View source for Grovana

'''Grovana''' is a historic Swiss manufacturer brand dating to [[1924]].

==History==

Hans and Walter Gröflin established '''H. and W. Gröflin Uhrenfabrik AG''' in [[Tenniken]] in [[1924]] as a producer of mass-market [[Roskopf watch]] movements.

Werner Bitterli took over Gröflin in [[1970]], establishing the '''Grovana''' brand and changing the name of the company to Grovana Uhrenfabrik AG. Grovana abandoned [[pin lever]] watches in [[1972]] as it became clear that electronic watches would overtake them in the mass market. After focusing on anchor lever mechanical and [[LCD]] electronic watches for a decade, Grovana switched to quartz movements in [[1982]].

The Bitterli family re-invested in the company in the 1980s, expanding production and focusing on under-served world markets, building distribution in South America, Eastern Europe, and Asia. In [[2000]], Grovana established a watch factory in [[Tessin]] in southeast Switzerland to reduce the cost of production but remain "Swiss Made".

Grovana acquired the rights to the [[Revue Thommen]] name in [[2001]] and began work on an in-house movement. The resulting Grovana Tenniken (GT) movement was launched in [[2006]]. In [[2012]], the rights to the Revue Thommen name passed to [[GTWAG]], but Grovana has retained the rights to sell existing stock of Revue Thommen watches.

[[As of 2020]], Grovana remains focused on mass-market Swiss watches under the Grovana and Swiss Alpine Military brands.

[[Category:Watch brands Switzerland]]
[[Category:Tenniken]]