Buren

Buren Watch Company was created in 1898 following the acquisition of Fritz Suter & Cie in Büren an der Aare by London-based H. Williamson Ltd. The factory served as Williamson's Swiss manufacturing base, producing pocket watches and table clocks. By 1904 the company was making 500 watches a day. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the company separated from its English parent to become simply Buren Watch Co in 1932, reorganized by brothers Jean and Hans Kocher. Hans Kocher Jr., a brilliant engineer, developed the revolutionary micro-rotor concept - patented June 21, 1954 - which placed a small rotor within the movement rather than above it. This enabled the Buren Super Slender of 1958, at just 4.2 mm thick. In 1965, the even thinner Intra Matic micro-rotor at 2.85 mm set a new record. In 1966, Hamilton Watch Company acquired Buren, gaining access to these remarkable calibers. The Buren brand was soon discontinued as only the Hamilton name was retained.