Heritage brand founded in 1871 by master metal engraver Bernhard H. Mayer in Pforzheim, Germany. Originally a numismatics and medal minting business, the company evolved into Swiss watchmaking in the 1980s. Now headquartered in Biel, Switzerland, the brand is run by the fourth generation of the Mayer family in partnership with QI Group.
In 1871, Bernhard H. Mayer, a 28-year-old talented metal engraver, established his workshop in Pforzheim, Germany—a town known as 'Goldstadt' (City of Gold) for its jewelry and watchmaking industry. The workshop earned a reputation for high-precision craftsmanship in precious metals, winning a silver medal at the World's Fair in Paris 1900. The founder developed a passion for pocket watches, collecting and personalizing them with engravings. In the early 1980s, inspired by coin watch trends pioneered by Corum, the company leveraged its numismatic expertise to produce its first coin watch. In 2000, the Mayer family formed a strategic partnership with QI Group, an Asian conglomerate, and relocated headquarters to Biel, Switzerland, the heart of watchmaking. The brand celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2021 with commemorative limited edition timepieces featuring coins depicting the original Pforzheim factory.
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GermanyCurrent QI Group
