The story behind the hourglass — more than 140 years of independent Swiss watchmaking, now at home in North America. From a love story in Biel to the deepest dive watches and the fastest race stages on earth, this is how Edox became The Water Champion.
The founding
1860 — Christian Rüefli-Flury, founder of Edox, is born in Courrendlin, Switzerland, the son of a foundry master.
1870 — He begins his watchmaking apprenticeship.
1883 — After working for watchmaker Jean Ægler in Biel/Bienne, he marries Pauline Flury.
1884 — A true love story. Christian creates a pocket watch for his wife’s 25th birthday. So taken with it, Pauline convinces him to start his own company in Biel. He names it Edox — “the measuring of time” in ancient Greek.
1900 — The birth of a logo. The hourglass becomes Edox’s timeless symbol, and remains part of the official logo to this day.
A growing manufacture
1955 — A growing company. Edox employs 500 watchmakers and moves to modern facilities, becoming one of Switzerland’s leading watch manufacturers.
The Water Champion era
1961 — The Delfin. Edox launches the Delfin with a double caseback and double O’ring system, and patents a crown with a double gasket for water resistance in Bern. The invention is still used by several major Swiss watch brands today.
1965 — The Hydro-Sub. Water resistant to 500 metres, with a crown system featuring a tension ring and shock-absorbing gasket.
1969 — The Bluebird. A scratch-resistant case and glass with a reinforced double-backed case.
1970 — The Geoscope. The world’s first truly global timepiece, covering approximately 50 time zones on a single dial.
Records and complications
1998 — Les Bémonts Ultra Slim. The world’s slimmest calendar watch, with a movement just 1.4 mm thick — a technical record still held by Edox to this day.
2005 — Les Bémonts Maître Horloger. A 5-minute repeater with a bell mechanism.
Champion of speed
2007 — Partnership with Swedish supercar maker Koenigsegg, producing exceptional chronographs.
2008 — Edox becomes official timekeeper of the Class-1 World Powerboat Championship — the first watch manufacturer to time high-class offshore racing.
2010 — Official WRC timekeeper; launch of the Chronorally collection for rally drivers.
2012–2013 — Official timekeeper of the Dakar Rally (2012), then the Extreme Sailing Series and the World Curling Federation (2013).
2013 — The Delfin returns, reviving an emblematic collection first launched in the 1970s.
2014 — 130 years. The Les Genevez manufacture hums with skilled Swiss watchmakers.
2016 — Official Premium partner of the Sauber F1 Team.
2019 — 135th anniversary, and Official Timing Partner of the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
2021 — Exclusive Official Timing Partner of BMW M Motorsport.
The story continues — in North America
Independent, family-owned and Swiss made since 1884, Edox now brings its full collection to collectors across the United States and Canada, backed by a 2-year international warranty and dedicated local service. Explore the collection or contact us at info@edoxwatch.com.