Cyma is a Swiss luxury watch manufacturer with a history dating back to 1862, when it was founded in Switzerland by brothers Joseph and Theodore Schwob. The brand name is derived from a Latin word meaning “sprout,” which evolved into the French word *cime*, meaning “summit”. In 1892, the Schwob brothers partnered with watchmaker Frédéric Henri Sandoz, leading to significant expansion and the establishment of the Cyma factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a historic center of Swiss watchmaking. Over time, ownership transitioned through various groups, and the brand is currently owned by the Hong Kong-based holdings firm Stelux International, Ltd.
Watch enthusiasts and collectors appreciate Cyma for its long-standing heritage of technical innovation, movement reliability, and functional durability. Early in its history, the brand gained recognition for producing timepieces engineered to withstand environmental extremes, including exposure to electricity, magnetism, and temperature fluctuations. During the 1950s, Cyma further distinguished itself by developing its own proprietary anti-shock protection system, known as Cymerflex, which enhanced movement resilience. Additionally, Cyma’s historic involvement as a supplier of military-grade timepieces has solidified its standing among vintage watch collectors.
Key models and collections throughout Cyma’s history include: – **The “Dirty Dozen” Military Field Watch:** Produced during World War II (1944–1945) for the British Ministry of Defence under the W.W.W. (Watch, Wrist, Waterproof) specification, featuring a black luminous dial, small seconds subdial, and a durable hand-wound movement. – **Cyma Navystar:** Introduced in the 1950s as a line of slim, robust waterproof mechanical timepieces featuring the patented Cymerflex shock-absorption technology. – **High-Complication Timepieces:** Historical production runs that established Cyma’s early technical capabilities, including minute repeaters and specialized chronographs.