Venus SA
Moutier, Switzerland · Fondée en 1893
Fondée par Paul Schwarz-Etienne
Venus SA était un fabricant suisse de calibres chronographes fondé à Moutier, dont les mouvements ont équipé des chronographes de marques réputées comme Breitling, Longines et d'autres grands noms. La manufacture produisait certains des chronographes mécaniques les plus fiables et les plus utilisés du XXe siècle.
- Fondée en
- 1893
- Siège social
- Moutier, Switzerland
- Groupe
- Other
- Segment de prix
- Milieu de gamme
- Statut
- Disparue
Cessation: 1966
Venus SA a cessé ses activités lors de la crise du quartz, la demande pour les calibres chronographes mécaniques s'effondrant drastiquement.
Le calibre Venus 175 battait au cœur de chronographes portant des noms bien plus célèbres — l'anonymat du génie technique.
Collections phares
- Calibre 175 — The most celebrated Venus movement, a column-wheel chronograph with 17 jewels widely adopted by brands including Breitling, Gallet, and Enicar throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
- Calibre 150 — A robust two-register chronograph movement that served as the foundation for numerous military and civilian timepieces during the mid-century period.
- Calibre 188 — A sophisticated triple-calendar chronograph movement featuring moon phase complication, representing Venus's highest technical achievement.
- Calibre 170 — A reliable column-wheel chronograph movement that found widespread use in professional timing instruments and sport watches.
Chronologie
- 1893 — Venus SA founded in Moutier, Switzerland, initially focusing on ébauche production for the Swiss watch industry.
- 1910 — Company began specialising in chronograph movement development, establishing its technical reputation.
- 1940 — Introduction of the Calibre 175, which would become one of the most widely used chronograph movements in history.
- 1950 — Le Venus 175 devient l'un des calibres chronographes les plus utilisés de l'industrie.
- 1966 — Venus SA acquired by Valjoux, with chronograph production consolidated and the Venus name subsequently discontinued.
Questions fréquentes sur Venus SA
- Quelles marques utilisaient les calibres Venus ?
- De nombreuses marques suisses de renom utilisaient les calibres Venus, notamment Breitling, Longines, Doxa et bien d'autres. Le Venus 175 était particulièrement répandu dans les chronographes de prestige des années 1940-60.
- Are Venus watches still valuable?
- Watches containing Venus movements, particularly the celebrated Calibre 175, remain highly collectible. Their value lies primarily in the historical significance of the movements rather than the Venus brand itself, as Venus supplied movements to numerous manufacturers.
- Can I still buy a Venus watch today?
- Venus did not produce complete watches under its own name; it manufactured movements supplied to other brands. Vintage timepieces containing Venus calibres can be found through specialist dealers and auction houses, with examples from Breitling, Gallet, and other marques particularly sought after.
- Which watch brands used Venus movements?
- Venus movements appeared in watches from dozens of manufacturers including Breitling, Gallet, Enicar, Wittnauer, Tissot, and many military contractors. The Calibre 175 alone was adopted by over fifty different brands during its production run.
- What happened to Venus after the Valjoux acquisition?
- Following the 1966 acquisition, Venus's production facilities in Moutier were integrated into Valjoux's operations. Valjoux itself later became part of ETA SA, which today operates under the Swatch Group umbrella.