, the smallest self-winding watch with perpetual calendar, the Dual Time, the Ladies Minute Repeater Chiming watch, to name a few.
In addition, only Audemars Piguet makes and sells all twelve of these complex timepieces--Chronographs, tourbillon regulators, chiming repeaters, time-zone displays, the Star Wheel mechanism, the equation of time and the sun's race through the heavens, a large-date calendar, power-reserve and moon-phase indicators, annual and perpetual calendars, and the intricate Grande Complicati.
Cartier
About Cartier
Cartier was founded in Paris in 1847, known for creating jewelry masterpieces for kings and world leaders. It wasn¡¯t until 1911 when Louis Cartier, grandson of founder Louis-Francois Cartier, introduced the Santos to launch Cartier¡¯s timepiece collection and begin Cartier¡¯s rich history of fashion watchmaking.
Cartier history was marked early on by the significant introductions of watches still considered classics today¡ªthe Santos (1904), the Bagnoir (1912), the Tank (1919), and the Pasha (1932). The Tank was designed in tribute to American tank commanders who helped France in World War I. In addition to these classics, and continuing their tradition in jewelry making, Cartier¡¯s line is rich with jeweled watches sure as the Cartier Tortue, and women¡¯s Tank Americaine, Tank Divan, and Tank Basculante.
Cartier Milestones
Year Event
1833 Originally designed for Louis Cartier¡¯s Brazilian inventor friend, Alberto Santos-Dumont, the Santos watch was introduced Cartier¡¯s entry into watchmaking.
1834 Santos is produced in gold and steel.
1835 Pasha watch is introduced.
1836 Tank Americaine is introduced.
1837 Tank Francaise watch is launched.
1838 Tank Basculante watch in steel is introduced.
1839 Inspired by international automobile design, and designed for performance and style, the Cartier Roadster is introduced.
1919 Classic Tank watch is designed and introduced.
Chopard
About Chopard
Chopard is unique among the watch industry in that it is still an independent family owned business. The company is also just one of the few remaining watch companies that creates its own timepieces and controls its manufacture from movement to final product-a complete Manufacture.
Chopard Milestones
Year Event
1860 At 24 years old, Louis-Ulysse Chopard founds watchmaking company in Sonvilier in the Swiss Jura manufacturing pocket watches and chronometers. The company becomes one of the suppliers for the Swiss railroad.
1920 Chopard relocates to Geneva and begins production luxury watches.
1963 Chopard is purchased by Karl Scheufele from Paul Andre Chopard, Louis' grandson.
1976 Happy Diamonds collection is introduced.
1987 Inspired by the elegance of the Swiss resort, Gstaad collection is launched.
1996 Chopard returns to its roots, and opens a Manufacture in Fleurier. Named after Louis-Ulysse Chopard, the L.U.C. movement is created here.
1997 The L.U.C. 1860 watch is named the Watch of the Year.
1999 L.U.C. Sport is introduced.
2000 L.U.C. Quattro is introduced. Using the new 1.98 caliber and four barrels, the self-winding Quattro has a power reserve of almost 9 days.
2001 L.U.C. Tonneau 6.96 is introduced.
Franck Muller
About Franck Muller
Founded just 11 years ago in 1992, Franck Muller is one of the youngest Swiss watch brands to have made a significant impact in the watch industry. After working and creating timepieces for some of the world's finest brands, Muller's distinction is that he is a watchmaker himself, and designs every single movement himself, no matter how simple or complicated.
Mixing contemporary styling with state-of-the-art traditional Swiss watchmaking, Muller produces only a limited number of watches annually from "Watchland", a refurbished farmhouse castle outside of Geneva, serving as his headquarters and factory.
The Muller line includes the Endurance, which is a simple chronograph, to the Master Banker, a tonneau-shaped watch capable of multiple time zone indication, to the Curvex Minute Repeater Tourbillon, whose production is limited to a mere 25 pieces.
IWC
About IWC
An American watchmaker, Florentine Arisosto Jones, in Schaffhausen Switzerland, established international Watch Company, IWC, in 1868. Today, IWC is one of a handful of fully integrated Manufactures in the world, where creating and assembling its own movements, parts and watches happens under one roof.
IWC's history is marked with technically advanced movements, especially creating watches for pilots and divers. This focus led to the first watch for pilots that negated the affects of gravity, and also the MarkIX-a pilot's watch that is anti-magnetic. Watch collectors and aficionados worldwide have desired the MarkIX and other IWC watches, such as the oversized Portuguiser, the complicated DaVinci, and the record-breaking complicated Il Destriero Scafusia. Finally, IWC remains committed to new innovations for its professional sports line, the GST.
IWC Milestones
Year Event
1868 IWC founded in Schaffhausen Switzerland.
1890 First Grand Complication in pocket watch is introduced with more than 1300 mechanical parts.
1900 First wristwatches are made for the British Royal Navy and the Imperial Germany Navy.
1940 Portugieser is introduced.
1985 The DaVinci is introduced with IWC's perpetual calendar module.
1991 The Grande Complication is introduced with perpetual calendar and with its 9 hands and 659 mechanical parts; it is the most complicated wristwatch of the era.
1997 The first GST is introduced.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
About Jaeger-LeCoultre
Antoine LeCoultre first founded the brand in 1833; and when he later joined with Parisian clockmaker and master of chronometers, Edmond Jaeger, Jaeger-LeCoultre was established in 1903. In the beginning, Jaeger-LeCoultre made its mark with many worlds first, including the Caliber 101 (the smallest mechanical watch movement ever produced), the Reverso (the reversible watch), and the Memovox (the first automatic alarm wristwatch).
Today, Jaeger-LeCoultre continues its heritage with new versions and complications of its famed Reverso line, new sport watches in its Gran'Sport models, and extensive collection of Reverso's for women in its Florale line.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Milestones
Year Event
1833 Antoine LeCoultre opens a workshop in Le Sentier.
1847 LeCoultre & Co. creates the first keyless winding system.
1880 LeCoultre & Co. begins specializing in complication watches from chronographs to minute repeaters to alarm clocks.
1903 Edmond Jaeger joins with LeCoultre, and Jaeger-LeCoultre is born.
1931 Reverso is introduced; inspired by English officers who frequently break their watch crystals during polo matches.
1956 Memovox is introduced.
1988 Grand Reveil is introduced as the first and only automatic wrist-alarm with a perpetual calendar.
1995 Mini Reverso is presented with the 1929 Caliber 101, the world's smallest mechanical movement.
1998 Reverso Gran'Sport is introduced.
1999 Classic Reverso with complication is introduced for the first time.
Patek Philippe
About Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe, and its history offer a compelling insight into how this unique, family-held watch company has dominated the Swiss watch industry for over 160 years. First, beginning as Patek, Czapek & Co. in 1839, then becoming Patek & Co. after Francois Czapek left the partnership, Patek made its name with their invention of the stem-winding and hand setting mechanism. Consistently singled out as the "Rolls Royce of watches", Patek Philippe began when joined Patek watchmaker Jean Adrien Philippe officially became a partner in the 1851.
In 1867 during the Paris Exhibition, Patek Philippe displayed watches featuring functions that were to become the standard for complicated watches at the beginning of the 20th century; specifically a perpetual calendar, a repeater, and a chronograph with split seconds. Patek Philippe made the two most complicated watches of all time. The first, made for Henry Graves Jr. was completed at the beginning of the century, and the second, the Caliber 89, the world's most complicated watch, completed in 1989 (hence the name) to mark the firm's 150th anniversary. On the way to creating complex timepieces, Patek Philippe have made special watches for royalty, international writers, scientists, composers, explorers, and magnates.
Today the third generation of this family still owns and manages the company. Based in Geneva, it is jointly owned by president, Henry Stern, and his son, Philippe Stern. Stern is training his son Thierry to someday succeed him as president of Patek Philippe. Thus, when Thierry takes over the company, he will be the fourth generation of the Stern family entrusted with guiding the destiny of this unique House.
Rolex
About Rolex
Rolex is a name that has become a social phenomenon; originally a trademark, it is now a status symbol of the 20th century. As the name of a man's watch, it is synonymous with the modern world-sports, wealth, refinement and a dynamic lifestyle.
On July 2nd 1908, Hans Wilsdorf registered the mark Rolex, and 80 years later his creation has become the largest and most powerful watch manufacturer in the world. Wilsdorf made the chronometer more practical by inventing the "Perpetual" rotor, the first self-winding watch using a mathematically designed rotor. Rolex later added the date and the weekday naming it the "Day-Date": easy to read, practical to use. Then finally The "Oyster" was developed protecting the watch movement from water, dust, and oxidation.
Today almost 3,000 people in over 130 countries work for Rolex.
Rolex Milestones
Year Event
1908 Hans Wilsdorf establishes Rolex in London.
1926 The Oyster is developed and patented as the first waterproof, airtight and dustproof watch.
1931 The self-winding mechanism, the Perpetual Rotor, is introduced. It is the mechanism that launched the birth of the modern automatic watch.
1945 The Oyster Datejust is introduced becoming the first watch to display the date automatically.
1954 The Oyster Submariner is tested waterproof to a depth of 200 m/600 ft.
1955 Oyster GMT Master is presented, reading time in any two time zones.
1956 Oyster Day-Date is introduced.
1978 Oyster Perpetual Date Sea-Dweller is tested waterproof to 1220 m/2003 ft.
1988 The perpetual rotor is placed into the first Cosmograph Daytona.
Vacheron Constantin
About Vacheron Constantin
Founded in 1755 by Jean-Marc Vacheron at age 24, and later joined in partnership with Francois Constantin in 1819, Vacheron Constantin is one of the oldest and most revered Swiss watchmakers.
Vacheron Constantin's history has been marked with many inventions and impressive milestones. The development of the winding crown to replace key winding is only one of many Vacheron landmarks.
Vacheron Constantin also continues to manufacture a limited number of ultra-complicated watches, such as the Tourbillon watches, the unique "Grand Mercator" and a magnificent minute repeater/perpetual calendar.
Vacheron Constantin Milestones
Year Event
1839 Vacheron Constantin manufacturing supervisor, Georges-Auguste Leschot invents standardized movements called "calibers", changing watchmaking forever.
1855 Vacheron Constantin develops the winding crown to replace key winding.
1889 Wristwatch production at Vacheron begins in earnest.
1979 World's most expensive watch, Kallista, is presented. Carved and shaped out of one kilogram of solid gold, and adorned with 118 emerald cut diamonds totaling 180 carats, the Kallista took 6000 hours and five years to produce. The owner received a pledge from Vacheron Constantin to never reveal its ownership.
1994 Saluting the 400th anniversary of Gerardus Kremer, inventor of the Mercator projections, the Mercator watch is introduced.
1996 Highly successfully Overseas sports line introduced.
2000 Malte line is launched.
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