Most watch histories are stories of brands. The Tavannes story is something rarer: the story of a factory that changed the industry forever.
For decades, the name "Tavannes" has been ignored by the mainstream watch market, eclipsed by the very brands it manufactured. While collectors chased names on dials, the true industrial powerhouse-the Tavannes Manufacture-remained hidden in the Jura mountains, churning out up to 750,000 precision timepieces a year by 1909.
In this 2026 Definitive Edition, horological researcher Kim Jang finally pulls back the curtain on the engineering genius of Henri-Frédéric Sandoz. This is not just a book about watches; it is a masterclass in industrial history, engineering, and the sophisticated, multi-brand export strategy that fueled a global empire.
Why This Book is Essential for Every Collector:If you own a Cyma, a New-Haven, a trench watch with a shrapnel guard, or a rare Russian-market timepiece, you likely own a piece of Tavannes production. This definitive monograph provides the tools to finally identify, authenticate, and value these hidden gems.
Inside, you will discover:
The Sandoz System: How Henri Sandoz adapted American mass-production methods to Swiss precision, building his own machine tools to achieve an industrial scale that shocked the industry and won the 1910 Brussels Grand Prix.
The Multi-Brand Map: A comprehensive breakdown of the 16+ brand names-including Cyma, Hermosa, Obi, and Dvina-that all originated from one single factory. Learn how to recognize Tavannes DNA regardless of the name on the dial.
Trench Watch Mastery: A dedicated guide to WWI military watches, featuring the "Daisy Crystal Guard," authentication frameworks, and the history of these battlefield essentials.
Collector's Authentication Protocol: A unique six-vector framework to protect your investment, featuring tips on identifying original shrapnel guards, repeater calibers, and correct hallmarks.
Market Intelligence: Real-world price trajectory data and investment strategies to help you spot undervalued Tavannes pieces before the wider market realizes their historical significance.
Stop Collecting Only Names-Start Collecting History.Whether you are a seasoned collector looking for the next undervalued horological discovery or a history enthusiast fascinated by the industrialization of the Swiss Jura, this book provides the definitive documentation of an era.
Understand not only what a Tavannes watch is, but how-and why-it came to exist.
