Revue Thommen: 170 Years of Swiss Watchmaking, From Cockpits to Revival
Key Takeaways Revue Thommen was founded in 1853 by Gédéon Thommen in Waldenburg, Switzerland, and has operated for more than 170 years The company built precision aircraft instruments for the Swiss Air Force starting in the 1930s, including altimeters, airspeed indicators, and aircraft clocks A full bankruptcy in 2000 nearly ended the brand, but Grovana Uhrenfabrik AG revived Revue Thommen's watchmaking business in 2001 The Cricket alarm watch, developed in 1947, is reported to have been worn by multiple U.S. presidents starting with Harry S. Truman Vaiana Express carries the current Revue Thommen watch collection for collectors interested in this heritage brand Most watch brands with 170 years of history make sure everyone knows it. Revue Thommen took a quieter path, building instruments that pilots, mountain climbers, and military officers trusted with their lives, while spending far less time polishing a marketing story. That history is worth understanding before adding one of t...