Swatch group

In 1930, Omega and Tissot merged into a group called Société suisse pour l'industrie horlogère (SSIH). Soon, Lemania Watch Co & A. Lugrin, which specialized in the manufacture of so-called so-called `` so-called '' complications, nodes other than the main clockwork (lunar phases, sunrise and sunset times, date, etc.). By voluntary agreement, Tissot focused on montres civiles, Omega focused on gamme de luxe.

The response to SSIH was the unification of 1931 under the auspices of Longines and Rado into the Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG (ASUAG).

In 1983, SSIH and ASUAG merged into Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie (SMH). SMH, in addition to the two main watch associations in Switzerland, united independent manufacturers: Breguet , Harry Winston , Blancpain , Glashütte Original , Jaquet Droz , Léon Hatot , Omega (the so-called “prestige and luxury range”), Rado , Longines , UNION Glashütte ( so-called “high range”), Tissot , Certina , Balmain , Calvin Klein Watches & Jewelry , Hamilton , Mido (“middle range”), Flik Flak and Swatch (“initial range”).

The SMH group (renamed 1998 as the Swatch Group) includes:

• ETA , the oldest company (established in 1793 ), a Swiss manufacturer of basic clockworks.
• Lemania .
• Frédéric Piguet ( Frederic Piguet ) specializes in the manufacture of mechanical movements for prestigious watch companies ^[2] . The company was founded in 1858 by Louis-Alice Piguet, who was then still a beginner watchmaker. In 1992 she joined The Swatch Group.
• Valdar (micromechanical watch units).
• Comadur (ruby axis and sapphire crystal).
• Nivarox (pendulums, springs and other moving clock assemblies).
• Meco (crown).
• Universo specializes in the production of watch hands. The company was formed in 1909 by the merger of about 15 small factories. In 2000, Universo was acquired by Swatch Group ^[3] .
• Rubattel & Weyermann (dials).
• Lascor (cases and bracelets).
• Favre & Perret specializes in prestigious watch cases. The company was founded in 1865. In 1999, the factory was purchased by Swatch Group, which allowed in 2001 to expand production facilities and equip the enterprise with modern equipment.
• Georges Ruedin (cases).
• EM Microelectronic-Marin (miniature chips).
• Oscilloquartz SA (crystal oscillators).
• Micro Crystal (microgenerators), Renata (miniature batteries).
• Lasag (laser industrial equipment).
• Swiss Timing Ltd. (equipment for sports timekeeping).

The main shareholder of the company is the Hayek family. The CEO is Nick Hayek (Jr.).

The Swatch Group produces watches under the brands Breguet , Blancpain , cK Watch , Mido , Longines , Omega , Rado , Balmain , Certina , Tissot , Swatch , Kassaw and others. It has a wide range of products with a clearly defined marketing position - from luxury brands (Breguet, Blancpain ) to mass (Swatch, Flik Flak ). The group also owns a number of companies engaged in research, producing mechanisms and other parts of watches. ETA , part of the Swatch Group, is the main supplier of movements for mechanical and quartz watches from other Swiss and European manufacturers ( TAG Heuer , Eterna , Oris , Panerai ).

In 1994, the Swatch Group, together with the company Daimler-Chrysler, entered into a project for the development and production of the Smart car . The name of the brand stands for “Swatch Mercedes ART”. However, in the future, due to disagreements with partners, Swatch left the project.

In early December 2007, it announced the creation of a strategic alliance between the Swatch Group and American luxury goods producer Tiffany & Co. In accordance with the agreement concluded for a period of 20 years, the joint company of the two parties will receive the right to manufacture watches under the Tiffany brand ^[4] .

In 2015, the Swatch Group introduced the Swatch Touch Zero One ^{[5] [6]} smart watch .

Financial Performance

The number of employees is about 20 thousand people. Swatch Group's revenue in 2005 was 4.497 billion Swiss francs. francs (2.882 billion euros), an increase of 8.3% compared with 2004; net profit of 621 million Swiss francs. francs (398 million euros), an increase of 21.3% compared with 2004.

Flik Flak is a division of Swatch Group ^[7] . The brand was first launched in 1987 and is a leader in the sale of watches for children. Psychologists and children's educators participated in the development of the developing watch of this series.

Like Swatch, watches are manufactured in Switzerland and undergo the same quality control as the main brands of the Swatch Group holding.

• Internet time

• The official website of the company (English) .
• Swatch Group founder Nicolas Hayek biography in GQ magazine