About Us
OUR PHILOSOPHY
With roots going back to 1924, Cimier watches are an elegant celebration of Swiss watchmaking expertise. The brand has always been about sharing and democratizing the passion for Swiss mechanical watches. Cimier perpetuates a tradition of offering quality watches at an affordable price. Chic yet relaxed, Cimier watches are a nod to tradition in a sleek, modern package.
History
CHAPTER 1
CIMIER’S ORIGIN STORY
The origins of Cimier date back to 1924, when Swiss Watchmaker, Joseph Lapanouse, founded his company in Hölstein, Switzerland. At the time, the company specialized in manufacturing pin-pallet escapement watches, similar to the “Prolétaire” watch. This was a robust, accurate and affordable timepiece invented by Georges-Frédéric Roskopf, a famous German watchmaker.
CHAPTER 2
A TRADITION OF MANUFACTURING ROBUST TIMEKEEPING
In 1929, Armand Lapanouse, who worked with his brother Joseph, submitted his patent for a movement frame for the Roskopf watch. This ingenuity allowed Lapanouse to continue manufacturing robust movements and by 1970, the company produced 1.5 million pieces every year. By that time, the company employed more than 500 people in its manufacture located in Bubendorf.
CHAPTER 3
THE “CIMIER SPORT” A GROUND-BREAKING WATCH
In the 1960s, Cimier sent shockwaves through the watchmaking industry by being the first to industrialize the production of pin-pallet escapement chronographs. This simplified take on the chronograph only allowed users to measure short time intervals by starting and stopping the independent central second hand. The demand for chronograph-style watches at an affordable price made this model a commercial success: 20 million of these legendary calibers were sold.
CHAPTER 4
Rebirth
FROM A TIME OF CRISIS
In the 1970s, the watch industry went through the Quartz crisis. The sales of mechanical watches fell considerably and Cimier made considerable investments to develop and manufacture its own quartz movement. In 1985, the Lapanouse family decided to pull Cimier out of the race. The Cimier brand was revived in 2003 and entered a period of vibrant activity. In 2011, Cimier developed an automatic module for the Unitas 6497-1 movement, the Big Matic 16 ½.
CHAPTER 5
THE WATCH ACADEMY
BY CIMIER: SHARING
THE PASSION FOR SWISS
WATCHMAKING
BY CIMIER: SHARING
THE PASSION FOR SWISS
WATCHMAKING
In 2010, the brand launched the Watch Academy by Cimier, an experience where watch enthusiasts learn about Swiss watchmaking and can personalize and assemble their own watch with the assistance of Cimier watchmakers. The Watch Academy by Cimier has since hosted hundreds of participants in its workshops in Biel, Switzerland.
CHAPTER 6
CELEBRATING
100 YEARS OF HISTORY
100 YEARS OF HISTORY
In 2024, Cimier celebrates the 100th anniversary of the creation of the first watchmaking atelier of Joseph Lapanouse, Cimier’s founder. With this milestone in mind, the brand worked on a new watch that pays homage to its rich contribution to the Swiss watchmaking industry.
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