CONCORD WATCHES
Concord is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1908 in Biel/Bienne, Switzerland. Now owned by the Movado group, Concord makes automatic, quartz and hand-wound watches for men and women.
In 1908, the Concord Watch Company SA was founded in Biel, Switzerland, as a manufacturer of high quality watches specifically for the American market. In 1915, the production of the first “Private Label” luxury watches, incorporating precious metals and gemstones, for high-end jewelers began.
In 1945, U.S. President Harry S. Truman presented the Concord Ring Clock to Winston Churchill and the Heads of State at the Potsdam Peace Conference.
The North American Watch Corporation (NAWC), headed by Gedalio Grinberg, acquired the Concord Watch Company in 1970.
In January 1979, the Concord Delirium I was introduced. With a profile of only 1.98mm, it was the thinnest watch in the world during its launch. In 1980, “Delirium II”, the world’s thinnest skeleton watch: less than 1.5mm thick, debuted. Shortly afterwards came the launch of “Delirium III”, the world’s most slender ladies’ watch.
Before the year ended, Concord broke through the 1mm barrier with the 0.98mm “Delirium IV”, establishing a new world record for the world’s thinnest watch. With these models, Concord reached brand awareness on an international level. The introduction of the Concord Mariner, a breakthrough design that united the functionality of a sports watch with the refinement of a dress watch, launched the sport elegance category.
In 1986, Concord created the Saratoga watch collection, offering an elegant, yet sportive style designed with an impeccable attention to detail.
In 1991, the Concord Sirius watch was unveiled for the first time at Basel’s international watch fair. The platinum model, featured in both ladies’ and gentlemen’s versions, was an original Concord masterpiece.
In 1992, Concord launched the “Mariner V Centenario” collection, limited editions of five unique original pieces with exceptionally complex mechanisms. Shortly before the exhibition opened to the public at Basel, the entire collection was sold for the fabulous sum of CHF 3.2 million.
In 1993, North American Watch Corporation (NAWC) went public, and in 1996 changed its name to Movado Group, Inc.
Introduced in 1994, the Concord “Papillon” collection enabled women to give rein to their own flights of fancy, by adding butterflies to the leather strap version of the watch.
In 1996, Concord the Saratoga SL (Sport Luxury), honoring the tenth anniversary of the Saratoga.
In 1997, Concord launched the gracefully geometric 18K gold Concord La Scala, a fashion-forward timepiece of Art Deco-inspired elegance, and the classically bold Impresario with its signature coin-edge detail.
In 1998, Concord unveiled the Impresario Mechanique collection, offering men’s mechanical chronometers of high complication and COSC-certified precision. In 2000, the La Scala Steel was launched.
Introduced in 2001, the Concord La Scala Steel and Diamond Chronograph brought a brilliant blend of fashion, function and fine Swiss craftsmanship to the luxury watch market.
Drawing inspiration from its time-honored past, Concord premiered the new Saratoga collection at the Basel 2002 fair. The highlight of the collection, named for the famous thoroughbred racecourse, was the one-of-a-kind Saratoga Grand Master Tourbillon – a unique timepiece of exceptional beauty and masterful complication.
In 2003, Concord introduced the La Scala Tonneau, a line of elegant stainless steel and 18K gold timepieces distinguished by gracefully curved cases.
In the same year, Concord launched the Bennington collection, impeccably detailed strap watches of timeless elegance, featuring slim, sleekly contoured 18K gold or stainless steel cases and fine crocodile straps. It also unveiled the Concord Carlton watch.
To commemorate the silver anniversary of the original Delirium, Concord unveiled the new Delirium XXV Collection at Basel 2004. The collection included 18K gold quartz and limited edition hand-winding mechanical timepieces.
In 2005, Concord continued to expand its popular Delirium collection by introducing the 18K rose gold Delirium La Nuit Reserve de Marche and Jumping Hour styles. Concord also introduced the beautifully updated Mariner Collection.
The collection was celebrated with an intricately engineered limited edition, the Mariner Reveil featuring a 31-jewel automatic movement with moon phase, alarm function, 45-hour power reserve, date display and custom engraving.
In 2006, Concord celebrated its 20th Anniversary of Saratoga® with a commemorative series of one-of-a-kind watches in solid 18K gold. Combining rare and exotic materials with sophisticated styling, the new Concord Mariner® Coral Collection was launched. It revealed a passionate expression of natural artistry and integrated design. Each dial was a unique mosaic of ancient saltwater stone, 350 million years in the making, harvested from remote underwater caves.
Concord further expanded its Mariner collection with the introduction of a sleek, sophisticated Chronograph model and a dramatic Concord Mariner with black PVD-finish. Further extending the elegant Delirium Collection, Concord added the Limited Edition Skeleton Réserve de Marche and Retrograde styles.
Launched in 2007, the C1 collection was radical in many ways. It defined the new Concord profile – sophisticated, refined and technologically advanced. In 2008, Concord presented the C1 WorldTimer, the Biretrograde, the Chronograph Haute Joaillerie, and the C1 Tourbillon Gravity from the C Lab Series.
At the 2009 Baselworld show, Concord introduced the C1 QuantumGravity. In 2010, the C1 DiamondGravity and the C1 EternalGravity were unveiled at Baselworld.
In 2011, in celebration of the Saratoga’s 25th anniversary, Concord introduced a refreshed edition of the Saratoga that remained true to its origins. The brand also unveiled the C1 BlackSpider Tourbillon from the C-Lab Series, the C1 Amethyst Chronograph, and launched a new line, the C2 chronograph.
In 2012, Concord launched the C1 BlackSpider Brilliant from the C Lab Series and new Saratoga automatic and chronograph models. The brand also introduced the C2 Y-12 limited editions embodying a number of distinctive urban elements, namely the C2 GraffitiGrey, C2 AsphaltBlack, C2 BlackFrost, C2 CookieChip and C2 UrbanGlaze.
In 2013, Concord introduced the freshly redesigned C1 Chronograph. The brand also launched a new Saratoga Chronograph design to mark the 150th anniversary of the thoroughbred race course that inspired it. It also extended the C2 Y-13 limited editions with the C2 Teknologic model.
At Baselworld 2014, Concord relaunched its signature 1980’s Mariner Collection. This iconic collection was updated to reflect a modern and beautiful sense of style, with trademark 12-sided bezel and elegant new wind-rose case back design.
In 2016, the brand launched the new Impresario collection.
