Technos is a watch trademark. It was first registered in 1924 in Switzerland, and gained popularity after World War II, especially in
Japan and
Brazil
Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
. The brand is now Brazilian-owned.
History
M. Gunzinger-Hug Co.
The company was founded 1900 under the name M. Gunzinger-Hug. It was founded by Melchior Gunzinger, in
Welschenrohr
Welschenrohr (French: ''Rosières'') is a former Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality in the district of Thal (district), Thal in the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Solothurn (canton), Solothurn in Switzerland. On 1 January 2021 the form ...
, in the Swiss
Jura Mountains,
Canton of Solothurn,
Switzerland.
Gunzinger Bros Ltd
Melchior’s son,
Joseph Gunzinger, took over the watch manufacturing facility in 1920 and changed the name to "Gunzinger Bros Ltd."
In 1924 he registered the trademark "Technos" and started manufacturing and exporting watches under that name. Technos became a successful brand and the company began to increase its manufacturing capacity. It became one of the main employers in the area.
In 1970, Josef Gunzinger sold the company to
General Watch Co
General Watch Co. (GWC) was the watch companies holding of ASUAG.
History
ASUAG had been founded in 1931, with the assistance of the Swiss government and the Swiss banks, to combat the severe economic crisis and ensuing unemployment by means of ...
. At the time the company employed 450 people and exported watches worldwide, especially to Japan & Brazil. Soon however, with the introduction of Japanese watches Technos started losing market share, and by 1976, only the Japanese market was still managing to provide some orders.
In 1977 the company was transferred to Biel/Bienne in Montres
Edox SA premises. Both companies were reorganized under a new joint management, to fight for survival, and in 1980 Certina was also integrated in the ''ad hoc'' structure.
Heiwado & Co
In 1982 the company was sold, with all rights to the "Technos" trademark, to its long-time Japanese importer
Heiwado & Co,
Tokyo
Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and List of cities in Japan, largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, ...
,
Japan (see
:ja:テクノス ). Its new owners granted a limited licence to use the trademark Technos to the importing company in Brazil, allowing them to design and manufacture their own Technos branded watches.
In 1995, the company sold the rights to the Technos brand throughout
South America
South America is a continent entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere at the northern tip of the continent. It can also be described as the sout ...
and the
Caribbean to Technos Relógios S.A., followed in 2002 by the sale of the remaining worldwide rights.
Technos Relógios S.A.
In Brazil, the history of Technos began in 1956, when Centauro Importadora, from Rio Grande do Sul, started to represent Technos watches. Now called Technos Relógios S/.A., with its parent company, Technos da Amazônia Indústria e Comércio Ltda, both 100% Brazilian companies, they produce about a million watches a year in their own manufacturing facilities in
Manaus.
Now based on
Citizen movements, Technos watches are no longer
Swiss Made. Technos has become a popular brand in Brazil, with a 35% of market share, and was the first company in the field to be certificated
ISO 9002.
Technos da Amazonia Swiss SARL
Through the sister company Technos da Amazonia Swiss SARL in Neuchâtel, Switzerland, Technos Brazil now holds the rights to the trademark “Technos” worldwide.
References
Manaus Production FacilityCustom Watch Strap*
Japanese Wikipedia
The is the Japanese-language edition of Wikipedia, a free, open-source online encyclopedia. Started on 11 May 2001, the edition attained the 200,000 article mark in April 2006 and the 500,000 article mark in June 2008. As of , it has over ar ...
Bibliography
* Technos. 50 Jahre Gebrüder Gunzinger A. G., W. 1900—1950. Sol. 1950
* Welschenrohr.f Ein Stück Wirtschaftsgeschichte aus dem Kanton Solothurn. (Technos W.) Sol. Ztg. 1950, Nr. 220, v. 22. Sept.
* Fleissige Hände, Uhrenindustrie in Welschenrohr und im Thal" (1880–1980), by Urban Fink, 2000, Gemeindekanzlei Welschenrohr, Switzerland
* Jahrbuch für Solothurnische Geschichte 73. Band, 2000, pages 117-177, "Aufstieg und Niedergang der Uhrenindustrie in Welschenrohr", by Christof Schmid, revised by Urban Fink - Vogt-Schild/Habegger Medien AG, Switzerland
{{DEFAULTSORT:Technos (Watches)
Swiss watch brands
Watch manufacturing companies of Switzerland
Swiss companies established in 1900
Manufacturing companies established in 1900