====== Venus ======
**Venus** was a respected producer of watch movements. It was absorbed into [[Valjoux]], which is today part of [[ETA]] in the [[Swatch Group]].

===== History =====
Venus was established in [[1923]] in [[Moutier]], [[Bern Canton]], [[Switzerland]], although some sources suggest the name had been used on watches produced in [[La-Chaux-de-Fonds]] as early as [[1902]] by Paul Arthur Schwarz and Olga Etienne-Schwarz. It was quickly absorbed into [[Ebauches SA]] in [[1928]] and produced its first chronograph movement, [[Venus 103|Cal. 103]], in [[1933]]. Venus movements are marked with a five-pointed star.

Venus became famous for chronograph movements, many of which were used by high end Swiss brands. The Venus [[column wheel]] chronograph calibres are widely regarded today as being the finest ever produced and remain in great demand. Among these are the [[Venus 170|Cal. 170]], [[Venus 175|Cal. 175]], [[Venus 178|Cal. 178]], and [[Venus 179|Cal. 179]], a three-[[pusher]] [[split-seconds]] chronograph movement.

Venus also produced [[cam switching]] movements. The [[Venus 180]]/[[Venus 190|190]]/[[Venus 200|200]] series were all cam-switched. But these low-cost movements did not provide sufficient liquidity and Venus was absorbed by rival [[Valjoux]] in [[1966]]. The then-new [[Venus 188]] movement was the basis for the [[Valjoux 7730]] and its technology lived on in the [[Valjoux 7750]], still one of the most popular chronograph movements.

Old stock of Venus movements has been depleted in recent years, leading to a run-up in prices for watches with these movements. [[Jaquet SA]] became expert at refinishing Venus calibres and, under new name [[La Joux-Perret]], has built up capability to re-create parts and even entire movements if needed.

===== Venus-Branded Watches =====
Whole watches were also produced with the Venus brand. Earlier models feature a line representation of the Venus de Milo torso and head and were produced under the auspices of the movement maker using third-party components. Some watches are also co-branded with other companies.

In the 1970's, the movement maker produced watches marked "Venus La-Chaux-de-Fonds" which feature a horizontal line extending from the "V" across the rest of the name and a circular logo above which resembles a ring or loupe. This incarnation of the brand ceased production in the late 1970's as [[Ebauches SA]] was absorbed into [[ETA]] and later [[Swatch Group]].

The brand was re-launched in [[2011]] in [[Geneva]] using quartz movements from [[Ronda]]. A straighter version of this "V line" mark is still used on men's watches produced under the "Venus of Switzerland" name. Ladies watches in this modern collection feature a script text version of the name.

===== Reissue =====
The popularity and beauty of Venus calibres has led to resurrections of the type in the 2000's. In [[2000]], a number of [[Venus 179|Venus 179 and 185]] movements were reissued by [[Panerai]], [[Parmigiani]], and others. Similarly, in [[2004]], [[Maurice Lacroix]] reissued a series of 150 classic [[Venus 175]] movements for their Masterpiece series, re-branding them Calibre ML 36.

===== Calibres =====
  *See also {{tagpage>Venus_calibres|Venus calibres}}

  * Watches
    * 5.75 by 8.5 ligne tonneau - [[Venus 55|Calibres 55, 58, 59]]
    * 8.75 ligne - [[Venus 60|Calibres 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 72, 76, 77, 81, 85, 86, 87, 93, 96, 102, 104, 107, 108]]
    * 10.5 ligne - [[Venus 75|Calibres 75, 78, 79, 83, 84, 88, 89, 94, 97, 98, 103, 105, 106, 129, 148]]
    * 8.75 by 12 ligne tonneau - [[Venus 130|Calibres 130, 131, 146]] (also [[Venus 130|Calibre 131 CHR]])
    * 10.5 or 11.5 ligne - [[Venus 180|Calibres 180, 181, 182, 202, 203, 204, 208, 214, 216]]
    * 10.5 or 11.5 ligne - [[Venus 220|Calibres 220, 221, 222, 223, 225, 226, 227]]
    * 12.5 ligne alarm - [[Venus 230|Calibres 230, 231, 232]]
    * 10.5 or 11.5 ligne - [[Venus 240|Calibres 240, 245, 246, 247]]
  * Chronographs
    * tonneau cam switched - [[Venus 130|Calibre 131 CHR]]
    * 12.5 ligne pillar wheel/oscillating pinion (1940-1952) - [[Venus 170|Calibre 170]]
    * 13 ligne pillar wheel - [[Venus 150|Calibres 150, 151, 152, 186, 187, 191]]
    * 14 ligne pillar wheel (1940-) - [[Venus 175|Calibres 175, 176, 178, 183, 184]]
    * 14 ligne pillar wheel [[rattrapante]] - [[Venus 179|Calibres 179, 185, 190]]
    * 14 ligne cam switched (1948-1966) - [[Venus 188|Calibres 188, 200, 210, 211]]

===== External Links =====
  * [[http://www.qpmagazine.com/media/39302/Venus_Column_wheel_Chronograph.pdf|Venus: The classic column-wheel lives on]]


{{tag>Valjoux Ebauches_SA Movement_manufacturers_Switzerland}}