Buren Watch Co.: Swiss Innovator and Pioneer of the Micro-Rotor

The Buren Watch Company is a historic Swiss manufacturer known for its technical innovation and contribution to both civilian and military watchmaking from the late 19th century through the 1970s.
Key Highlights

Founded: 1898 in Büren an der Aare, Switzerland, following the acquisition of Fritz Suter & Cie by London’s H. Williamson Ltd

Early Production: Produced pocket watches and table clocks, building a reputation for quality exports, especially to England

Brand Identity: Began using the “Büren Watch Co.” name from 1916. After the 1929 financial crisis, became Swiss-managed as Uhrenfabrik Buren AG

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World War II Contribution: Selected as one of the “Dirty Dozen” manufacturers, producing over 11,000 cal. 426 military watches for the British Army—rugged, luminous-dial general service timepieces that are now highly collectible

Technical Firsts:

Micro-Rotor Invention (1954–1958): Patented and produced the first truly integrated “micro-rotor” automatic movement, allowing ultra-flat automatic watches. This breakthrough led to the development of the world’s first automatic chronograph (Chronomatic Cal. 11), in collaboration with Heuer, Breitling, and Hamilton in 1969

Ownership Changes: Sold to Hamilton Watch Co. (1966); by 1971 it became part of the SSIH Group (now Swatch Group). The original company ceased Swiss operations in 1972

Modern Use: The Buren name today appears on some modern watches, often using old stock or ETA movements by Swiss Watches Editions (Hamburg)