Timor
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland · Fondée en 1923
Timor Watch Co. était un fabricant suisse de montres fondé à La Chaux-de-Fonds, connu pour ses montres militaires et ses modèles de sport robustes. La marque équipait des forces armées et des explorateurs.
- Fondée en
- 1923
- Siège social
- La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
- Groupe
- Independent
- Segment de prix
- Entrée de gamme
- Statut
- Disparue
Cessation: 1978
Timor cessa ses activités lors de la crise du quartz.
Timor mesurait le temps des soldats et des explorateurs — un nom qui évoquait les extrêmes géographiques.
Collections phares
- W.W.W. (Wrist Watch Waterproof) — Timor's contribution to the Dirty Dozen, these military-specification watches were produced for the British Ministry of Defence during the Second World War, featuring black dials, luminous hands and indices, and the characteristic broad arrow marking.
- Timor Automatic — Post-war civilian automatic watches that brought Swiss reliability to everyday wear, representing the brand's attempt to transition from military contracts to the consumer market.
- Timor Sport — Robust sports watches produced in the 1950s and 1960s, featuring water resistance and luminous dials suited for active use.
Chronologie
- 1923 — Timor established in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, joining the cluster of watch manufacturers in the renowned horological region.
- 1944 — Selected as one of twelve Swiss manufacturers to produce W.W.W. watches for the British military, becoming part of the legendary Dirty Dozen.
- 1945 — With the war's conclusion, Timor began transitioning production toward civilian timepieces whilst maintaining its reputation for robust military-grade construction.
- 1960 — Continued production of mechanical watches throughout the decade, though facing increasing pressure from larger Swiss conglomerates.
- 1978 — Timor ceased operations, unable to survive the devastating impact of the quartz crisis that swept through the Swiss watch industry.
Questions fréquentes sur Timor
- When did Timor stop making watches?
- Timor ceased production in 1978, becoming one of many casualties of the quartz crisis. The brand struggled to compete with cheaper, more accurate quartz movements from Japan and could not sustain its traditional mechanical watchmaking business.
- Are Timor watches still valuable?
- Timor W.W.W. military watches from the Dirty Dozen era command significant collector interest, with original examples in good condition fetching substantial prices at auction. Their historical significance as part of this select group of military suppliers ensures continued demand amongst militaria and vintage watch collectors.
- Can I still buy a Timor watch today?
- New Timor watches are not available as the brand has not been revived. However, vintage examples, particularly the W.W.W. military pieces, appear regularly at specialist watch dealers, auction houses, and through private collectors.
- What makes the Dirty Dozen watches special?
- The Dirty Dozen refers to twelve Swiss manufacturers contracted to produce watches meeting stringent British military specifications during WWII. These timepieces share common design elements including black dials, luminous markers, broad arrow engravings, and robust water-resistant cases, making them highly collectible military artefacts.
- How can I identify an authentic Timor W.W.W. watch?
- Genuine Timor W.W.W. watches feature the broad arrow military marking on the caseback, along with military issue numbers. The dial displays 'TIMOR' branding with the W.W.W. designation, and movements typically used quality Swiss calibres meeting military reliability standards.