Fortis
Grenchen, Switzerland · Est. 1912
Founded by Walter Vogt
Fortis was founded in Grenchen in 1912 and holds the distinction of being the official watch supplier to Russian cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station and Mir. The brand produces robust pilot and cosmonaut watches built for professional use in demanding environments.
- Founded
- 1912
- Headquarters
- Grenchen, Switzerland
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Mid
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Cosmonauts — The official watch of the Russian space programme since 1994, worn on the Mir space station and ISS.
- Flieger (2023) — Fortis’s pilot-watch collection, built around maximum legibility, mission-focused robustness, and aviation-specific features like second-time-zone bezels and pilot collaboration cues, positioning it as the brand’s cleanest modern flight instrument line. Key references: Flieger F-43 Bicompax, Synchroline®, 12H Bezel with second Time Zone.
- Marinemaster (1954) — Fortis’s dive-oriented tool-watch collection, positioned as one of the brand’s oldest lines and engineered for underwater durability, modern grip, and high-performance daily wear with 300m to 500m water resistance across the current range. Key references: Marinemaster M-40, Marinemaster M-44, Gear Bezel.
Timeline
- 1912 — Walter Vogt founds Fortis in Grenchen, Switzerland.
- 1926 — Fortis collaborates with John Harwood to produce the world's first commercially available automatic wristwatch.
- 1994 — Fortis becomes the official watch supplier for the Russian space agency, used on the Mir space station.
- 2012 — Celebrates 100th anniversary with limited-edition models.
- 2018 — Jupp Philipp acquires Fortis, relaunching the brand with a modernised design language and block-colour approach.
- 2025 — Launched two DLC-coated Flieger models (Werk 7, 100 pcs each) and Vagabond V-40 GMT. Expanded Kenissi-powered Werk 11 and 13 calibres.
Frequently Asked Questions about Fortis
- Was Fortis really the first automatic watch?
- Yes — in 1926, Fortis partnered with John Harwood to produce the world's first series-produced automatic wristwatch.
- Is Fortis still used in space?
- Fortis has been the official watch of the Russian space programme since 1994 and has been worn on over 30 space missions aboard Mir and the ISS.