In 1864, Alcide Droz and Henry Perret founded Droz & Perret in Saint-Imier, marking the beginning of a proud Swiss watchmaking tradition.
Droz & Perret built a big new factory
At the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, the maison received a collective Gold Medal
Creation of one of the first waterproof watches
Droz & Perret was honored with a Silver Medal at the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1883.
Following the passing of Alcide Droz, the firm continued under the name Droz & Cie.
The Antwerp Universal Exhibition of 1885 brought Droz & Cie a Silver Medal.
Droz & Cie earned a Silver Medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1878
The Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889 awarded Droz & Cie another Silver Medal
Droz & Cie proudly exhibited at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.
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)
The Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition brought global recognition, with Droz & Cie receiving the prestigious gold medal.
Around 1895 the company started using BERNA as their main brand
International recognition followed at the Paris Exposition Universelle.
Droz & Cie earned the prestigious gold medal.
At the 1906 Milan International Exhibition, Droz & Cie was awarded the Gold Medal for its watchmaking.
Competition Observatory Neuchâtel, First Prize
Berna patented the first ever regatta-yachttimer using the 5-dot system - a design that is still used in regatta watches today
Berna made its first stopwatches with an accuraacy of 1/100 second. Berna also produced 20-hours watches.
Berna patented its 1/100 stopwatch
In 1923, BERNA won three First Prizes at the Neuchâtel Observatory’s Breguet Competition, affirming its chronometric excellence.
1923 also marked the birth of BERNA’s identity as a maker of precise sports watches.
Berna Watch Co. was sold to Leonidas, which was owned by Charles Jeanneret. The company was now called Charles Jeanneret, Fabrique de Montres Berna
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.
Berna Watch Co. produced Watches for Germany during WW2 alongside brands like IWC, Stowa, A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe and Laco.
The brands Berna and Léonidas were used alongside until the Léonidas brand was bought by Heuer. After that Berna produced things for Heuer-Leonidas
Berna produces its own diving watch, waterproof to 200m
In 1864, Alcide Droz and Henry Perret founded Droz & Perret in Saint-Imier, marking the beginning of a proud Swiss watchmaking tradition.
Droz & Perret built a big new factory
At the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition, the maison received a collective Gold Medal
Creation of one of the first waterproof watches
Droz & Perret was honored with a Silver Medal at the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1883.
Following the passing of Alcide Droz, the firm continued under the name Droz & Cie.
The Antwerp Universal Exhibition of 1885 brought Droz & Cie a Silver Medal.
Droz & Cie earned a Silver Medal at the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1878
The Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889 awarded Droz & Cie another Silver Medal
Droz & Cie proudly exhibited at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893.
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)
The Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition brought global recognition, with Droz & Cie receiving the prestigious gold medal.
Around 1895 the company started using BERNA as their main brand
International recognition followed at the Paris Exposition Universelle.
Droz & Cie earned the prestigious gold medal.
At the 1906 Milan International Exhibition, Droz & Cie was awarded the Gold Medal for its watchmaking.
Competition Observatory Neuchâtel, First Prize
Berna patented the first ever regatta-yachttimer using the 5-dot system - a design that is still used in regatta watches today
Berna made its first stopwatches with an accuraacy of 1/100 second. Berna also produced 20-hours watches.
Berna patented its 1/100 stopwatch
In 1923, BERNA won three First Prizes at the Neuchâtel Observatory’s Breguet Competition, affirming its chronometric excellence.
1923 also marked the birth of BERNA’s identity as a maker of precise sports watches.
Berna Watch Co. was sold to Leonidas, which was owned by Charles Jeanneret. The company was now called Charles Jeanneret, Fabrique de Montres Berna
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.
Berna Watch Co. produced Watches for Germany during WW2 alongside brands like IWC, Stowa, A. Lange & Söhne, Wempe and Laco.
The brands Berna and Léonidas were used alongside until the Léonidas brand was bought by Heuer. After that Berna produced things for Heuer-Leonidas
Berna produces its own diving watch, waterproof to 200m