Century is a Swiss luxury watch brand established in 1966 in Switzerland. The company was founded by Hans-Ulrich Klingenberg on January 5, 1966, following the abolition of the “Statut horloger” in Switzerland. Today, the brand remains family-owned and is led by the founder’s son, Philip W. A. Klingenberg, operating from Nidau, Switzerland.
The brand is primarily recognized for its technical innovation in case design and material craftsmanship. Hans-Ulrich Klingenberg pioneered the creation of durable, monolithic watchcases crafted from sapphire (corundum), utilizing custom patents to produce hand-facetted sapphire cases. Watch enthusiasts and collectors value Century timepieces for this signature sapphire case design, which gives the watches a distinct aesthetic characterized by clarity, scratch resistance, and geometric facetings.
Throughout its history, Century has developed several notable lines and model designs. Key collections include the Prime Time, Affinity, Mastersphere, and Dragon Stone lines, which showcase the brand’s expertise in combining high-tech sapphire cutting techniques with traditional Swiss watchmaking movement assemblies.
