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Seja bem vindo, Alexandre!
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Esta é uma breve história, não sei autorizada, da marca Mondaine.
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HISTORY OF THE MONDAINE GROUP
1951 Establishment of the company "Frank & Bernheim", a trading company for the importation and distribution of watches in Brazil. Establishment of the company "Relogios Suiço Ltda.", Rio de Janeiro/Brazil.
1954 Registration of the trademark Mondaine.
1956 Sales of watches in South America exceed 500’000 units
1958 Establishment of "Neuchâtel Importaçao Ltda.", Sao Paulo/Brazil.
1959 Due to the unreliability of various suppliers and the inadequacy of their products,Mondaine:- takes over "Neuchâtel SA", Neuchâtel, Switzerland, a small manufacturer of lever-watches (production 400 watches a year).- establishes "Constructa Watch Ltd.", Bettlach/ Switzerland, for the commencement of production of pin-lever watches.
1967 Establishment of "Remonta, Bernheim & Co." A factory to manufacture lever-watches is built in Biberist/Switzerland.
1970 Development of digital watches (LED), in a joint-venture with Hughes Aircraft.
1972 Development of the word's first digital watches with liquid-crystal-display (LCD) in co-operation with Brown Boveri & Co. (BBC) and Hoffmann La Roche.
1975 Introduction to the watch market of the world's first consumer programmable LCD watches fitted with microprocessor.
1977 Relocation of the headquarters and development department to Mondaine-House in Zurich. Introduction of the Solar Quartz watch with both analog and digital displays.
1979 Construction of the "Quartz Eletron" watch factory in Manaus/Brazil.
1981 Second stage extension and expansion of the “Quartz Eletron” factory to manufacture leather watch straps.
1982 Third stage extension of the “Quartz Eletron” factory for the implementation of galvanizing plant.
Founding of the company “Artefatos de Couro Ltda.” in Manaus Brazil, for the production of small leather goods.
1983 Development of the M-Watch ("Volkswagen-Watch") in only 28 days.
Launching of the M-Watch in Switzerland (exclusively at Migros) and its introduction internationally by Mondaine.
Outline and introduction of an international "after sales service" network for M-Watch/Mondaine (Mondaine International Service Organization, MISO).
1984 Development and presentation of world innovations: two new case constructions for water-resistant watches with shaped glass: "Swiss AquaStop"-System (SAS) and "Swiss SafetyBloc"-System (SSB).
Mondaine Watch Ltd. acquires the exclusive rights to use the official IOC picture symbols on its watches for the Winter and Summer Olympic Games in Sarajevo and Los Angeles.
Fourth expansion in Brazil with the construction of a plastics injection moulding plant in Manaus/Brazil.
1985 M-Watch presents yet another world innovation: the "Adam and Eve" collection. A water resistant, repairable, plastic watch without a metal pressure bezel, based on the Vertical Press-System (VPS).
1986 Introduction of the "Alu" collection, a water resistant aluminium M-Watch. Sales of the M-Watch on the Swiss market reach the 1 000 000 mark after 3 1/2 years.
1987 Presentation of the M-Watch "Leader"-Collection with steel cases, as well
as of the first Railway wrist watch.
1988 The Bernheim family buys the shares of their formation-partner Egon Frank and takes over full control of Mondaine Watch Ltd. Opening of a department, specializing in "advertising give-away watches", Direct Marketing and trader-net.
1989 Mondaine takes over the Swiss watch-case factory, LUSA S.A., which is renamed MERIT PRODUCTIONS S.A.
2'000'000 plastic M-Watches sold in Switzerland since 1983.
Development of new principle in the design and construction of water resistant, curved watches with form opening, based on the Swiss Aqua Stop"-System (SAS).
Exclusive Licence contract with the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) for the production and worldwide distribution of the Railway watch with the official SBB-Logo (wrist-, pocket- and table-models).
1990 Introduction of the brand "Mondaine" to the Swiss market. Sales of M-Watches on the Swiss market approaches 2'500'000.
1991 Development of the world's very first post-consumer “recycling” watch.
The brass cases for these watches are produced entirely from recycled scrap metal objects that have already seen consumer service. Notarial attestation certificate provided.
Introduction of a series of chronographs and automatic watches featuring cases of man-made materials, millions of which have been successfully produced. Exclusive licensing rights for production and distribution of the German Inter City Express (ICE) and childrens watch PINGU.
1992 Founding of Mondaine Swiss Watch (Far East) Ltd., in Hong Kong, to strengthen the market penetration in the Pacific region.
1993 Ecological “Oko” Alp Action Corporate Partner Award” received from Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, President of the Alp Action Foundation, during the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, in recognition of the development and production of the world's first post-consumer recycled ECOMATIC and ECOQUARTZ watches with cases made from 100% post consumer recycled metal.
Awarded the German Design Plus 93 Prize for the innovative design and the ecological concept of Mondaine's official Swiss Railways Watch
10 Year jubilee since the launch of the M-WATCH
3 Million M-WATCHES sold on the Swiss market since 1983.
Marketing Director of Migros, personally assembles the three millionth
M-WATCH sold by his company.
The chairman of the Design Museum London, Sir Terence Conran, unveils the official Swiss railway station clock in the Museum in honour of Mondaine's design watches and their ecological concept.
Mondaine Watch Ltd. is the Official Timer of "Tour de Suisse" 1993.
The Mondaine Group is expanded with the newly founded Swiss Company Melco Watch Ltd. appointed as the worldwide licencees for wrist-watches with the heavily advertised brand name "Camel Trophy Adventure Watches".
1994 Bronze Award 1994 of the Art Directors Club of Switzerland for the Mondaine Design Line.
Celebrated Swiss artists co-operate with Mondaine to create exclusive products: H.R. Giger, Oscar-winner and surrealist, develops one of his extraordinary signed works for Mondaine, of which an integral part is a watch with the case being made from post-consumer recycled metal.
New York I and II are published in art books and taken up by the trade.
The eminent artist Bernhard Luginbühl, together with the Mondaine team, develops a limited edition series of a wrist-watch based upon the recycling concept and “bedded” on steel wool in its presentation case.
For the third time, Mondaine was the Official time keeper for the Tour de Suisse 1994.
The Swiss watch trade receives their supplies of “Camel Trophy Adventure Watches” and “Mondaine Design Line” watches directly from the Mondaine subsidiary, Melco Watch Ltd. A professionally qualified field service and a fully computerized supply depot backed up by considerable advertising support ensure a strong market presence.
Mondaine Design Line achieves a break-through in Japan. An official Swiss National Railways clock is installed in the largest Tokyo shopping center.
Since July 1994, in the Zürich main railway station, the time has been shown by the Swiss National Railway “Meeting Point” clock, which bears the Mondaine trademark, and is located some four metres above the concourse of the most frequented of the Swiss railway stations.
As a result of expansion and the computer network installation of the distribution centre in Courfaivre (Swiss Jura), deliveries in Switzerland are now being made within six hours after receipt of order. The repair and spare parts centre in Biberist (Solothurn) has also been connected to the Group internal computer network for greater efficiency.
1995 The outdoor advertising campaign in Switzerland, was continued in 1995 so as to strengthen the market image of the Mondaine product lines.
“Mondaine Swiss Watch (Far East) Ltd.” moved into larger premises and its activities increased sales in Japan and other countries of the Pacific Zone. It has achieved a market share for the M-Watch and Mondaine ranges.
Mondaine Design Line was introduced into the USA in eight trade exhibitions in New York, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Orlando and other cities. The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York (MOMA) includes this Swiss Design collection in their Museum shop.
The dynamic expansion of the “Mondaine International Service Organisation” (MISO), has resulted in this international customer service network of the Zürich Group becoming an ever more appealing sales argument for the wholesale and retail trades. With this development, those who wear watches bearing the brands, M-Watch, Mondaine, Camel Trophy Adventure Watches, can, have complete confidence in guarantee commitments being met internationally by a competent trade repair service.
1996 Mondaine, in spite of economic instability of its markets, is being successful in meeting its budgeted sales forecasts. In the Far East, the markets in Japan, and Hong Kong are being expanded. The trademarks of Mondaine, M-Watch and Camel Trophy Adventure Watches continue to gain entry into new sales territories. In Europe too, powerful marketing partners and innovative watch designs contribute to increasing sales.
Mondaine introduced the more expensive "S-CLASS" Railway watch collection with its simple but distinctive steel watch case and saphire glass only into selected first class shops. The more moderately priced and multi-prize winning "R-CLASS" with its case made from scrap metal (100 % post-consumer recycled brass) and mineral glass will continue to be sold in recognised watch shops, designer shops and in the better department stores. Teams of display personnell and merchandisers support the point of sale outlets.
The “Private Label”, and “Advertising Watches” departments are responsible for the creation of innovative ideas and watches - mostly graphic computer aided, the personalisation of dials by incorporating individual names (internet transmission) and the “Do it Yourself” watches that are decorated by the consumers themselves.
1997 Mondaine concludes Licensing agreements with designers (Pictowatch, Itten, Hans Donner).
Mondaine Watch Ltd., exhibited at the German Inhorgenta Fair for the first time. A French team built a temporary Mondaine Design Museum in Munich.
Systematically being continued is the build-up of Mondaine’s own brands, (Mondaine, M-Watch,Nobel), licensed brands ( Camel Trophy Adventure Watches) and the departments for “Private Label” and advertising watches.
Distribution is now in over 60 countries and the Duty Free sector.
Time measuring in agreeable international surroundings at the CSI equestrial meeting in Zurich - Mondaine was granted the opportunity to attend as the manufacturer of the watch carrying the name “Calvaro”, perhaps to-day’s most celebrated horse, which also visited Mondaine’s factory.
The Bally Shoe Company signs a long term licence agreement with Mondaine Watch Ltd. for the production and world-wid distribution of high quality Bally watches.
1998 On the 1 January 1998 Mondaine Watch Ltd. takes over the commercial activities of Melco Watch Ltd. and Marlox. Reorganisation of the head office in Zurich.
The Mondaine distributors of the “Camel Trophy Adventure Watches” meet in Davos for a workshop lasting several days. The new orientation of the trophy events, the world-wide marketing of the trade-name Camel Trophy and the watch novelties are presented in a winter pleasant setting, animated by sportive activities.
Mondaine designates “Precise International” of New York as the first distributor of the trade-name “Mondaine Design Line” and the new “Bally Line” for the United States and the Caribbean.
Official timekeeper at the international horse-riding event CSI, Zurich. The worlds elite ten top riders are present at the “start”.
A novelty is launched in Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse. The official Railway watch of the Swiss Railways has a new model “Stop to go” representing the latest technical innovation for this model which allows the second hand disc to `wait for time’ at 12 o’clock.
With intense media coverage the Camel Trophy is held successfully in South America (Patagonia). Various new kinds of sport are exercised with the much-appreciated Camel Trophy team spirit and characterise the event held in a landscape of snow and ice. This event plays a crucial part for the marketing of the Camel Trophy Watches.
Jean-Michel Cousteau visits Switzerland on the 10 and 11 July to introduce his new watch collection to the public and the media. This major event is held in the IMAX Cinema in Lucerne. Mondaine Watch Ltd. and the important distributor Migros launch successfully this collection as a complement to the M-Watch. Important media coverage.
With the help of Jean-Michel Cousteau, the famous whale Willy, featuring in the film Free Willy is taken from Oregon (USA) back home to Iceland in September. Via Internet, Mondaine Watch Ltd. offers a Keiko Watch to celebrate this event. The home-bringing can be watched worldwide on internet thanks to underwater and in-flight videos.
The department specialised in Private Label advertising watches books record results and is build-out accordingly. The organisation of the after-sale service and quality control is revised and once again modernised. (2-year program).
The Mondaine Design Line is taken on by new museum, design and specialised retail shops. Record turnovers in Japan despite the Asian crisis thanks to the dynamic of the importer (Anita) and the constants support of the subsidiary Mondaine (Far East) Swiss Watch Ltd.
1999 The 60 distribution partners of Mondaine meet at the beginning of the new year. The collection and marketing concept for the new Bally-Watch find general support. Camel Trophy and its new consumer friendly concept are very welcomed. On the 5 March launching of the watch at the occasion of the Snowboard World Championship in Mehringen / Switzerland. The concept of cult-event is systematically applied in many countries.
Mondaine Design Line (specialised retailers) as well as M-Watch (large distributor) ask for improvement of selling points because of great turnover reserves.
Muraki, the known Japanese watch importer takes on the representation of Bally Watches.
Mondaine is official timer at the CSI in Zürich, Switzerland. The ten world top horse riders participate at the event.
A new two-floor stand will mark Mondaine ’s participation at the Basel 99 World Horological Fair. At Basel in the Beyeler Museum the watch brand Bally as well as the official Mondaine SF MOMA-Watch of Mario Botta, architect of the famous American Museum, will be presented to the media, to distributors and collectors as well as international personalities.
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Abraços e participe sempre que puder!
Alberto