====== Fortis ====== {{wst>menue|Fortis}} {{wst>image_r|Vogt,_Walter|Fortis founder [[Vogt, Walter|Walter Vogt]] (1883-1957)}} **Fortis** is a Swiss watch manufacturer. ===== Foundation by Walter Vogts ===== In [[1912]] the 29-year-old watchmaker [[Vogt, Walter|Walter Vogt]], together with Alfred Rüefli, founds the so-called //Kollektivgesellschaft Vogt and Rüefli zur Fabrikation von Uhren// (collective society Vogt and Rüefli for the manufacture of watches) in [[Grenchen]]. A short time later Vogt, who had been trained as a watchmaker in [[Biel]] and had worked for [[Eterna]], acquires the company as sole owner. [[1926]] Fortis, as the world's first watch factory, produces the wristwatch with automatic winding invented by [[Harwood, John|John Harwood]] invented. The brands Fortis and [[Harwood]] today belong to the same owners. In the 1960s and 1970s Fortis watches looked so colorful and were also so open to the use of plastic that they even could be subsequently classified as forerunners of the [[Swatch]] watch. There were models like the //Flipper// and the //Logo//, where the plastic case and bracelets could almost arbitrarily combined with colored dials. ===== Under the leadership of Peter Peter: Striking instrument watches ===== {{wst>image_cl|Fortis|Flieger Chronograph|Fortis Pilot's Chronograph}} Since [[1990]], the German [[Peter Peter]] is responsible for the fate of the brand, actively supported by his wife and chief Marketing Manager [[Peter, Liese-Lotte|Liese-Lotte Peter]]. The development has now been consistently oriented towards large and masculine instrument watches, as they are also offered by [[Breitling]] or [[Sinn]]. Nevertheless, Fortis has developed a clear and independent design style, which allows to identify the watches immediately. The type of [[Pilot's watch|Pilot's]] and navigation watch is here so consistently concentrated on its main features as hardly anywhere else. Particularly characteristic is the striking clarity the time display the dials are mostly black, and the bright white numerals, clean-cut indexes and bright-white hands stand out as succinctly as almost nowhere else among watch manufacturers. This unconditional adherence to purely functional requirement bestow the watches with their own aesthetic appeal - there is no dull, dead objectivity, but a powerful, refreshing appearance. In addition to the remarkably clear lines the watches, all in accordance with their brand name, are distinguished for their robust cases and a sturdy workmanship. They are solid, and yet offer a reliable technology at fair and competitive prices. Also in the entry-level price range there are always presented interesting models. The good reputation enjoyed by the brand among lovers of watches of this genre is not based upon facade or glamor, but rather on solidity and credibility. ===== With space watches to success ===== From [[1994]] on Fortis is official watch supplier of the Russion Cosmonaut Training Center //Yuri A. Gagarin//. The watches are subjected to severe tests in order to fulfill their service in space with the highest reliability and durability. Thus, the model [[Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph|Official Cosmonauts Chronograph]] was worn by Russian cosmonauts in space and proved that watches with [[automatic winding]] are fully compatible also in space. Because it's not the gravity that matters but the movements of the wearer. As an important technical innovation of watches Fortis in [[1998]] presented the world's first automatic [[chronograph]] with integrated mechanical [[alarm function]], whose construction was developed by the Zurich watchmaker artist [[Gerber, Paul|Paul Gerber]]. In addition to the distinctively sporty [[pilot's watch]]es series Fortis with the //Marinemaster// and //Diver// has also [[dive watch]]es in their offers. In [[2000]] the collection //Spacematic// is presented. It includes five different models [[Fortis Spacematic Day Date|Day/Date]], ECO, GMT, [[Fortis Spacematic Chronograph|Chronograph]] and Chronograph Alarm. On 10 September [[2001]] Fortis CEO [[Peter Peter]], on the occasion of a meeting of the international space agencies in Paris, receives the medal "Star of the Blue Planet". This award, bestowed by the Russian Space Agency //Rosaviakosmos// for his involvement in the development of mechanical [[chronograph]]s for travel space, has been previously awarded only five times to non-Russian personalities. Fortis filed for bankruptcy protection on November 24, [[2017]]. ===== Model ranges ===== {{wst>image_cr|Fortis|B-42 Flieger Chronograph Alarm}} === Space watches === *[[Fortis Official Cosmonauts Day Date|Official Cosmonauts]] / [[Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] *[[Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts Day Date|B-42 Official Cosmonauts]] / [[Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] / [[Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph Alarm|.. Chronograph Alarm]] *[[Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts Day Date Titanium|B-42 Official Cosmonauts Titanium]] / [[Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph Titanium|.. Chronograph Titanium]] / [[Fortis B-42 Official Cosmonauts Chronograph Alarm Titanium Chronometer|.. Chronograph Alarm Titanium]] *[[Fortis Spacematic Day Date|Spacematic]] / [[Fortis Spacematic Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] / [[Fortis Spacematic Chronograph Alarm|.. Chronograph Alarm]] *Spacematic SL Lady === Pilot's watches === *[[Fortis Flieger Automatic|Flieger (Pilot's)]] / [[Fortis Flieger Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] / [[Fortis Flieger Cockpit|.. Cockpit]] *[[Fortis B-42 Flieger Day Date|B-42 Flieger (B-42 Pilot's)]] / [[Fortis B-42 Flieger Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] / [[Fortis B-42 Flieger Chronograph Alarm|.. Chronograph Alarm]] *[[Fortis Pilot Professional Day Date|Pilot Professional]] / [[Fortis Pilot Professional Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] *[[Fortis B-42 Pilot Professional Day Date|B-42 Pilot Professional]] / [[Fortis B-42 Pilot Professional Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] *Square === Dive watches === *[[Fortis B-42 Marinemaster Day Date|B-42 Marinemaster]] / [[Fortis B-42 Marinemaster Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] *[[Fortis B-42 Diver Day Date|B-42 Diver]] / [[Fortis B-42 Diver Chronograph|.. Chronograph]] / [[Fortis B-42 Diver Chronograph Alarm|.. Chronograph Alarm]] === The Art Editions === As a complement to the model program, Fortis from time to time provides in the series //FORTIS Art Editions// special limited series created by artists * The furniture and object designer [[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Sachs|Rolf Sachs]] designed [[http://www.fortis-watch.com/downloads/pdf/sachs_de.pdf|a watch model]] with 24-hour indication and only two hands, one white hand for minutes and hours and a red seconds hand. * The painter and sculptor Gerd Winner created in Edition Winner a model, at the large color on the bezel make for a new age feel. * To an exhibition of the Swiss artist [[http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Tinguely|Jean Tinguely]] in Monaco Fortis contributed a limited special edition of 100 pieces. ===== Awards ===== * [[1956]] Fortis wins the leading [[chronometer]] prize awarded by the Swiss institute for official time measurement, for the first [[waterproof]], mechanical [[alarm]] chronometer. * [[2001]] 1st place at the International Watch Award. In Japan the [[Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph]] wins the Grand Prix of the watch magazine "BEGIN" in the space watches category. * [[2001]] "Star of the Blue Planet" for [[Peter Peter]]. * [[2004]] "1st European Aviation Watch Award" for the [[Fortis Flieger Chronograph|Fortis Pilot's Chronograph]]. * [[2007]] 2nd place at the election "[[Golden Balance]]" with the limited edition [[Fortis Flieger Chronograph Alarm Platin|Fortis Flieger Chronograph Alarm Platinum]] in the category up to 25,000 €. ===== Literature ===== *[[Das ZEITGEFÜHL-Uhrenbuch]]; Author [[Gerd-Lothar Reschke]]; ISBN 3-938607-61-0 ===== Address ===== //Head office //\\ FORTIS watches AG\\ Lindenstr. 45\\ CH-2540 Grenchen\\ Tel. +41-32-653 33 61\\ Fax +41-32-652 59 42 //Public Relations //\\ Peter Peter Team GmbH\\ Fr. Liese-Lotte Peter\\ D-31157 Sarstedt\\ Tel. +49-5066-90218-0\\ Fax +49-5066-90218-29 ===== Weblinks ===== *[[http://www.fortis-watch.com/|Fortis]], company website {{tag>Watch_brands Watch_brands_Switzerland Grenchen}}