Adria and Adriatica are parent Swiss watch brands manufacturing for Eastern European markets.
Origin
The name originates from the
Etruscan __NOTOC__
Etruscan may refer to:
Ancient civilization
*Etruscan civilization (1st millennium BC) and related things:
**Etruscan language
** Etruscan architecture
**Etruscan art
**Etruscan cities
**Etruscan coins
**Etruscan history
**Etruscan myt ...
city of Atria (or
Adria
Adria is a town and ''comune'' in the province of Rovigo in the Veneto region of northern Italy, situated between the mouths of the rivers Adige and Po River, Po. The remains of the Etruria, Etruscan city of Atria or Hatria are to be found below ...
) that also gave its name at a much earlier period to the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
. It is believed that the name dates from 1931
or earlier.
History
The history of Adria and Adriatica as watch
trademark
A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a form of intellectual property that consists of a word, phrase, symbol, design, or a combination that identifies a Good (economics and accounting), product or Service (economics), service f ...
s is closely associated with the
Belle Époque
The Belle Époque () or La Belle Époque () was a period of French and European history that began after the end of the Franco-Prussian War in 1871 and continued until the outbreak of World War I in 1914. Occurring during the era of the Fr ...
period through the Montilier Watch Co, established in 1852 in
Montilier, close to Morat/
Murten
Murten (German language, German, ) or Morat (French language, French, ; ) is a bilingual Municipalities of Switzerland, municipality and a city in the See (district of Fribourg), See district of the Cantons of Switzerland, canton of Fribourg (can ...
, at the foot of the
Watch Valley The "Watch Valley" covers all the Swiss Jura Arc, from Geneva to Basel, and is the primary location of the Swiss watch-making industry.
Beginning initially in 15th century Geneva, the cradle of the European time keeping industry, and spreading nor ...
, Switzerland. The brands were dormant from the start of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
until 1949.
From 1962 two associated watch companies, established in
Biel/Bienne
Biel/Bienne (official bilingual wording; German language, German: ''Biel'' ; French language, French: ''Bienne'' ; Bernese German, locally ; ; ; ) is a bilingual city in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. With over 55,000 residents, it is the ...
and
Basel
Basel ( ; ), also known as Basle ( ), ; ; ; . is a city in northwestern Switzerland on the river Rhine (at the transition from the High Rhine, High to the Upper Rhine). Basel is Switzerland's List of cities in Switzerland, third-most-populo ...
, took over the manufacturing and marketing of Adria and Adriatica watch in partnership, designing mainly classical round pink gold-plated ladies’ and some gentlemen's models, and a special model called "Adriatica World Champion". Both brands, especially Adriatica, flourished in the
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a subregion#Europe, subregion of northern Europe, with strong historical, cultural, and linguistic ties between its constituent peoples. ''Scandinavia'' most commonly refers to Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can sometimes also ...
n countries, and also, especially, in
Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
. Adriatica watches started being increasingly imported discreetly into
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia to the northeast, Belarus and Ukrai ...
by seafaring people and being distributed there and in many of the non-communist countries, becoming established in the Eastern part of Europe.
In 1989, foreseeing the opening of trade, a family who owned the company —took over the brands and developed them as manufacturers and distributors. Adriatica watches have always been
Swiss made
Swiss made is a label or marking used to indicate that a product was made on the territory of Switzerland. It is also a geographical indication protected under different Swiss and international laws and treaties. According to the Swiss Federal ...
. Since 1998 they have been manufactured by their own company, PR & A Watch Sagl, in
Dongio
Dongio is a village and former municipality in the canton of Ticino, Switzerland.
It was first recorded in year 1188 as ''Deuci''.
The municipality also contained the villages Marogno and Motto. It had 532 inhabitants in 1682, which decreased ...
, in the watchmaking area of
Ticino
Ticino ( ), sometimes Tessin (), officially the Republic and Canton of Ticino or less formally the Canton of Ticino, is one of the Canton of Switzerland, 26 cantons forming the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. It is composed of eight districts ...
, the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. Adriatica is a full member of the
Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) is the Swiss watch industry's leading trade association, headquartered in Bienne, Switzerland. The Federation is a private, professional and non-profit association.
The Federation of the Swiss Wa ...
.
See also
*
Cabot Watch Company
Cabot Watch Company (CWC) is a producer of Swiss Made timepieces for the British military as well as consumers worldwide.
CWC was founded by Ray Mellor, who served in the Merchant Navy during the Battle of the Atlantic in World War II. Followin ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official WebsiteInvicta Watches
Belle Époque
Economy of Ticino
Manufacturing companies established in 1852
Swiss companies established in 1852
Swiss watch brands