General Watch Co

Main article: ASUAG

The General Watch Holding Co. Ltd. was founded on February 18, 1970 to unite seven of the largest Swiss manufacturers of watches under ASUAG. The initial members were Certina, Edox, Eterna, Mido, Oris, Rado, and Technos. Together, these firms represented 10% of the Swiss watchmaking market with 300 million francs of revenue.

When it was founded, 60% ownership of General Watch Co. went to ASUAG with the remaining 40% owned by shareholders of the seven companies. Other companies were added through the 1970s. In 1971, Théodore Renfer retired, turning chairmanship of General Watch (and other ASUAG entities) over to Pierre Renggli.

Although it was unrelated to the previous General Watch Company, La Générale of Reconvilier, General Watch Co. took over the trademarks and logo of that company in 1971.

Members:

• Certina, Kurth Frères SA (joined 1970, still part of Swatch Group)
• Edox Era Watch Co. Ltd. (joined 1970, merged with Technos in 1977)
• Eterna SA (joined 1970, spun out after 1984)
• Mido, G. Schaeren et Cie SA (joined 1970, still part of Swatch Group)
• Oris SA (joined 1970, spun out after 1978)
• Rado Schlup et Cie SA (joined 1970, still part of Swatch Group)
• Technos, Gunziger Frères SA (joined 1970, merged with Edox in 1977)
• Auguste Reymond S.A. (Brands: Arsa, Damas and Hoga) (spun out after 1977)
• Atlantic S.A (joined in 1974?, spun out after 1977)
• Diantus (joined by 1974, defunct)
• Dynasty (joined by 1974, defunct)
• Endura (joined by 1974, still part of Swatch Group, private label brand)
• Hamilton (Still part of Swatch Group)
• Longines (joined by 1974, still part of Swatch Group)
• Microma (acquired in 1978, defunct)
• Roamer (spun out)
• Rotary Watches (joined in 1973, spun out after 1982)

Administrators:

• General Watch Co. of Bienne
  • (1971-1983) Pierre Renggli, ASUAG, president, with signature
  • (1971-1978) Victor Flury, with signature
  • (1971-1975) Willy Herzog, Oris
  • (1971-1979) Hans Kurth, Certina, with signature
  • (1971-1983) Paul Lüthi, with signature, vice-president (until 1983)
  • (1971-1977) Henri Schaeren, Mido
  • (1971-1973) Rodolf-F. Schild-Comtesse, Eterna
  • (1971-1979) Werner Frölicher, Technos
  • (1971-1977) Max Häni, Cantonal Bank of Berne, with signature
  • (1971-1979) Karl Obrecht, Banque Suisse, with signature
  • (1971-) Robert Hüssy, outside secretary, with signature
  • (1971-) Walter Schaeren, Mido, director, with signature (until 1983)
  • (1972-) Robert E. Forster, Era Watch
  • (1972-1977) Friedrich-J. Wittmer, Mido
  • (1973-1983) Jean Pierre Metzger, Rotary
  • (1973-1977) Dr. A. Munke Schütz
  • (1975-1979) Armin Glaus
  • (1975-1983) René Cuendet, Service d'Information de la Fédération Horlogère, vice-director, director (1978), with signature (until 1983)
  • (1975-1983) Paul Bolli, power of attorney (until 1983)
  • (1975-1978) René Giulianelli
  • (1975-1977) Laurent Gremaud
  • (1975-) Jean-Claude Vagnières
  • (1975-1983) Dr. Marco Brüesch, general manager, board member (1979-1983)
  • (1977-) Carl M. Meyer, director, deputy director general (1979)
  • (1978-1979) Francis Pahud, board member
  • (1978-1983) Dr. Heinz Hämmerli, board member
  • (1978-1979) Jean-Claude Vagnières, deputy director
  • (1978-1979) Bernard Laroche
  • (1978-) Walter Frehner, board member
  • (1979-) Edgar Geiser
  • (1979-) Walter Rüegg, board member
  • (1979-1983) Hans Sommer, board member
  • (1977-1979) Dr. Rolf Portmann
  • (1980-) Dr. Hanspeter Rentsch, power of attorney
  • (1977-1983) Manfred Hans Laumann
  • (1983-) Ulrich Fünfschilling, member of the board of directors
  • (1983-) Walter Frehner, board member, becomes president
  • (1977-) Charles Robert, power of attorney (until 1983)
  • (1983-) Dr. Ulrich Spycher, power of attorney
  • (1983-) Walter Lehmann, power of attorney

Timeline

• 1971, February 18 - General Watch Co. Ltd. is incorporated as a public limited company in Bienne. The company was focused on "the manufacture and trade of watches, movements of watches, other time measuring instruments, and any watchmaking product, participation in any form in industrial, commercial and financial enterprises in the field of the watch industry, in particular in the finished product, and in other related fields"; the share capital was 35 million francs; the administrative council consisted of president Pierre Renggli, Victor Flury, Max Häni (of the Cantonal Bank of Berne), Willy Herzog of Oris, Hans Kurth of Certina, Paul Lüthi, Karl Obrecht of Banque Suisse, Henri Schaeren of Mido, Rudolf-F. Schild-Comtesse of Eterna, and Werner Fröhlicher of Technos. Outside secretary was Robert Hüssy, director was Walter Schaeren of Mido, signature was given to directors Pierre Renggli, Victor Flury, Max Häni, Hans Kurth, Paul Lüthi, Karl Obrecht, Secretary Robert Hüssy, and Director Walter Schaeren. The company was located at Rue de la Gare 50 in Bienne
• 1972 - New directors were appointed: Robert E. Forster of Era Watch and Friedrich-J. Wittmer of Mido
• 1973, August 10 - Rudolf-F. Schild-Comtesse of Eterna left the board of directors; member Paul Lüthi was appointed vice-chairman of the board; new members were also appointed: Jean Pierre Metzger of Rotary and Dr. A. Munke Schütz
• 1974, April 30 - GWC General Watch (marché suisse) SA of Grenchen is incorporated "to trade watches, movements, other timepieces and related articles on the Swiss market"; share capital was 500,000 francs; the board consisted of president Friedrich-J. Wittmer of Mido, secretary Robert Hüssy, Henri Schaeren of Mido, Eduard Schmid of Certina, and Dr. Adolf-M. Schütz; Armin Hotz of Certina was appointed director and Dr. Hanspeter Walter of Eterna deputy director; power of attorney was given to Jacques Apothéloz, Fritz Felber, Serge Frei, Robert Junker, and Franz Schilt; the company was located at Dammstrasse 14 in Grenchen
  • Eterna deputy directors Dr. Hanspeter Walter and Georges Guggenbühl and managers Fritz Felber and Hansruedi Thomi were removed
  • Certina deputy director Armin Hotz and managers Serge Frei and Robert Junker were removed
• 1975, February - GWC General Watch (marché suisse) SA of Grenchen appoints managers René A. Gisler and Kurt Ochsenbein
• 1975, March - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Director Robert E. Forster and board member Willy Herzog are removed; Armin Glaus becomes a director, René Cuendet becomes vice-director, Paul Bolli becomes attorney, and René Giulianelli, Laurent Gremaud, and Jean-Claude Vagnières are added as managers
• 1975, August - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Dr. Marco Brüesch was appointed general manager
• 1975, November 4 - Longines and General Watch Co. draw closer thanks to a loan of over 7 million francs
• 1976 - GWC General Watch (marché suisse) SA of Grenchen - Director Henri Sehaeren has resigned from the board, Friedrich-J. Wittmer has resigned as president but remains a member of the board; Dr. Marco Brüesch is appointed chairman of the board; manager Franz Schilt was removed
• 1977, April - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Max Häni, Henri Schaeren, and Dr. A. Munke Schütz are no longer part of the board of administration; the signatures of Friedrich J. Wittmer, director, and Laurent Gremaud's power of attorney are removed; Manfred Hans Laumann and Dr Rolf Portmann are added without signature; Charles Robert receives signature
• 1977, June - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Carl M. Meyer joins as director
• 1978, February - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Francis Pahud and Dr Heinz Hämmerli join the board, Jean-Claude Vagnières becomes deputy director, Bernard Laroche joins management
• 1978, August - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Victor Flury leaves the board of directors; René Giulianelli is removed as manager; Walter Frehner joins the board; vice-director René Cuendet is appointed director
• 1979, February - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Armin Glaus, director, is removed; Edgar Geiser, is given power of attorney
• 1979, May - General Watch Co. of Bienne - The company moves to Faubourg du Lac 6
• 1979, November - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Hans Kurth and Karl Obrecht are deceased and Werner Fröhlicher, Dr. Rolf Portmann, and Francis Pahud are no longer members of the board of directors; Jean-Claude Vagnières, deputy director, and Bernard Laroche lose power of attorney; Marco Brüesch, who remains general manager, Walter Rüegg, and Hans Sommer are added to the board; Carl M. Meyer is appointed deputy director general
• 1980, November - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Dr. Hanspeter Rentsch is given power of attorney
• 1983, July 1 - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Pierre Renggli, president, Paul Luthi, vice-president, and Dr. Marco Brüesch, member and general manager are removed; Jean-Pierre Metzger, Manfred Hans Laumann, Dr Heinz Hämmerli, and Hans Sommer resigned; Ulrich Fünfschilling is appointed member of the board of directors and Walter Frehner, board member, becomes president; Walter Schaeren and René Cuendet lose signature; Paul Bolli and Charles Robert lose power of attorney
• 1983, November - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Dr. Ulrich Spycher and Walter Lehmann gain power of attorney
• 1984, June 28 - ASUAG-SSIH is created
• 1984, June 29 - General Watch Co. of Bienne - Share capital is reduced from 35 million francs to 0 by reducing the nominal value of each share from 500 francs to 0; new shares worth 50,000 francs are created; the company is dissolved without liquidation as ASUAG-SSIH takes over the assets and liabilities
• 1986, September - General Watch Co. of Bienne is officially dissolved as a result of its merger with ASUAG-SSIH