Landeron
Landeron, Switzerland · Fondée en 1873
Fondée par Henri-Alfred Lugrin
Landeron était un fabricant suisse de calibres chronographes fondé au Locle, produisant des ébauches à cames coulissantes fiables et économiques qui équipèrent des millions de montres à travers le monde. Les calibres Landeron furent parmi les plus produits de l'histoire horlogère.
- Fondée en
- 1873
- Siège social
- Landeron, Switzerland
- Groupe
- Other
- Segment de prix
- Milieu de gamme
- Statut
- Disparue
Cessation: 1973
Landeron a cessé ses activités lors de la crise du quartz, la production massive de calibres chronographes mécaniques bon marché ne trouvant plus de marché.
Landeron équipait les poignets du monde entier à prix accessible — la démocratie du chronographe mécanique.
Collections phares
- Calibre 48 Series — Introduced in 1936, this chronograph ébauche became one of the most widely used movements in mid-century watchmaking, prized for its reliability and ease of service.
- Calibre 51 Series — A popular column-wheel chronograph movement that powered countless watch brands throughout the 1940s and 1950s, noted for its robust construction.
- Calibre 248 Series — A later chronograph calibre featuring improved accuracy and durability, widely adopted by brands seeking affordable yet dependable chronograph movements.
- Calibre 149 — A compact chronograph movement designed for smaller watch cases, demonstrating Landeron's versatility in supplying movements for varied market segments.
Chronologie
- 1873 — Landeron founded in Le Landeron by Henri-Alfred Lugrin as a manufacturer of ébauches and watch components.
- 1936 — Introduction of the Calibre 48, which would become one of the most successful and widely used chronograph movements in the industry.
- 1950 — Peak production years with Landeron movements appearing in chronographs from dozens of Swiss and international watch brands.
- 1968 — Landeron joins the ASUAG group as part of the early consolidation efforts within the Swiss watch industry.
- 1973 — Landeron ceases independent operations and is fully absorbed into ETA SA during the rationalisation of Swiss ébauche production.
Questions fréquentes sur Landeron
- Quelle était la différence entre un calibre Landeron et un calibre Venus ou Valjoux ?
- Les calibres Landeron utilisaient un système à cames coulissantes plus simple et moins coûteux que les calibres à colonnes (comme Valjoux ou Venus), ce qui les rendait plus accessibles financièrement mais aussi légèrement moins précis. Ils équipaient le milieu de gamme là où Valjoux dominait le haut de gamme.
- Are Landeron watches still valuable?
- Landeron was an ébauche manufacturer rather than a finished watch brand, but vintage chronographs powered by Landeron movements remain highly collectible, particularly those featuring the popular Calibre 48 and 51 series.
- Can I still buy a Landeron watch today?
- As Landeron produced movements rather than complete watches, collectors seek vintage timepieces from various brands that utilised Landeron calibres. These can be found through specialist dealers and auction houses.
- What brands used Landeron movements?
- Landeron movements were used by numerous brands including Breitling, Wakmann, Bucherer, Olma, and many others who required affordable, reliable chronograph calibres for their timepieces.
- Why was Landeron so important to Swiss watchmaking?
- Landeron democratised the chronograph complication by producing reliable, affordable movements that allowed smaller brands to offer chronograph watches without developing their own calibres.