Pequena história da Lemania:
"Lugrin SA, established in 1884 and created by Alfred Lugrin, was a workshop specialized in complicated movements (like chronographs and repetition movements). It was based in Le Sentier, Switzerland, in the Vallée de Joux and not far from Lake Léman. The story says that he was taught the watchmaking knowledge by the son of a farmer. Lugrin earned medals for the quality of his work in 1906 (Milan fair) and 1914 (Bern fair). In 1930 the firm becomes “Lemania Watch Co.” on the impulse of the young watchmaker Marius Meylan, seemingly in recognition of the Leman caliber.
It later became part of SSIH (Société suisse pour l’industrie horlogère), the merging with Omega and Tissot, in 1932, during a time of crisis for the watch industry. Lemania's chronograph specialty enabled Omega to become the official timer of the Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the same year. SSIH quickly grew to over 50 companies.
Later, in 1981, Lemania is separated from the SSIH group and renamed “Nouvelle Lemania”.
In 1983, SSIH merged with USUAG (Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG, which includes Longines, Rado and other parts manufacturers). The newly formed group was named SMH (Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie) in 1986.
Two years later, SHM was renamed to “Swatch Group”, in recognition of the efforts of the small Swatch to save the Swiss watch industry.
In 1992 Nouvelle Lemania goes to Investcorp and the Breguet group (“Groupe Horloger Breguet”, a.k.a. GHB). Finally, in 1999 Breguet becomes part of the Swatch Group, and so does Lemania.
Inside the new group, Lemania, chronographs and complication movements, became “Manufacture de Haute Horlogerie Breguet”. Lemania's official name is “Montres Breguet” today, though the name on the door of the workshop still says “Lemania”, probably due to this rich history."
Fonte:
http://www.thewatchforum.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=43956A dúvida é se a afirmação a seguir procede: "Lemanina is just a "brandlabel" today. The movements and ebauches are made by ETA, but only used by Breguet, Blancpain, Patek Philippe and in the Omega Speedmaster Professional".
Ok, a Lemania virou isso, aquilo e aquilo outro, mas a estrutura original da Lemania se perdeu? É tudo fabricado sob o "teto" da ETA? Sei lá, em uma fábrica gigante onde se faz tudo o que hoje habita os relógios do Swatch Group...
Apenas Breguet, Blancpain, Patek e Omega? Ou seja, o "Lemania" mas em conta hoje me parece ser o Speed.
Tirando a permanência na Omega (que sempre os utilizou), por que essa "elitização" dos calibres "pé-de-boi" da antiga Lemania?
Abraço,
Murilo