The company is currently owned by Stelux International, Ltd. They had to make precision-made components to ensure long term accuracy. However, typical of the company, it wasn’t enough to just produce parts that were interchangeable. By the 1920s, Cyma had followed the growing trend to standardise watch part manufacture. Try as I may, I cannot find a list of prizes for the World Fair nor for the Neuchâtel Observatory certification.įrom 1915, Cyma’s highly skilled designers and technicians were creating shock-resistant movements and examples of the first waterproof watches. I suspect that they were actually won by Tavannes and appropriated by Cyma. What is not clear is if these awards were actually won by Tavannes and claimed by Cyma as a result of their association. In recognition of its watchmaking feats, the company won first prize for accuracy at the World Fair in Brussels in 1910. Two years later, Cyma introduced the calibre 701 with a thickness of just 3.85mm, a considerable achievement for the period. In 1903, it was awarded the coveted chronometer certificate issued by the Neuchâtel Observatory for its invention of a new extra-flat lever movement fitted inside a pocket watch. There are a number of awards that are claimed by Cyma on the current company website. The quality of the product allowed the Tavannes/Cyma partnership to develop into one of the largest Swiss watch manufacturers by 1910. Even basic models were very accurate and many were consequently sold as officially tested chronometers. By 1908, Cyma was advertising the resilience of their timepieces when exposed to electricity, magnetism and varying temperatures. Using the most modern of manufacturing processes, Tavannes produced very high-quality time-pieces, trademarked as Tavannes, Cyma and Cyma Tavannes. I have taken my translation from Google Translate. Online, there are alternative translations for the French word “cime”, with some sources suggesting it translates to “summit”. I suspect the former as being a more suitable name for a quality watch. The name Cyma is derived either from the French word “cime”, meaning “crown” or from the Latin word “cyma”, meaning “sprouts”. In 1903 Schwob Frères registered the brand name Cyma. access to a large market, including America, without having to develop it from scratch. This instantly gave the Tavannes Watch Co. Tavannes benefited by being able to access the well-developed distribution network of Schwob Frères, established over their 30 years in the business. Schwob Frères benefited from modern manufacturing processes and volumes. I suspect it was a mutually beneficial arrangement between Schwob Frères and Tavannes. Either way, I am not concerned as I am only interested in antique watches. It’s not totally clear if the current versions of companies have been continuously trading or if they are a resurrection of the brand name for the sake of claiming heritage. Both of the companies remained separate entities and both exist in some form today. The exact nature of the partnership is unclear. Sandoz employed modern manufacturing methods and machinery to produce his own calibres (watch movements). SA, produced watches, watchmaking machinery, and other specialized machines. This company, officially named Tavannes Watch Co. In addition, they developed an extensive overseas distribution network, including America, to market and sell their watches.Īfter thirty years of business, the brothers went into partnership with a watchmaker called Henri-Frédéric Sandoz who had created a new watch company, Tavannes, in the Jura municipality of the same name. Over the years Schwob Frères registered a number of brand names. They worked according to the établissage system which involved assembling watches from components derived from multiple Swiss sources. OriginsĬyma can trace its routes back to the Schwob brothers Joseph and Theodore, who initially established Schwob Frères (Schwob Brothers) in 1862 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. What I have put together below is by no means definitive. Like many other manufacturers from the time, online historical records are patchy. From what I understand they produced decent quality watches for the time using modern manufacturing methods, hence the huge volume. This enormous volume is probably why so many antique Cyma watches are available today. It has a long history and perhaps millions of their watches were made. If you are interested in antique watches, one name that you will certainly come across is Cyma.