VENUS – reliable chronographs.

The Venus Manufacture was founded in 1923 in Moutier in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, although some sources suggest that the name was used for watches made at La Chaux de Fonds as early as 1902 by Paul Arthur Schwarz and Olga Etienne Schwarz. The company was quickly absorbed by Ebauches SA in 1928. In the 1930s, VENUS began producing calibers for chronographs, which are still used by many other brands today. His first chronograph mechanism, the Cal. 103, produced in 1933. Venus mechanisms are marked with a five-pointed star and many have been used by high-end Swiss brands. The column-wheel chronograph calibers from Venus are still widely regarded today as the best ever produced and are in high demand. Among them are Cal. 170, cal. 175, cal. 178 and cal. 179, chronograph mechanism with three buttons. Venus also produced mechanisms without a column wheel, the Venus 180/190/200 series, but even these low-cost mechanisms did not provide enough liquidity and Venus was absorbed by rival Valjoux in 1966. The then-new Venus 188 movement was the basis of the Valjoux 7730, and its technology survives in the Valjoux 7750, still one of the most popular chronograph movements. The old stock of Venus mechanisms has run out in recent years, leading to an increase in the price of watches with these mechanisms. Jaquet SA has become an expert in the restoration of Venus calibers and, under the new name La Joux-Perret, has built up the capability to restore parts and even entire mechanisms if necessary. Whole watches were also produced with the Venus brand. Earlier models depicted the torso and head line of Venus de Milo and were produced under the auspices of the movement’s creator using third-party components. Some watches are also co-branded with other companies. In the mid-1960s. VENUS was an established brand with a global distribution network and hundreds of popular women’s and men’s designs. The company held glamorous public relations events, and VENUS watches were worn by celebrities such as Hollywood actress Jane Mansfield. They were also worn by important personalities and political figures. Even the Vatican has placed an order for 100 self-winding VENUS mechanical watches in white gold.
In the 1970s, this mechanism manufacturer also produced watches with the inscription “Venus La-Chaux-de-Fonds,” which had a horizontal line running from the letter “V” through the rest of the name and a circular logo that resembled a ring or magnifying glass. This incarnation of the brand ceased production in the late 1970s, when Ebauches SA was absorbed by ETA and later by Swatch Group.