In 1864, Alcide Droz and Henry Perret founded Droz & Perret in Saint-Imier, marking the beginning of a proud Swiss watchmaking tradition.source

Droz & Perret built a big new factorysource

At the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, the maison received a collective Gold Medalsource

The maison created the first waterproof Swiss watch — L’Imperméable — which some sources even credit as the world’s first waterproof watch.source

Droz & Perret was honored with a Silver Medal at the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1883.source

Following the passing of Alcide Droz, the firm continued under the name Droz & Cie.source

The Antwerp Universal Exhibition of 1885 brought Droz & Cie a Silver Medal.source

Droz & Cie earned a Silver Medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1878source

The Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889 awarded Droz & Cie another Silver Medalsource

Droz & Cie proudly exhibited at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.source

They stood alongside standing alongside celebrated names such as Ernest Francillon & C° (Longines), Paul-D. Nardin (Ulysse Nardin), Patek, Philippe & C°, Adhemard Chopard (Chopard), Maurice Ditisheim (Vulcain)source

The Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition brought global recognition, with Droz & Cie receiving the prestigious gold medal.source

Around 1895 the company started using BERNA as their main brandsource

International recognition followed at the Paris Exposition Universelle.source

Droz & Cie earned the prestigious gold medal.source

At the 1906 Milan International Exhibition, Droz & Cie was awarded the Gold Medal for its watchmaking.source

Competition Observatory Neuchâtel, First Prizesource

Berna patented the first ever regatta-yachttimer using the 5-dot system - a design that is still used in regatta watches todaysource

In 1923, BERNA won three First Prizes at the Neuchâtel Observatory’s Breguet Competition, affirming its chronometric excellence.source

1923 also marked the birth of BERNA’s identity as a maker of precise sports watches.source

The company was in financial difficulties and was taken over by the head of Charles Jeanneret, the head of another watch manufacturer from St. Imier: Léonidassource

Léonidas and Berna were merged into the company Fabrique de montres bernasource

Berna produced Stopwatches for the japanese army for their Camera motion picture machine gun Type 89 (八九 式 活動 写真 銃). When the trigger was pulled the in-built camera took a picture with the watchface of the stopwatch printed onto the 35mm film. The company that produced this camera machine gun eventually became the camera depratment of Sony.source

By 1936, Berna had established itself with a diverse array of sports-related watches and complications.source

Berna Watch Co. produced components for the German Luftwaffe during WW2.source

Berna and Léonidas operated side by side until Léonidas was acquired by Heuer. After the acquisition, Berna produced watches and components for Heuer-Leonidas, whose later models incorporated Berna’s earlier innovations — including the 5-dot yacht timer, patented by Berna in 1914 — a design concept still used in modern timepieces today.source

Berna produces its own diving watch, waterproof to 200 meters, building on the brand’s pioneering role in developing waterproof watches as early as 1880.source

Following the passing of Charles Jeanneret, then head of Berna, the company was eventually dissolved.source

Over the years, the Berna name changed hands several times, but the brand itself was never truly revived.source

Until a Swiss startup acquired the brand and began reviving it with a focus on luxury field watches.source