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| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watch manufacturing |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Founder | Chronotechna |
| Headquarters | Czech Republic |
| Products | Luxury Watches |
| Website | www.prim-hodinky.cz, www.prim.cz |
PRIM is a Czech trademark for a range of watches. The brand is now being used by the two Czech watches manufacturers (Elton hodinářská and MPM-Quality), which is subject to the long-standing lawsuits.
In 1949, the subsidiary of company Chronotechna Šternberk was established in Nové Město nad Metují, specializing in the production of personal watches (wristwatches and pocket watches). The first prototype watches were made in 1954 and were marked 'Spartak', the 'PRIM' brand was registered in 1956, the serial production started in 1957, thus Czechoslovakia has become one of only twelve countries in the world capable of producing wrist watches. [1] It was the only manufacturer of watches in Czechoslovakia, reaching about half a million watches produced annually just before the Velvet Revolution. [2] [3]
The Elton hodinářská manufacturer in Nové Město nad Metují produced watches with this brand, but the brand itself, including the logotype, was owned by the parent company Chronotechna. Chronotechna was after 1989 privatized separately. However, Elton had disagreements with the brand owner, Eutech company (successor of Chronotechna company), and Eutech in 2001 sold the trademark to MPM-Quality company. The legitimacy of the sale and use of the brand is subject to the long-standing lawsuits.
Elton hodinářská of Nové Město nad Metují manufactures luxury custom watches in the price from tens of thousands CZK and most of the parts (including the watch movements) are produced in the Czech Republic. MPM Quality of Frýdek-Místek assemble its watches from imported parts from abroad, which sells at more affordable levels. [4] [5] [6] MPM Quality is producing watches designed, completed, and tested in Czech Republic, but watches movements are imported. 95% of the watches use Miyota movements, 4% Swiss (STP, Sellita, Ronda) and 3 models use Seagull (Tourbillon, Manager and Retro).[ citation needed ] The company also specializes in custom production "individualization" for each model.
MPM-Quality company uses the original logotypes (both older and newer than 1969) and Elton hodinářská uses the logotype 'Manufacture PRIM 1949' and the newer logo (since 1969). [7]
Among users of Elton hodinářská watches are also Václav Klaus, Petr Čech and Alain Delon, as a gift of the Czech Government Office were received for example from Nicolas Sarkozy, Spanish royal couple, Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, Ferenc Gyurcsány, Robert Fico and Donald Tusk. [8] [9] Elton was a supplier to the Czech Olympic Team, the Czech Olympians equipped these watches for Olympics in London, Sochi and Rio de Janeiro. [10] MPM Quality is a supplier to Czech Olympic Team from 2017 to 2024 starting with PyeongChang. [11]
Orient is a Japanese watch manufacturer founded in 1950. Established as an independent company in 1950, it became a functional subsidiary of Epson in 2009 before being fully integrated into the company in 2017.
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| Authority control: National |
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