Cyma Watches

Cyma-Sarl, SA

Type	Privately held company Public (HKEX)
Industry	Watchmaking
Founded	1862 in Le Locle, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Founder(s)	Joseph Schwob, Theodre Schwob
Headquarters	La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Key people	Under care of Universal Geneve
Products	Watches

Cyma SA is a Swiss manufacture of upscale and high-quality wristwatches, founded by brothers Joseph and Theodre Schwob in 1862. With equal emphasis for their accuracy and visual aesthetic, Cyma's automatic timepieces have been long reputable for their resilience to electricity, magnetism and varying temperatures.^[1] The company is currently owned by Stelux International, Ltd.^[2] a Hong Kong-based holdings firm which invests primarily in fine jewelery and watches, and is overseen by fellow Fédération de L'industrie Horlogère Suisse member Universal Geneve.^[3]

History

The Schwob brothers named the company cyma, the French word for summit. In early years, the company had a staff of 40 people and 55 machines that together produced about 40 watches a day. However, it was not until 1892 in which the brothers partnered with Frederic Henri Sandoz, the owner of the watch wholesale company, Henri Sandoz and Cie, that the business expanded. Under Sandoz's leadership, the company became the Cyma Watch Company and built the famous Cyma factory in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland in the Jura Mountains, near Le Locle. Both towns had been the center of the Swiss watchmaking industry during the 19th century.

The company is currently located in Le Locle and is provincially managed by Claude and Françoise Guilgot. On 9th September 2010, Cyma SA and E-Watch organised a big event in Yverdon to launch their new brand collection : Myriad.

Price and Value

Cyma watches from the 1950's retailed between approximately $400 and $25,000 (figures adjusted to 2010 inflation). ^[4]

References

1. ^ The jewelers' circular and horological review, Volume 56. May 27, 1908. 
2. ^ "HKGCC Directory". hkgcc.org.hk. http://www.hkgcc.org.hk/en/membership/directory_detail.aspx?id=HKS0181. Retrieved 2011-09-28. 
3. ^ "The Swiss Watch Industry - Watch producers (direct FH members)". fhs.ch. http://www.fhs.ch/en/addresses.php?list=39. Retrieved 2011-09-28. 
4. ^ Edward K. Thompson, (Editor in Chief) (1953). CYMA - "two-million-shock test!" (Oct 12, 1953; page 210). LIFE Magazine.