Société Suisse pour l'Industrie Horlogère
Encyclopedia
Société Suisse pour l’Industrie Horlogère was the second most important Swiss Watch Group, holding Omega and Tissot
.
It was created on February 24, 1930 in Geneva
by Tissot et Omega, to be joined as from 1932 by Lemania Watch Co & A. Lugrin Co in L'Orient (Vallée de Joux
) specialized in the manufacture of horological complications
, enabling Omega to obtain the timing
of the Summer Olympic Games
1932 in Los Angeles
. This was an important step for the development of Omega’s important Sports’ Watches segment with exclusive chronograph
s, such as the famous Omega Speedmaster Professional Moon watch.
The merger agreement foresaw Omega’s concentration on the luxury watch segment, whereas Tissot's mission was to concentrate on the medium price range segment.
In 1983, SSIH and the Allgemeine Gesellschaft der schweizerischen Uhrenindustrie AG
(ASUAG) the other most important Swiss Watch Group, were forced by their Swiss Banks to merge into a new holding company named Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie
(SMH), which has now been renamed the Swatch Group.
Dr Ernst Thomke
was its first CEO until 1991. He instigated a total overhaul of both Omega and Tissot line of products, positioning both brands successfully back into the world markets.
Tissot
Tissot is a luxury Swiss watchmaker company founded in 1853 by Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile Tissot who established the Tissot factory in the Swiss city of Le Locle, in the Neuchâtel area of the Jura Mountains....
.
It was created on February 24, 1930 in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
by Tissot et Omega, to be joined as from 1932 by Lemania Watch Co & A. Lugrin Co in L'Orient (Vallée de Joux
Vallée de Joux
The Vallée de Joux is a valley of the Jura Mountains in the Swiss Canton of Vaud. Located 20 miles north of Geneva and Lausanne, its mean elevation is over 3300 feet . There are three lakes in the Vallée de Joux : the lac de Joux , the lac Brenet and the lac Ter...
) specialized in the manufacture of horological complications
Complication (horology)
In horology , complication refers to any feature in a timepiece beyond the simple display of hours, minutes, and seconds.A timepiece indicating only hours, minutes, and seconds is otherwise known as a simple movement...
, enabling Omega to obtain the timing
Timing
Timing is the time when something happens or the spacing of events in time. Some typical uses are:* The act of measuring the elapsed time of something or someone, often at athletic events such as swimming or running, where participants are timed with a device such as a stopwatch...
of the Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
1932 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. This was an important step for the development of Omega’s important Sports’ Watches segment with exclusive chronograph
Chronograph
A chronograph is a timepiece or watch with both timekeeping and stopwatch functions as well as other functions. Pocket watch chronographs were produced as early as the 18th century but did not become popular until the 1820s...
s, such as the famous Omega Speedmaster Professional Moon watch.
The merger agreement foresaw Omega’s concentration on the luxury watch segment, whereas Tissot's mission was to concentrate on the medium price range segment.
In 1983, SSIH and the Allgemeine Gesellschaft der schweizerischen Uhrenindustrie AG
Allgemeine Gesellschaft der schweizerischen Uhrenindustrie AG
Allgemeine Schweizerische Uhrenindustrie AG is the former biggest Swiss Watch Industry Group that had been created with the assistance of the Swiss Government and the Swiss Banks, as an answer to the crisis called upon by the Big Depression, in 1931.1983, « ASUAG » and , then the second most...
(ASUAG) the other most important Swiss Watch Group, were forced by their Swiss Banks to merge into a new holding company named Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie
Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie
Société de Microélectronique et d'Horlogerie was the original name of the new holding company issued from the merger enforced by the Swiss Banks in 1983 of both the SSIH and ASUAG, now Swatch Group ....
(SMH), which has now been renamed the Swatch Group.
Dr Ernst Thomke
Ernst Thomke
Dr. Ernst Thomke was born on 21 April 1939 in Biel/Bienne Canton of Berne, on the Franco-German linguistic border. His father was a practicing physician. First a trained mechanic, he acquired the Swiss federal maturity degree and pursued academic studies, while in employment...
was its first CEO until 1991. He instigated a total overhaul of both Omega and Tissot line of products, positioning both brands successfully back into the world markets.