Here at The Chrono Duo, we often see and sometimes buy, watches whose history is difficult to find.

If you want to find out the history of a Rolex Submariner for example the internet and other resources are simply awash with information down to the most minute details.

Another Swiss watchmaker, Cauny, falls into the category where one has to dig a little deeper to find out more about their watches.

Cauny as a brand was created in 1927 in La Chaux-de-Fond in Switzerland.

The name Cauny is taken from a small town in France. It was started by a Spanish watch wholesaler to manufacture watches for sale in Spain. Cauny joins a number of other small non Swiss European brands that were made in Switzerland for export to specific markets–Eska in the Netherlands, Anker and Regent in Germany and Pontiac in Belgium. The name of the game was to offer timepieces that represented good design, used solid reliable movements from Ebauches, Landeron, Valjoux etc. at reasonable price points.

The company remains in existence to this day selling fairly cheap ETA movement watches. Cauny was sold extensively throughout Spain and Portugal, where it achieved the status of a brand comparable to Benrus; the second best selling watch in the USA during the 1950s. Their very solid quality, reasonable prices and good contemporary design for the time was what kept it up with more famous brands.

The trade mark “Cauny Prima” was registered on the 13th January 1953 (Cauny Watch, Mireille Grebler; La Chaux-de-Fonds). Cauny Prima was to be the premier collection of their line. They continued to make watches in numbers from the 1950s through the 1970s. Cauny’s popularity grew especially in Portugal, Spain and South America. In fact, many models were brought from former Portuguese colonies.

CAUNY disappeared in the late 1960s, but it was reborn in Spain in the 1970s.

This particular example has been given a very thorough service and refurbishment by our watchmaker. Running perfectly, sitting comfortably whatever wrist size you have, this is a sweet reminder of the 1970s.