Armin Strom
Armin Strom is an independent Swiss watch manufacture based in Biel/Bienne, founded in 1967 by master watchmaker Armin Strom, who gained fame for his exceptional hand-skeletonization skills and a Guinness World Record for the smallest hand-skeletonized ladies’ watch. Since 2006, the brand has been led by Serge Michel and Claude Greisler, who transitioned the boutique operation into a fully integrated manufacture that produces nearly all movement components in-house. The brand is defined by its “transparent mechanics” philosophy, which showcases intricate technical innovations on the dial side through openwork designs and meticulous hand-finishing. Key pieces in their collection include the Mirrored Force Resonance, which utilizes a patented resonance clutch spring to synchronize two balance wheels for increased precision, the Gravity Equal Force, featuring the world’s first automatic movement with constant force transmission, and the Orbit, which introduces a unique on-demand date complication. Through these models, Armin Strom continues to merge traditional Swiss-German watchmaking with avant-garde engineering and architectural movement design.
Armand Nicolet
Armand Nicolet is a historic Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1875 by master watchmaker Armand Nicolet in Tramelan, a town within the Bernese Jura region. The brand is distinguished by its preservation of traditional Swiss watchmaking expertise, particularly its specialization in the T1 process of finishing and assembling mechanical movements. A core pillar of the brand is its Original Historical Movements (O.H.M) series, which features limited-edition timepieces powered by restored and refined vintage calibres from the 1940s to the 1960s, such as those from Unitas, Venus, and FHF. Notable models include the L14 and L16 from the O.H.M collection, which showcase open-worked dials and manual-wind movements, as well as contemporary lines like the J09-3, the Arc Royal with its signature moving lugs, and the JS9 diver, which offers modern technical specifications like 30 ATM water resistance and ceramic bezels. Today, the brand operates as an independent entity that blends its deep Swiss heritage with Italian design influences introduced through a partnership with entrepreneur Rolando Braga.
Akrivia
Founded in 2012 by Rexhep Rexhepi in Geneva, Akrivia is an independent haute horlogerie atelier recognized for its integration of traditional Swiss craftsmanship with contemporary movement architecture. The brand’s portfolio is primarily divided into two distinct collections: the Akrivia collection, which often features bold, avant-garde case designs and high-concept complications like the AK-01 Tourbillon Chronographe Monopoussoir and the AK-06 with its zero-reset seconds mechanism, and the Rexhep Rexhepi collection, which emphasizes classical aesthetics as seen in the award-winning Chronomètre Contemporain. Known for producing fewer than 30 timepieces annually, the workshop gained further international acclaim for its LVRR-01 Chronographe à Sonnerie collaboration with Louis Vuitton and its commitment to hand-applied finishing techniques, such as black polishing and anglage, executed by a small team of artisans in Geneva’s old town.
Alpina
Alpina is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1883 by Gottlieb Hauser, initially established as a cooperative of independent watchmakers known as the Union Horlogere to consolidate parts sourcing and manufacturing. The brand is credited with pioneering the modern sports watch in 1938 with the introduction of the Alpina 4, which defined the category through four essential pillars: antimagnetic properties, shock resistance, water resistance, and a stainless steel construction. This legacy of robust, professional-grade instrumentation continues today through key collections such as the Startimer Pilot series, which reflects the brand’s history of supplying military aviation, and the Seastrong collection designed for diving and maritime environments. Now part of the Citizen Group, Alpina maintains its focus on accessible luxury and technical innovation, featuring in-house calibers and modern developments like the AlpinerX hybrid smartwatch alongside heritage-inspired mechanical timepieces like the Alpiner Extreme.
Solvil et Titus
Titus, originally founded in 1887 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, as Solvil et Titus by the influential chronometer expert Paul Ditisheim, is a watch brand with a history rooted in high-precision timekeeping and mechanical excellence. Ditisheim was known for setting a world chronometric record in 1912 and developing innovative technologies, after which the brand expanded its offerings to include both luxury and mass-market pieces following its acquisition by Paul Bernard Vogel in 1930. The brand’s key vintage pieces include the highly collectible Calypsomatic dive watch, noted for its “Big Crown” and gilt dials, as well as automatic models like the Titomatic and Royal Time. After the Quartz Crisis, the brand’s focus shifted, and its Asian operations were acquired by Stelux Holdings in Hong Kong, where it remains a prominent brand known for modern, romantic collections with timepieces such as the Ring & Knot, Barista, and Nordic Tale series.