DeLaneau
DeLaneau (originally Delano) is a watch brand currently in Geneva but originally from Bienne. Founded by Albert Kneuss in 1949, the firm was managed by Rolf Tschudin and his heirs since 1954 until it was sold to the Thevenaz and moved to Geneva in 1997.
Delano
Albert Kneuss established a wholesale business trading oils, soaps, and other goods in Bienne in 1933. Originally from Eggiwil, Kneuss lived in Bienne and maintained his office at Blumenstrasse 32.
In May 1949, Kneuss moved to Villeret to get into the watch business. He established a company called Alb. Kneuss with an office at Clos du Lac 11 in Bienne to manufacture, purchase, and sell watches. He worked with Fernand Kneuss, also from Eggiwil and perhaps his son. Kneuss registered the Akvil ("Albert Kneuss Villeret") and Delano brands in September of that year. The Delano name was likely chosen to honor Franklin Delano Roosevelt, American president during World War II.
The business was successful during the post-war economic boom, and Kneuss created a public limited company called Delano Watch SA in Bienne on in 1954. The company was established for the purpose of the manufacture of watches, the purchase and sale of watches and similar articles. Share capital was 50,000 francs, and the company absorbed the former Alb. Kneuss company in Villeret, which had net assets of about that amount. The only member of the administration initially was Edmée Kneuss of Eggiwil, who lived in Bienne. The company named director Rolf Tschudin (from Waldenburg, of Grenchen) and was located at Quai du Bas 102.
Rolf Tschudin previously worked for Philippe Dubois & Fils in Le Locle, where he learned the watch and jewelry trade. He placed second in the 1948 cantonal examination for apprentices in labor and trade and had a promising future.
The company increased share capital to 100,000 francs in 1956, with Edmée Kneuss appointed president of the board and Rolf Tschudin secretary and director. The company also registered the Tedmore brand at this time. In November of that year the company issued 50,000 francs of additional shares and made Fernand Kneuss (from Eggiwil, of Bienne) president, with Rolf Tschudin remaining secretary. Edmée Kneuss left the company at this time.
A 1956 ad tells about Sylvia Montresor, designer of Delano watches. After graduating from art school, Montresor began designing elegant watches for the Asian market. Delano offered waterproof, ultra-thin, and automatic watches at this time. Managing Director Rolf Tschudin went on a world tour that year, visiting the Middle East, Asia, and America.
In 1957 the company registered the Montresor and Golden Globe brands. The firm also introduced a new ultra-thin model, boasting of first-quality watches at reasonable prices for export.
The company moved to Rue de la Gare 16 in 1959.
Fernand Kneuss left the company in 1961 with Rolf Tschudin remaining the sole board member and director. His wife Yolande Janine Tschudin became secretary of the firm in 1966 with Rolf officially becoming president.
DeLaneau
In 1969 the company registered the DeLaneau brand name, and this officially became the name of the firm in 1972. The Delano brand was maintained, but DeLaneau was used through the 1970s.
Delano, and later DeLaneau, were known for precious metal watches for women in the late 1960s, including a model with jade, lapis lazuli, and tiger eye stone dials. In 1970 the firm presented a watch with an ebony case and diamond paved dial, along with another featuring an ivory case and precious stone dial.
Now called DeLaneau, the company introduced an elegant watch in the style of twisted rope in 1973 and a square watch with strips of coral in the case and an octagonal one with lapis lazuli the following year. The company introduced a turquoise dial watch in 1975 along with more diamond-set gold cased models.
In 1978 DeLaneau presented "the ultimate" set: A watch, a ring, and earrings set with 35 karats of diamonds in a limited edition of 12. The company also created three watches for Chaumet that year, with the names of both companies on the dial.
Move to Geneva
In 1997, Dominique Nathalie Tschudin managed a sale of DeLaneau which saw the firm transferred to a new public limited company in Geneva. The new company was called Delaneau SA and was located at Cours des Bastions 5 and took on all claims and liabilities of the "damaged" predecessor firm up to 7 million francs. The new company was administered by Philippe Thevenaz from Geneva along with Jacques Delafontaine from Corsier-sur-Vevey and Daniel Salzmann from Signau. Louis Ferran from France was brought in as manager soon after. The company moved to Grand-Saconnex, at Route de l'Aéroport 29-31, in 1998. The takeover of DeLaneau was completed in 1999 for a total price of 6.8 million francs.
A 2002 article in Europa Star claims that the company was founded in 1880 as Delano, though the company today claims the correct date of 1949. Cristina Thévenaz was creative director at that time, and she claimed the firm produced about 1,500 watches per year at that time. It specialized in high-end watches, most with precious metals and jewels.
In 2004 DeLaneau introduced "the first tourbillon watch for women", created with Christophe Claret. The company added a jumping hours display in 2007.
The Rondo Translucent Champagne model won the Ladies' Watch Prize at the GPHG in 2013.