Fortis

Fortis is a Swiss watch brand. It was founded in 1912 and since then has been operating without interruption. In 1926 Fortis produced the world’s first automatic wristwatches. In 1994, after endurance tests in space physics, the Star City Training Center chose the Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph as part of their Official Cosmonauts’ equipment.

Since then many Fortis watches have been used by astronauts in space. The Fortis Official Cosmonauts Chronograph Automatic Alarm was the world’s first chronograph automatic with mechanical alarm.

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Lift-Off: 6 Watches (Other Than the Omega Speedmaster) That Went to Space

In 1957, the first artificial satellite named Sputnik 1 was launched into space by the Soviet Union, triggering a race among nations. For security reasons, astronauts always carried a wristwatch with them. These six timepieces played a unique role in this conquest of space.

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Oct 13, 2021 by Jens Koch

TIMEPIECE TIMELINE

10 Milestone Moments in the History of the Wristwatch

Today it is common for a man to wear a watch on his wrist, but it was a different story around 100 years ago. World War I, which started in 1914 and ended in 1918, brought to the battlefield much that was new — airplanes, mustard gas, military tanks. It also brought something new to...

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Aug 21, 2020 by WatchTime

From Fratello Watches

10 Classic Chronograph Movements

FratelloWatches founder and WatchTime contributor Robert-Jan Broer's lists his personal Top 10 chronograph movements, including the Patek Philippe CHR 29-535 PS Q, the TAG Heuer Caliber 1969, Zenith El Primero, and others.

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Aug 2, 2018 by Robert-Jan Broer

From Fratello Watches

Hands-On Review: Longines Legend Diver

After you read our dive watch review of the Longines Legend Diver Date, and consider its updated features, including an attractive price tag, you may conclude that this might be the dive watch for you.

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Jul 26, 2016 by Robert-Jan Broer

Automatic for the People: 7 Mechanical Watches Under $2,000

We've compiled a list of affordable watches with automatic movements - from brands like Tissot, Ball, Raymond Weil and others - that won't break the bank.

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Jun 22, 2016 by Roger Ruegger

Watch Review: 5 Square and Rectangular Watches Under $3,000

In this watch review feature, we take a look at five watches from Eterna, Fortis, Frédérique Constant, Nomos and Oris, all with square or rectangular cases and all priced under $3,000.

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Aug 18, 2015 by Alexander Krupp

Function Junction: Reviewing the Fortis F-43 Pilot

An alarm, a chrono, and a GMT, all in one watch. Martina Richter takes a close look at the Fortis F-43 Pilot’s Chronograph Alarm GMT Chronometer and its rare combination of functions. With photos by Zuckerfabrik Fotodesign.

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Apr 26, 2015 by Martina Richter

Dive Watch Wednesday: Private-Label Dive Watches Aren’t as New as You Think

It seems like the dive watch category has inspired more “micro-brands” and “boutique brands” over the last few years to start a watch business than has any other watch category in the industry. Of course, while some of these recent start-ups have attempted to produce their very own ideal of “the perfect diver,” many others...

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Jan 21, 2015 by Roger Ruegger

WatchTime’s January-February Issue is On Sale Now!

The January-February issue of WatchTime is on newsstands now (and on Nook, Kindle, and the WatchTime app for iOS and Android), featuring in-depth watch tests of the IWC Ingenieur Automatic AMG Black Series Ceramic, Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe, and Ball Engineer Hydrocarbon NEDU, a reference guide to the watch industry’s quality marks, a gallery of...

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Dec 31, 2013 by Mark Bernardo

Fortis Celebrates 100th Anniversary with B-47 Mysterious Planets

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Fortis, and they’ve been celebrating the occasion with several limited edition watches. Earlier this year they released a limited re-edition of the Marinemaster Vintage.

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Oct 18, 2012 by WatchTime

Dubey & Schaldenbrand Returns to America with New Collection

Dubey & Schaldenbrand, the boutique Swiss watch brand founded by Georges Dubey and Rene Schaldenbrand in 1946 and known for its art deco design, has announced its return to North America in 2012. Owner Jonatan Gil, who bought the company in 2009, has established Dubey & Schaldenbrand Americas, which will distribute the brand in the...

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Apr 5, 2012 by Mark Bernardo

Fortis Marinemaster Vintage Limited Edition

This year Fortis marks its 100th anniversary and to celebrate, the brand is issuing a limited re-edition of the Marinemaster. First distributed at the beginning of the 1940s, that model became one of the brand’s most popular watches. Over the years, the look of the watch was updated, and the 100th anniversary re-edition is inspired...

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Jan 9, 2012 by WatchTime

Visual Quiz: Mystery Watches

Can you identify manufacturers without seeing their names on the dials? We’ve lined up a dozen images, sans brand identification, to test your visual skills. Some watches are current, while others were produced in years gone by. As always, the answers appear at the end. Good luck!

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Apr 17, 2011 by WatchTime

Fortis Limited Edition B42 Black & Black

Fortis introduces their newest model, the B42 Black & Black Automatic Day/Date. This watch is limited to 2012 pieces, numbered on the back. The 42mm PVD-coated titanium case houses an automatic ETA 2836-2 movement. The bezel is unidirectional with a 60-minute scale (120 notches) and a Superluminova capsule at 12. Available on a leather or...

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Sep 11, 2009 by WatchTime