At the heart of Europe is a small, land-locked democratic republic comprised of nine federal states. If you’re thinking about kangaroos, that’s not the country we’re talking about here. Nor the one with the opera house. Those are in Australia NOT Austria.
Instead, we are talking about the hope of some famous composers and songwriters – Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Franz Schubert. It was also home to some scholars such as Erwin Schrodinger and Sigmund Freud. But perhaps, its most important contribution to the world is none other than sausages – Vienna sausages!
In addition to musical and intellectual geniuses, Austria was also able to produce some brilliant horologers. There may be very few established watch brands but they sure can compete with other mainstream brands. So, here are the top Austrian watch brands that we were able to find.
Top Austrian Watch Brands
Jacques Lemans
Officially named Jacques Lemans Ltd., this Austrian watch brand is currently headquartered in Sankt Veit an der Glan, Carinthia.
Jacques Lemans was established back in the mid-70s by Alfred Reidl, who remains to be its CEO up to present. Although it has already grown to produce around 1 million timepieces in a year, it remains to be a family-owned brand.
More so, the brand stands committed to in-house designing, manufacturing, marketing, and sales. As such, Jacques Lemans can confidently boast of high-quality design and build of their watches made available at affordable prices.
The brand has now reached a global market through its trading partners around the world. Its timepieces are already being sold in more than 120 countries but still maintains brand stores in Austria.
To add to the brand’s popularity, well-known personalities from various industries serve as brand ambassadors. This includes the US American actor and director Kevin Costner, a pianist from Georgia Khatia Buniatishvili, and an Austrian snowboard Olympic champion Anna Gasser.
Jacques Lemans also serves as the Official Timekeeper in the EuroLeague Basketball Final Four since 2010 and in the STIHL Timbersports world championships. Not only that, the brand is also the Official Timekeeping Partner in the Dolomitenmann extreme sports race since 2010 and a sponsor of the Austrian Football Association from 2009 to 2018.
Pierre Petit
Originally a French watch brand, Pierre Petit just became an Austrian brand when Alfred Reidl acquired it in 2011. Since the brand joined the Jacques Lemans Group, it has become a substantial asset to the watch group.
However, the partnership between the two brands goes quite a long way back. Pierre Petit has been manufacturing timepieces for Jacques Lemans since the 80s. As such, the acquisition is more of a formality for the Pierre Petit to join the Jacques Lemans Group.
Pierre Petit then transferred its headquarters in Austria and produces watches at mid-range prices but of outstanding quality and classic design. Among its featured collections are Laval, Le Mans, Paris, Colmar, and Nizza.
Habring²
This relatively young brand was established and named after the husband-and-wife tandem Richard and Maria Kristina Habring.
Habring² started only in 2004. However, Richard’s experience goes further back as he was formerly the technical developer of IWC and Lange & Söhne. He was then known for creating for various complications for the said companies. He also custom-built some Tourbillon watches for some private collectors.
Moving forward, Richard, in partnership with his wife, was able to finally showcase his watchmaking skills under his own brand name. The company is currently located in Völkermarkt in Carinthia, surrounded by lakes and mountains. Therein, Habring² timepieces were produced individually by hand using only materials of the highest quality.
Within 10 years after the brand was established, it was already able to launch its in-house calibre – the A11. This creation has brought more fame for the small humble brand as it was awarded first place at The Grand Prix d’horlogerie de Geneve for three consecutive years.
The brand has now able to build a number of collections such as the Felix, Erwin, DoppelFelix, ChronoFelix, and PerpetualDoppel, to name a few. However, it limits its productions to only around 200 pieces in a year to maintain the premium quality of each watch.
Carl Suchy & Söhne
Carl Suchy first opened his shop of clocks and watches at the age of 26. Prior to this, he traveled to Germany and Switzerland to study the arts of watchmaking. Then, he went back to his home city.
It was 1822 then and his shop in Prague was well-received to the point that even the Royal and Imperial Court was among his customers.
Later on, the company was renamed Carl Suchy and Söhne as Carl’s sons entered the family business in 1849. Carl Suchy and Söhne’s watches were then being produced in its Austrian factory and in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland.
The brand further grew that it was able to open a shop in Vienna in 1863. It took pride in its title, Purveyor to the Royal Courts. There was a high demand for the company’s watches especially among Austria’s visitors and intellectual elites. Carl Suchy & Söhne was considered the leading Austrian watch brand until it disappeared along with the downfall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire around 1914.
Yet, thanks to Robert Punkenhofer’s driving interest for art and design, the brand Carl Suchy and Söhne was re-established in 2016. The brand produced new automatic watches that showcase a balanced combination of Viennese modernism and elegance along with Swiss precision.
LAKS
LAKS is a family-owned business named after the initials of its founder, Lucas Alexander Karl Scheybal. The company started back in 1986 and is currently based in Austria.
From the start, LAKS has been dedicated to producing timepieces that are incorporated with advanced and innovative technology, and are updated with the modern trend.
One particular timepiece that stood out across the globe is the Watch2Pay. It is the first-ever wristwatch designed with NFC technology and has been certified by Mastercard for contactless payments.
More so, LAKS further showcases its trendy modern designs through pendants, bracelets, spare parts, and rings. Check out its online shop to see LAKS products.
Normalzeit
Last on this list is one established by Fredi Brodmann who was born in Vienna back in 1956. He started as a watch designer. He drew a series of cartoons for his first watch collection named “WatchMe” in 1985 for Piranha Marketing.
Later on, he left his career as a cartoonist and fully dived into watchmaking as well as in the fashion industry. Brodmann’s most notable work for so far is the wristwatch inspired by the Vienna City Cube Clock that he made together with Lichterloh Gallery.
Alpha Saphir
Alpha Saphir doesn’t offer much information about its company. You wouldn’t be able to find its own website. What we can tell you is that Alpha Saphir was launched by Jacques Lemans back in 1999.
Closing Words
Didn’t find the style or design that would match your personality or outfit? You might want to check out brands from its neighboring countries – Switzerland and Germany, two true giants in the watch industry.