Watchatlas

Aerowatch

Saignelégier, Switzerland · Est. 1910

Founded by Swiss watchmakers, Saignelégier

An independent Swiss family business continuously producing quality timepieces since 1910, Aerowatch has maintained its craft in Saignelégier through four generations. Renowned for intricate skeleton dials, hand-engraved movements and ornate guilloché work, the brand stands as a living monument to traditional Swiss horology.

Founded
1910
Headquarters
Saignelégier, Switzerland
Group
Independent
Price Segment
Mid
Status
Active

Key Collections

  • Renaissance — Aerowatch’s Renaissance collection is the brand’s dedicated skeleton-watch family, centered on hand-wound movements in 43 mm cases with decorated openworked bridges. Current official variants such as Skeleton Classic, Skeleton Blue, Skeleton Wheel and Fir tree Skeleton show the range from traditional Breguet-hand execution to more contemporary black-PVD and colored-ring interpretations. Key references: A 50981 AA02, A 50981 AA03, A 50981 NO25.
  • Les Grandes Classiques — Aerowatch’s Les Grandes Classiques is the brand’s broad classical line, spanning slim quartz dress watches, automatic three-handers and larger pilot-style chronographs. Current official models show guilloché or sun-brushed dials, conservative Swiss-made construction and pricing positioned as accessible traditional watchmaking. Key references: A 42102 AA01, A 60996 AA04, A 61989 AA09.
  • 1942 (2005) — Aerowatch’s 1942 line is a broad vintage-leaning family that spans classic round dress watches, small seconds, chronographs, moon-phase models, skeletons, and ladies’ variants, making it one of the brand’s core contemporary collections. Key references: Chrono Auto, Small Second Automatic, Lady Midsize Quartz.
  • Intuition — Aerowatch’s Intuition collection is a compact, dress-oriented family centered on elongated rectangular cases, quartz movements, Roman numerals or jeweled dials, and a more jewelry-forward interpretation of the brand’s classic Swiss aesthetic. Key references: A 49988 AA01, A 49988 AA01 DIA, A 49988 AA05.

Timeline

  • 1910 — Aerowatch is founded in Saignelégier in the Les Franches-Montagnes region of the Swiss Jura, establishing itself as a craft watchmaker from the outset.
  • 1920 — The brand builds a reputation for hand-engraved movements and guilloché dial work, skills rare even among Swiss houses.
  • 1970 — Unlike many Swiss brands, Aerowatch survives the quartz crisis by doubling down on traditional craft and skeleton work rather than competing on price.
  • 1995 — The Renaissance skeleton collection gains international recognition, establishing Aerowatch as a respected name in affordable fine craftsmanship.
  • 2004 — Aerowatch launches its modern wristwatch collections, expanding beyond its traditional pocket-watch heritage to reach a broader audience while maintaining its craft-focused identity.
  • 2010 — The centenary is celebrated with special editions, and the brand reflects on 100 uninterrupted years of Swiss family watchmaking.
  • 2020 — Fourth-generation family ownership continues, with the brand maintaining its independence and Saignelégier base into a second century.

Frequently Asked Questions about Aerowatch

What is guilloché?
Engine-turned engraving on metal using a rose engine lathe. The lathe cuts intricate repeating geometric patterns — barleycorn, clous de Paris, hobnail — that catch light in ways impossible to replicate by hand or printing.
Is Aerowatch still family-owned?
Yes. The company has been continuously family-owned since its founding in 1910 in Saignelégier, making it one of Switzerland's longest-running independent watchmakers.
Are Aerowatch movements made in-house?
Aerowatch primarily uses Swiss ébauches (notably ETA-based movements), with the brand's craft focused on exceptional dial work, hand engraving, and skeletonisation rather than movement development.
What price range should I expect?
Most Aerowatch pieces sit between CHF 500 and CHF 4,000, making them one of the more accessible entry points into genuine Swiss craft watchmaking.

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