Felsa Watch Co.: Swiss Innovator in Automatic Movements Since 1918

The Felsa Watch Company is a historic Swiss watch movement manufacturer renowned for its pioneering contributions to automatic winding mechanisms and reliable watch calibers. Founded in Grenchen, Switzerland, in 1918, Felsa quickly established itself as an important player in horology, later becoming part of the major Swiss movement group Ebauches SA in 1928.
Key Highlights

Founded: 1918 in Grenchen, Switzerland, near other major factories like A. Schild.

Ebauches SA Integration: Joined the industrial conglomerate Ebauches SA in 1928, placing it alongside other significant Swiss movement manufacturers such as ETA and A. Schild.

Innovation Leader: Designer Friedrich Meyer patented an automatic winding mechanism in 1942 and improved it with a bi-directional winding patent in 1947.

Bidynator Movement: Felsa’s most famous product was the Bidynator automatic movement series, introduced in the 1940s, which featured the revolutionary bi-directional winding system—allowing the rotor to wind the mainspring regardless of the rotor’s direction.

Movement Impact: The Bidynator was widely used by prestigious brands including Breitling and Gübelin, gaining acclaim for its reliability, efficiency, and being among the first to improve upon Rolex’s automatic winding patents.

Technical Excellence: The company specialized primarily in automatic movements, earning a license and specialization within the Swiss maker cartel due to their pioneering winding system.

Legacy: Felsa movements are prized by vintage watch collectors for their engineering quality and historical importance in advancing automatic watch technology.

Modern Status: The Felsa name survives today under the Swatch Group umbrella, continuing the legacy of Swiss movement manufacturing.

Why Felsa Matters

Automatic Winding Pioneer: Among the first to introduce and perfect bi-directional automatic winding, a feature that is now standard in automatic watches worldwide.

Influence on Swiss Watchmaking: Integral to the industrial consolidation and innovation of the mid-20th century Swiss watch industry.

Collector Appeal: Vintage Felsa movements, especially Bidynator calibers, are highly regarded for their smooth, silent winding and robust performance.

Historical Significance: Represents Swiss ingenuity in mechanical watch movement engineering and set benchmarks for reliability and automatic efficiency.

Felsa Watch Co. remains a landmark name in Swiss horology, celebrated for its innovative spirit and crucial role in the evolution of the automatic wristwatch.