Bifora
Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany · Fondée en 1919
Fondée par Josef Bidlingmaier
Bifora était un fabricant allemand de mouvements fondé à Schwenningen, producteur de calibres abordables pour l'industrie horlogère allemande et d'exportation. La marque cessa ses activités lors de la crise du quartz.
- Fondée en
- 1919
- Siège social
- Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany
- Groupe
- Independent
- Segment de prix
- Entrée de gamme
- Statut
- Disparue
Cessation: 1992
Bifora cessa ses activités lors de la crise du quartz, la demande pour les calibres mécaniques allemands abordables s'effondrant.
Bifora animait l'horlogerie allemande de milieu de gamme — sans bruit, jusqu'au dernier tic-tac.
Collections phares
- Bifora 115 — Featuring the renowned calibre 115, these watches represented Bifora's pinnacle of in-house movement production with reliable, robust construction.
- Bifora 934 — Watches powered by the calibre 934, a workhorse movement widely used across German watchmaking and noted for its durability and serviceability.
- Sport — A range of robust timepieces designed for active wear, showcasing Bifora's ability to produce practical, affordable German watches.
- Automatic Collection — Self-winding watches featuring Bifora's own automatic movements, demonstrating the company's full vertical manufacturing capability.
Chronologie
- 1919 — Josef Bidlingmaier founded Bidlingmaier & Fornoff (Bifora) in Schwäbisch Gmünd, initially focusing on movement production.
- 1930 — Bifora expanded significantly, becoming a major supplier of movements to numerous German watch brands.
- 1950 — Post-war reconstruction saw Bifora reach peak production, manufacturing over one million movements annually.
- 1970 — The quartz crisis began impacting German mechanical watchmaking, forcing Bifora to adapt its production.
- 1985 — Continued pressure from Asian quartz competition led to substantial workforce reductions and declining output.
- 1992 — Bifora ceased all watchmaking operations after seven decades, unable to compete with mass-produced quartz movements.
Questions fréquentes sur Bifora
- When did Bifora stop making watches?
- Bifora ceased production in 1992 after struggling throughout the 1980s to compete with inexpensive Asian quartz movements that fundamentally disrupted the traditional German watchmaking industry.
- Are Bifora watches still valuable?
- Vintage Bifora watches remain modestly collectible, particularly models featuring in-house movements like the calibre 115. Their value lies primarily in representing quality German industrial watchmaking rather than commanding premium prices.
- Can I still buy a Bifora watch today?
- Bifora watches are only available on the vintage market through dealers, auction houses, and online platforms. The brand has not been revived and no new production exists.
- Why was Bifora important to German watchmaking?
- Bifora was crucial as a major movement supplier, providing calibres to dozens of smaller German brands that lacked their own manufacturing capability, essentially forming the backbone of mid-tier German watch production.
- What does the name Bifora mean?
- Bifora is a contraction of the founders' names: Bidlingmaier and Fornoff, combined to create the company's trademark.