Charmex of Switzerland

Charmex of Switzerland is a Swiss watch manufacturer whose history reaches back to 1926, when Max Bürgin began his apprenticeship in one of the leading watch factories near Basel. Bürgin rose to head the technical department before founding his own watch business, pursuing the traditional art of manufacturing state-of-the-art timepieces. The company, formally Montres Charmex SA (also written Montres Charmex Ltd), is based in Liestal, Switzerland, and remains a family enterprise now in its third generation. Manfred Bürgin, today's President, joined the prospering company with his wife Kathleen in 1989; their son Frank M. Bürgin, today's CEO, followed in 1999 and continued the family's tradition. The brand's credo is to manufacture bespoke timepieces using only choice materials of the highest quality. Charmex positions itself against mediocre mass production, quoting John Ruskin and Sir Henry Royce to argue that perfection reveals itself in attention to the smallest details and the choice of materials. Alongside its own collections, the company presents itself as a "private label expert," producing bespoke private-label watches for discerning customers. Charmex's product range includes quartz and mechanical watches, chronographs and dive watches. Its Brands Hatch chronograph line, powered by the Ronda cal. 5030.D quartz movement, commemorates the famous English race track in Kent. Under the leadership of Manfred Bürgin the model range was expanded and the name was changed to Charmex – of Switzerland. In 1992 the company added the Swiss-Military brand, building a further field of activity as a maker of Swiss army watches. In the third generation under Frank M. Bürgin, Charmex also produces automatic watches with COSC certification. The company gained international attention through its Swiss-Military dive watches. The "12'000 Feet" set a depth record for serially produced dive watches in 2005, earning an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. The record was repeated in 2009 when Charmex presented the "20'000 Feet" at the Baselworld watch fair: a mechanical chronograph in a titanium case that withstands a depth of over 6,000 metres, described as the only serially produced three-hand watch with a mechanical movement to survive that pressure undamaged. Charmex maintains a direct sales and service presence through its website, offering FAQs, sales and service information, and regular updates via Facebook, Pinterest and LinkedIn. The brand remains active as a niche Swiss watchmaker combining traditional craftsmanship with private-label expertise.

The history of Montres Charmex Ltd goes as far back as 1926. This was the year when Max Bürgin started his apprenticeship in one of the leading watch factories near Basel, Switzerland. His exceptional talents soon caught the attention of the management - he was promoted and eventually made head of the technical department. What he really wanted though was to have his own watch business, pursuing the traditional art of manufacturing state-of-the-art timepieces. His dream finally came true and later on in 1989 his son Manfred Bürgin, today's President together with his wife Kathleen joined the by then prospering company. 1999 their son Frank M. Bürgin, today's CEO followed and thus continued the family's tradition. Manufacturing bespoke timepieces using but choice materials of the highest quality remains the credo of Montres Charmex Ltd to this very day. According to the German Wikipedia, Max Bürgin founded the company in 1926 with the principle "My buyers should get only the best for their money." He invested heavily in technology and qualified watchmakers to increase quality and develop the classic Charmex design. Under the leadership of his son Manfred Bürgin, the model range was expanded and the name was changed to Charmex – of Switzerland. In 1992 the Swiss-Military brand followed, with which Charmex built a further field of activity as a manufacturer of Swiss army watches. In the third generation with Frank M. Bürgin, the company now produces, among other things, automatic watches with COSC certification. With the Swiss-Military diver "12'000 Feet," the company produced a watch that set the depth record for serially produced dive watches in 2005. This led to an entry in the Guinness Book of Records. This record was repeated in 2009 when Charmex presented the "20'000 Feet" at the Baselworld watch fair: the mechanical chronograph in a titanium case withstands a depth of over 6,000 metres. This is the only serially produced three-hand watch with a mechanical movement that survives this pressure without damage. The company continues to operate from Liestal, Switzerland, and presents itself on its website as a "private label expert" offering bespoke private-label watches for discerning customers, alongside its own branded collections such as Brands Hatch.

• 2009

  Charmex presents the "20'000 Feet" at Baselworld, repeating the depth record with a mechanical chronograph in a titanium case.

• 2005

  Swiss-Military "12'000 Feet" sets the depth record for serially produced dive watches, earning a Guinness Book of Records entry.

• 1999

  Frank M. Bürgin, today's CEO, joins and continues the family's tradition.

• 1992

  Swiss-Military brand added, building a further field of activity as a maker of Swiss army watches.

• 1989

  Manfred Bürgin, today's President, and his wife Kathleen join the prospering company.

• 1926

  Max Bürgin starts his apprenticeship in a leading watch factory near Basel, Switzerland.

• 1926

  Max Bürgin founds his own watch business, later Montres Charmex.

Bespoke Swiss watchmaking and private-label expertise, opposing mediocre mass production with quality, design and functionality.

• Brands Hatch 2910

  Men's chronograph, Ronda cal. 5030.D quartz movement, 13 jewels, white dial, rose gold PVD plated stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, 5 ATM, brown leather strap. CHF 1213.

• Brands Hatch 2911

  Men's chronograph, Ronda cal. 5030.D quartz movement, 13 jewels, black dial, rose gold PVD plated stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, 5 ATM, black leather strap. CHF 1213.

• Brands Hatch 2912

  Men's chronograph, Ronda cal. 5030.D quartz movement, 13 jewels, tobacco dial, rose gold PVD plated stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, 5 ATM, brown leather strap. CHF 1213.

• Brands Hatch 2913

  Men's chronograph, Ronda cal. 5030.D quartz movement, 13 jewels, blue dial, rose gold PVD plated stainless steel case, sapphire crystal, 5 ATM, black leather strap. CHF 1213.

• Swiss-Military 12'000 Feet

  Dive watch that set the depth record for serially produced dive watches in 2005, earning a Guinness Book of Records entry.

• Swiss-Military 20'000 Feet

  Mechanical chronograph in a titanium case presented at Baselworld 2009, withstands a depth of over 6,000 metres; described as the only serially produced three-hand watch with a mechanical movement to survive that pressure undamaged.

1. 1Startcharmex.ch
2. 2Traditioncharmex.ch
3. 3Brands Hatchcharmex.ch
4. 4Quest for Excellencycharmex.ch
5. 5Charmex of Switzerlandwikidata.org
6. 6Charmexde.wikipedia.org