Tavannes Watch Co
Tavannes |
Tavannes Watch Co. (usually called Tavannes) was a Swiss watch company founded in 1891, defunct by 1966, and resurrected in 2008.
History
Watchmaker Henri Sandoz founded his namesake watch company, Henri Sandoz and Co., in Le Locle in 1870. He left the company in 1891 and founded a new company in the small town of Tavannes in the Canton of Bern. This company, officially named Tavannes Watch Co. SA, produced watches, watchmaking machinery, and other specialized machines.
Pocket Watch Serial Number Production List Please use the following tables to help determine the approximate age of your watch. Remove or open the back cover from your watch and look for a number engraved into the movement; this is the serial number for your watch, and by using it, you can find the closest years it was made on these tables. Tavannes Watch Co. Reloj de bolsillo, saboneta y remontoir. Professional dealer. Tavannes 36mm Vintage Men's Chronograph Venus 165 Stainless Steel.
Tavannes soon struck a distribution deal with Schwob Frères of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Many Tavannes models were sold using the Cyma brand, with sales rapidly rising from 1900 through the 1950's. By 1938, Tavannes boasted that it was the 4th largest watch manufacturer in the world, having sold over 30 million. At that time, they were employing over 3,000 skilled watchmakers to produce around 4,000 watches per day.
Submarine Commander 1917
- The watch dates to around 1915 and has blue numbers 0-60 around the outer chapter of the dial. Antique Tavannes Watch Co. Swiss 6/0s 7J Gold Filled Pocket Watch (B7669CB) This antique timepiece is overall in good condition. The antique movement runs has not been time checked for accuracy. The movement's balance moves freely.
- The establishment of the Tavannes Watch Co. In 1895 turned the village into a major watchmaking center. To house the growing population a number of Swiss chalet and Art nouveau style houses were built between 1900 and 1930. The Royal Cinema opened in 1918 and turned Tavannes.
© Tavannes
During WWI, the Tavannes Watch Co was approached by two British submarine commanders to consider the construction of a watch suitable for work on submarine decks awash in water. This watch was supposed to be water-tight, non-magnetic, and the balance wheel had to be of a material which shows a minimum of expansion and contraction with variations in temperature. The face had to be legible at all times.In 1917 was born the first waterproof wrist watch made by the Tavannes Watch Company.
Belt Watch 1928
© Tavannes
Tavannes was an early producer of wristwatch-specific movements, introducing small calibres in the 1910s just for this purpose. It supplied many major manufacturers, including Jaeger-LeCoultre, Dunhill, Hermes, and Cartier. Tavannes' movement manufacturer was called Lisica SA, and many watches use this name instead.
One innovation from Tavannes was a belt buckle watch for the English King Edward VIII. This led to the creation of other 'captive' watches for belt or desk, and may have inspired the iconic Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso which used a Tavannes movement. Hermes and Cartier marketed the belt buckle watch as 'La Captive'.
Driver's Watch 1930
© Tavannes
The two greatest mechanical inventions of the twentieth century are most likely fine mechanical wrist watches and automobiles. In the early 1930's clocks were created for use in automobiles. At that same time Tavannes created the driver's watch. The watch was designed to be worn on the side of the wrist as to tell time while driving.
Production stop in 1966
By 1966, however, production had stopped. Swiss watch giant ASUAG adopted both the Cyma and Tavannes brands under their Chronos Holding company that year.
Tavannes Today
© Tavannes
Tavannes Watch Co Serial Numbers Today
© Tavannes
Cached
The Tavannes brand was revived in 2008, once again located in the town of Tavannes. The company seeks to restore its original values of quality, innovation, and originality as a family business. The company's lineup now includes historic models in the vintage style.
During World War I, Tavannes was approached by two British submarine commanders to construct a watch suitable for use on submarines. It was waterproofed for use on the deck, antimagnetic, and resistant to temperature changes. The resulting 'Submarine' wrist watch of 1917 was recalled in a 2017 edition featuring the historic look of wire lugs, oversize Arabic numerals, a knurled case, and oversized screw-down crown. Inside is an automatic movement, and the anti-magnetic case back and dial are marked '1917-2017'.
Tavannes is also recalling the original 'Belt Watch' of 1928 with a new 2018 edition that can be worn on the wrist, as a belt, or as a desk watch. In 2019, the company promises a new dive watch that recalls their 1930s original, worn on the side of the wrist with a steeply curved case.
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Tavannes Pocket Watch
