The history of the watch industry in Solothurn and the surrounding area

For decades, the Solothurn region was an important center of the Swiss watch industry. The Langendorf Watch Company, better known under the Lanco brand, had a particularly lasting impact on the industrial and economic life of the region.

Lanco – From global market leader to the industrial age

Founded in 1873 by Johann Viktor Kottmann in Langendorf, the Langendorf Watch Company quickly developed into one of the world's largest manufacturers of watch movements and watches. By 1890, the company already employed several hundred people and relied on modern manufacturing technologies such as assembly line production.
The Lanco brand was introduced in the 1950s and established itself internationally in the mid-price segment. Lanco watches were considered reliable and stylish. The company's own Delta division produced components and watch parts that were used in both Lanco models and by other manufacturers.

From the 1920s to the 1960s, Lanco was one of the largest watch manufacturers in the world. At its peak, Lanco and Delta employed between 1,500 and 2,000 people in Langendorf.

With its takeover by the SSIH Group (Omega, Tissot) in the 1970s and the subsequent watch crisis, Lanco lost its importance. Production in Langendorf was discontinued in 1973. Part of the workforce and expertise were transferred to the newly founded Lanco AG in Bellach, which specialized in assembly systems. This company existed until 2015.

Roamer – Swiss watchmaking tradition from Solothurn since 1888

The history of Roamer began in 1888, when watchmaker Fritz Meyer founded a workshop for the manufacture of cylinder escapements in Solothurn. In 1905, Meyer entered into a partnership with Johann Stüdeli, which led to the founding of Meyer & Stüdeli SA. The company developed the well-known MST calibers, which were valued for their precision and reliability.
In 1917, Meyer & Stüdeli took over the Solothurn watch company L. Tiéche-Gammeter (LTG), which had already registered the Roamer brand in 1908. From 1923 onwards, the company produced over a million watches a year and began manufacturing its own cases and dials in order to be able to fully control the quality of its products.
The Roamer brand became the company's main brand in 1952, and the company was renamed Roamer Watch Co. SA. In the 1950s, Roamer patented the waterproof Anfibio case, which set new standards in water resistance and gained international recognition.
Like many Swiss watch manufacturers, Roamer was hit hard by the quartz crisis in the 1970s. Despite introducing its first quartz movement in 1972, the company was forced to file for bankruptcy in 1975. Long-time employee Marcel Leval acquired the brand and continued production on a smaller scale.
In the 1990s, Roamer was taken over by the Cung Nam Watch Group from Hong Kong. In 2009, Aargau entrepreneur Christian Frommherz acquired a majority stake in Roamer.

Ginsbo – Swiss watchmaking history with international appeal

The Ginsbo Watch Company was founded in Günsberg (canton of Solothurn) in 1923. In the 1960s and 1970s, the company employed over 60 people and carried out assembly (T1, T2, T3) and quality control in-house. Its main markets were Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Middle East. In Singapore, the watches were sold under the brand name Pagol.
Ginsbo used movements from renowned manufacturers such as ETA, FHF, AS, Valjoux, and Felsa. The model range included the Ginsbo-Matic, Coastguard, Air-Land-Sea (ALS), and Quartz-O-Tron lines, among others. The Pagol brand was developed specifically for the Asian market and was particularly successful there.
Today, Ginsbo is run by the third generation of the Kury family and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. The brand plans to bring mechanical watches back onto the market in the future. New-old-stock Ginsbo watches are available from WatchWorld GmbH.

Mido – Solothurn origins of a world-famous watch brand

The history of Mido began on November 11, 1918, in Solothurn, when Swiss watchmaker Georges Schaeren founded the watch manufacturer G. Schaeren & Cie. The brand name “Mido” is derived from the Spanish expression “Yo mido,” which means “I measure.”
In 1924, Henri Schaeren, who had previously worked as commercial director at Omega, joined the company. Together, they moved the company headquarters to Biel in 1946.
In the 1920s, Mido specialized in the manufacture of watches with cases modeled on the radiator grilles of popular car brands such as Buick, Bugatti, and Fiat. In 1934, Mido introduced the Multifort, the first watch to combine an automatic movement, water resistance, anti-magnetism, and shock resistance in a single model.
Today, Mido is headquartered in Le Locle and is part of the Swatch Group. The brand is represented in over 70 countries.

Solothurn Watchmaking School – From regional training center to Grenchen Time Center

The Solothurn Watchmaking School was founded in 1884 on the initiative of the local trade association. Initially, it had only two students, but just one year later, there were already 25. The school moved into its first premises on one floor of the Wirz carpentry and parquet factory.
Over the years, the school adapted to the needs of the industry. In 1931, the first re-finishing class was introduced, and in 1958 a special department for Roskopf watch assemblers was added. In 1972, the school was cantonalized and in 1976 became the only vocational school for watchmaking apprenticeships in German-speaking Switzerland.
In 1995, it was renamed ZeitZentrum, and the cantonal council decided to relocate it to Grenchen. The move was completed in 2002, and since then ZeitZentrum has been part of the Solothurn-Grenchen Vocational Training Center.
Today, the ZeitZentrum offers training courses in the fields of “watchmaker specializing in rhabillage,” “watchmaker specializing in industry,” and “watchmaker practitioner.” It has its own training workshops and a small watch museum.

WatchWorld – Watchmaking expertise from Solothurn

WatchWorld GmbH is currently the only company in Solothurn that is actively involved in the design and construction of mechanical watches and movements. The focus is on the technical development of movements and the implementation of individual, innovative solutions for watch companies and private customers.
The range of services is complemented by a renowned service and restoration workshop specializing in mechanical wristwatches and historical timepieces. The workshop is known for its precise overhauls, professional repairs, and detailed restorations.
WatchWorld combines in-depth technical knowledge with many years of experience, thereby making a significant contribution to the preservation and further development of the watchmaking tradition in Solothurn.