FTP: Every Watch Tells a Story
Tavannes Watch Co:(Founded in 1891, Defunct by 1966, and Reborn in 2008.)
Introducing the Tavannes Watch Company, a brand that takes its name from the small town in the Jura Mountains in Bern Switzerland.
The name Tavannes is derived from the Latin word for ceilings, representing the brand's pursuit of reaching the highest point of success. The Tavannes company has achieved this by forming strategic unions with like-minded organizations, resulting in a synergy of teamwork that produced a brand that reached for the stars and made it.
The Tavannes Apogee timepiece is a symbol of achievement and collaboration. This watch is designed for those who understand the power of teamwork and skillful collaboration.
The Tavannes Apogee embodies the spirit of collaboration and celebrates the success that comes from a fusion of individuals coming together to achieve greatness.
The Tavannes Apogee timepiece is a symbol of achievement and collaboration. This watch is designed for those who understand the power of teamwork and skillful collaboration.
Whether you're a business owner or a hardworking employee climbing the corporate ladder, let this watch remind you that the apogee of success is a result of coordinated efforts and unified intentions.
This quality timepiece will serve as a reminder to always aim high and strategically choose individuals who share your vision. Whether you're wearing it during a business meeting or in your car on the way to work, the Tavannes Apogee is a constant reminder to aim for new heights in your personal and professional life.
1864: Henri Frédéric Sandoz, a gifted watchmaker who started his apprenticeshi at just 13 years old. After honing his skills, he became a watchmaker at the Odin Watch Factory in Switzerland, where he eventually took over the factory with his son, Hermann Sandoz. Henri's expertise was in crafting complicated repeaters and chronographs.
1870: Henri Sanoz founded his self-named company Henri Sandoz & Co. within the Odin factory building
1890: Henri left his business after 21 years to establish Tavannes, a brand that revolutionized the global watch market. While Henri's son, Hermann, continued the production of watches under the Henri Sandoz & Co. name with production exceeding 2500 timepieces per day with a staff of 1000 during its peak years.
1891: The story of the Tavannes brand began in the small village of Tavannes nestled in the Jura moutains. The village built a factory with public funding and investments from the renowned distribution company, Schwöb Frères et Cie. The goal was to attract a watch company, and Henri Sandoz saw an opportunity. Established in the new building, Sandoz quickly made a name for himself, producing high-quality timepieces under the Tavannes brand. With the help of distribution networks created by Schwöb Frères, Tavannes watches gained widespread popularity. Later, Schwöb brothers launched a subsidiary brand, Cyma, under the Tavannes umbrella.
Thanks to the timely agreement with Schwöb Frères, Tavannes was able to reach watch markets worldwide. The combined skillsets and experience of the two companies working withing a communal building played a crucial role in Tavannes's success.
The apogee of achievement Tavannes reached was grown from this powerful alliance with Schwöb Frères.
The in-house movements of Tavannes are crafted under the direction of Henri Sandoz, who revolutionized the industry with his genius automated watchmaking machinery. Tavannes Machines Co. SA was the first company to produce and sell machinery to the Swiss watch industry, and Sandoz's patented labor fully automated his factory.
With strategic partnerships in place and his public factory in full operation, Henri now had the opportunity to do what he did best. With 39 mechanical patents to his name and 11 patents for Tavannes watches, Henri was aiming higher.
1896:The Tavannes Watch Company has been awarded the highest distinction at 'The National Exhibition' for their remarkable ability to produce machinery to fabricate watch parts and create a complete watch.
This achievement is unparalleled in the world of watchmaking.
1903: As the brand grew rapidly, it required a larger factory to keep up with demand. With 470 skilled employees, Tavannes was able to produce an impressive 953 watches a day, with no ceiling in sight.
1904: Introducing the Cyma Tavannes Watch Co., a new trademark that beautifully blends the heritage of Tavannes. The name Cyma is rooted in the latin word 'cime', meaning top or crown, representing the brand's commitment to reaching new heights.
1905: Tavannes has now expanded to a team of 750 experts. Initially producing 450,000 watches per year, the brand quickly grew to an impressive 750,000 watches annualy with a team of 950 staff.
1910: Henri Sandoz's machinary moved the factory to incredible new heights with production of 2500 watches a day.
1913: Henri Sandoz dies at 62, leaving his son Henri Auguste Sandoz as director. Despite forging strategic partnerships for growth, Henri Sandoz managed to create a reputation of autonomous success. A highly skilled genius who managed to revolutionize the Swiss watchmaking industry.
1914: Tavannes is awarded gold medal at the 'Grand Prix Exhibition' for continuous mechanical innovation.
1920: Henri’s son, Hermann Sandoz, continues directing the Sandoz factory and rebrands to Henry Sandoz & Fils. The company expanded to India and Pakistan.
1926: Henry Sandoz & Fils moved its operation to a larger factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds to better accommodate the increasing demand for their timepieces. Throughout the coming decades, the brand's name has been changed several times.
1938: Tavannes continued expanding with 5 established factories in Switzerland and soon became the fourth largest watch manufacturer worldwide, producing 4000 timepieces per day.
It was an amazing feat for Tavannes to achieve that apogee of output within 50 years of operation.
1940: Fire destoys the factory as well as most of the archives. Watches prior to 1940 are dated by estimating as no records exist.
1966: The Cyma/Tavannes brand ceased all in-house production.
1971: ”Company of Watches Sandoz Co.” remains to this day and is divided into four separate brands of production : Singapore, Hong Kong, Swiss, and Sandoz Spain.
Cyma is now operated by Universal Geneve S.A. and is retailed through six asian countries.
Tavannes Watch Co. has been revived and is located at its roots in the town, Tavannes.
Schwöb Frères et Cie is now defunct
Today, as a testament to the Sandoz family's high level of success, the Tavannes Watch Company has been revived and can be found in its original location in the town of Tavannes.