Roamer (watchmaker)

Roamer of Switzerland
Private
Industry Watch manufacturing
Founded 1888
Founder Fritz Meyer
Headquarters Solothurn, Switzerland
Products Watches
Website http://www.roamer.ch

Roamer is a Swiss watch manufacturer.

History

1908 MST 41
Roamer Anfibio 414

Roamer was founded in Solothurn, Switzerland, in 1888 by Fritz Meyer. At first, Meyer and employees concentrated on manufacturing cylinder escapements,[1] in 1904 Meyer began assembling watches. In 1905 [2] Meyer joined forces with fellow watchmaker Johann Studeli to form the partnership Meyer and Studeli. In the same year[3] Meyer won a Bronze medal at the Liege World Fair. The partnership continued to develop new calibres and enter them into more World Fairs, winning Silver Medals at the Milan Fair in 1906 and Brussels Fair in 1910.[3]

The earliest identified watch is an unmarked Ladies pocket watch containing an MST 41 cylinder escapement that has London silver hallmarks for 1908.[3]

In 1917[3] they purchased fellow Solothurn watchmaker L Tieche Gammeter (LTG). LTG had previously registered the brand "Roamer" in 1908.[3] In 1918 the partnership incorporated into the company Meyer & Studeli SA.[3]

By 1923, production grew to one million units. The jeweled lever-escapement watches were sold under the brand 'Roamer'. Cylinder, and later pin-lever, watches were sold under the brands Medana and Meda.[2] In 1932[2] the company started its own dial production line. In 1945, a representative office opened in New York City and in 1952 Meyer and Studeli officially changed its name to Roamer Watch Co. SA. In 1955,[1] Roamer patented the Anfibio watertight watch case, which proved to be a commercial success. The company launched its first quartz movement in 1972.

In 2003, Roamer returned to manufacturing mechanical watches.[4]

In 2013, its 125. year anniversary, Roamer launched a limited new edition of the Stingray Chrono Diver watch.[5]

Roamer is a member of Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH.[6]

Product lines

References

  1. 1 2 http://www.roamer.ch
  2. 1 2 3 http://www.roamer-watches.info
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 http://www.mirius.co.uk
  4. ↑ http://roamer.ch/brand/history/
  5. ↑ http://www.masterhorologer.com/2013/08/roamer-of-switzerland-stingray-chrono.html
  6. ↑ http://www.fhs.ch/eng/watch_brands.html?letter=R

Other Resources

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