The history of LIP Watch Company dates back to 1807. In this year Emmanuel Lipmann who was based in Besancon, created a chronometer watch which was gifted to Napoleon Bonaparte by the inhabitants of the region. 60 years later, Emmanuel’s grand son Ernest opened an atelier of watch in Besancon. In 1896, the word LIP appeared for the first time while designing the chronometer LIP.

LIP watches was one of the premier French brands to invest massively in publicity and advertising. In 1914, this brand had a dream opportunity of supplying watches to the artillery officers of the French army. Then came another grand project. The company became the purveyor to the French aviation industry. In 1948 the French government was proud to present a watch of impeccable French technology to Winston Churchill. And for this the government chose an LIP timepiece.

Always a precursor of the watch world, the LIP watches were successful, despite initial financial problem to offer the market with the premier prototypes of quartz watches in 1971. But the soaring flight of the enterprise was cut down due to various adversary circumstances and in the 1980s became a dark decade for the company. Ten years later in 1990, Jean-Claude Sensemat took over the activities of the enterprise and founded the LIP France Company. There was no looking back after that. Eventually LIP watches got a new lease of life in the hands of Sensemat. There was another change in the sobriquet of LIP in 2002. LIP France became Sensemat LIP France.

Vulcain was founded in 1858 by Maurice Mitisheim, who had specialized himself in watch complications. Not only was he a skilled watchmaker, he was a careful businessman and his watch business grew. Wrist watches was decades away, pocket watches where Mitisheim's sole product in the 19th century.

The company began to manufacture wristwatches in the 1920s and 1930s. The 1940s were marked by innovation, receiving numerous patents for their watch movement designs. However, it was the Vulcain Cricket mechanical alarm wrist watch introduced in 1947 that marked a turning point in the company's history. Vulcain's accuracy was recognized when it won the international Chronometry Competition in 1948 at the Neufchatel Observatory.

When U.S. President Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson sported their Vulcain Cricket watch, it literally put the small watch company on the map. The popularity of Vulcain grew dramatically as a result of these U.S. presidents wearing their Crickets. However, storm clouds were forming on the Swiss watch making horizon. Like virtually every other watch company, the advent of quartz technology impacted Vulcain as well.

The small company remained fiercely mechanical and refused to adopt quartz technology. Vulcain chose to be a mechanical movement holdout in the 1970s and 1980s, but the availability of more affordable quartz watches, coupled with their inherent accuracy, doomed the small company. After operating for more than 100 years, Vulcain ceased operation and closed its doors.

In 2001, Bernard Fleury, the director of Production et Marketing Horloger SA, saw a market niche for the return of the mechanical alarm watch and purchased the brand and rights to the name. It also sought out watchmakers who had worked for Vulcain. However, this time new technology would be employed in the form of 3D computer modeling software that is now commonplace in the design of new Swiss watches. With amazing speed, a new line of Cricket watches was introduced in 2002 and the Vulcain brand relaunched with much fanfare at the Basel show that year. Even established watch company directors paid the Vulcain booth a visit to speak with its director and Vulcain's watchmakers.

Today, the company is located in Le Locle near the western Swiss border. It continues to build on its unique mechanical alarm design, and demand for their fine watches continues to grow.

Vulcain was founded in 1858 by Maurice Mitisheim, who had specialized himself in watch complications. Not only was he a skilled watchmaker, he was a careful businessman and his watch business grew. Wrist watches was decades away, pocket watches where Mitisheim's sole product in the 19th century.

The company began to manufacture wristwatches in the 1920s and 1930s. The 1940s were marked by innovation, receiving numerous patents for their watch movement designs. However, it was the Vulcain Cricket mechanical alarm wrist watch introduced in 1947 that marked a turning point in the company's history. Vulcain's accuracy was recognized when it won the international Chronometry Competition in 1948 at the Neufchatel Observatory.

When U.S. President Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson sported their Vulcain Cricket watch, it literally put the small watch company on the map. The popularity of Vulcain grew dramatically as a result of these U.S. presidents wearing their Crickets. However, storm clouds were forming on the Swiss watch making horizon. Like virtually every other watch company, the advent of quartz technology impacted Vulcain as well.

The small company remained fiercely mechanical and refused to adopt quartz technology. Vulcain chose to be a mechanical movement holdout in the 1970s and 1980s, but the availability of more affordable quartz watches, coupled with their inherent accuracy, doomed the small company. After operating for more than 100 years, Vulcain ceased operation and closed its doors.

In 2001, Bernard Fleury, the director of Production et Marketing Horloger SA, saw a market niche for the return of the mechanical alarm watch and purchased the brand and rights to the name. It also sought out watchmakers who had worked for Vulcain. However, this time new technology would be employed in the form of 3D computer modeling software that is now commonplace in the design of new Swiss watches. With amazing speed, a new line of Cricket watches was introduced in 2002 and the Vulcain brand relaunched with much fanfare at the Basel show that year. Even established watch company directors paid the Vulcain booth a visit to speak with its director and Vulcain's watchmakers.

Today, the company is located in Le Locle near the western Swiss border. It continues to build on its unique mechanical alarm design, and demand for their fine watches continues to grow.

History of Baume & Mercier For over 75 years, Baume & Mercier has been crafting precision timepieces for those Men and Woman with discriminating tastes. Today, a Baume&Mercier Watch is a sign of success and sophistication. But the Baume and Mercier watch-making dynasty actually had its start in 1830, in the heart of the Swiss Jura Mountains. It was here that two brothers, Louis Victor and Pierre Joseph Celestin Baume, first put their renowned watch-making skills and experience to good use, primarily in the design and manufacture of pocket watches. The Baume brothers formed a family business, known as Freres Baume. This collaboration soon made a name for itself. Beyond the borders of Switzerland, the Baum reputation grew. And in 1851, the Baume Brothers corporation was founded in London.

In 1912, William Baume met watchmaker and jeweler, Paul Mercier, resulting in a successful partnership. On November 26th, 1918, an agreement was signed for the establishment of the Baume and Mercier Company in Geneva. The Baume&Mercier Watches espoused the finest in Swiss tradition, elegance and craftsmanship. The very careful and regimented Baume and the free-spirited, passionate Mercier greatly complemented each other, resulting in high levels of mechanical precision. 1920 stands out as the start of the long-standing relationship between womens desires and Baume & Mercier. That year saw the creation of the first Baume and Mercier bracelet watches, a true milestone in jewelry watch-making, as well as the Baume Mercier emphasis on men’s and women’s character and design. In fact, so well-regarded were Baume&Mercier watches that in 1921 the Baume Mercier company was awarded the coveted “Poincon de Geneve,” which symbolized the official recognition of flawless quality products. Baum & Mercier Watches continued to reap acclaim and prestigious awards.

Baume&Mercier achieved three hard-fought victories at the Kew Observatory chronometer competitions -- one of most respected accomplishments for a Baume Watch, or any watchmaker. In 1885, three Baum Mercier Watches were featured within the seven best watches selected. 1887 saw a Baume&Mercier split-second chronograph achieve the highest score -- 85.1 points out of 100. And in 1893, a Baume Watch, a keyless chronometer with a tourbillion movement, was awarded an unprecedented score of 91.9 points! Over the next few decades, the Baum and Mercier Watch became synonymous with quality, and the Baume Mercier name grew in prominence and acclaim the world over. In the years following World War II, Baume and Mercier focused on the design and manufacture of conventional men’s watches, ladies jewelry watches, and sports chronographs. 1965 saw new ownership for Baume&Mercier, as well as the prominence of both quartz and electronic tuning fork movements (the Tronosonic). In 1993, the Cartier group became sole owners of Baume and Mercier. And the Baum Mercier name has never once faltered in its design and performance. Rather, a Baum Watch has meant continued success and eye-catching appeal. The artistic appeal of Baume & Mercier is illustrated by the adoption of the Greek letter PHI as the company emblem. For both Men and womens styles, a Baume & Mercier Watch provides a stylish and sophisticated counterbalance to the trials and tribulations of the day.