View source for Gigantic

'''Gigantic''' was a watch brand founded in [[1927]] in [[Geneva]] and active through [[1990]].

Gigantic SA was registered on October 18, [[1927]] on Rue de Lausanne 78 in Geneva. It was founded by [[Cattin, Paul|Paul Cattin]]. The '''Gigantic''' name was previously used by Roger Henry, though he ceded it free of charge to Cattin. 

On November 29, [[1929]], Gigantic was taken over by [[Henry, Georges|Georges Henry]], an active businessman who founded [[Nanda]] and [[Ilosa]] and managed [[Pretto]] through its litigation with [[Automatic EMSA]] over the first mass-produced automatic watch by [[Glycine]]. Henry managed all of his companies as one, co-locating Gigantic and Ilosa before relocating the former to Rue Butini 20 and closing the latter by [[1934]].

In [[1938]], Gigantic was relocated to Rue du Stand 30, a prominent address in Geneva shared with notable firms like [[Chopard|Le Fils de L.-U. Chopard & Co.]] and [[Niton|Manufacture des Montres Niton]]. Other notable neighbors in the following decade included [[Baume & Mercier]], [[Henri Hofer]], and [[Dreffa]].

Gigantic became one of the so-called [[dissident watchmakers]] resisting the control of [[ASUAG]] and [[Ebauches SA]] in the 1930s. A [[1941]] grant from the Swiss federal government resolved the issue, however, with Gigantic giving up production of [[ebauche]]s and becoming an [[etablisseur]], constructing watches using movements from compliant [[FH]] members.

Gigantic was re-established on October 11, [[1944]] with new funding and grew after World War II. The brand was known for anti-shock and anti-magnetic models, using the slogan "durable et précise." By [[1949]], Gigantic was manufacturing watches under Georges Henry's old [[Nanda]] brand in addition to Gigantic, and he acquired the Autorem brand as well.

Gigantic and Nanda fell out of use in the 1970s and the company faltered. It was judged bankrupt and closed by the courts on May 21, [[1990]].

==External Links==
* [https://grail-watch.com/2021/07/19/eugene-meylan-glycine-and-the-fight-over-the-first-automatic-watch/ Eugène Meylan, Glycine, and the Fight Over the First Automatic Watch]

[[Category:Watch brands Switzerland]]
[[Category:Geneva]]