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46°11′34″N 6°08′01″E / 46.19284°N 6.13349°E / 46.19284; 6.13349

Sicura SA

Type	Private
Industry	Watch manufacturing
Defunct	29 November 1993 (Renamed Breitling SA)
Fate	Renamed
Successor	Breitling SA
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Ernest Schneider (CEO)
Products	Watches
Production output	1,000,000 (1975)
Number of employees	450 (1975)

Sicura SA (officially Montres Sicura SA) was a Swiss watch manufacturer based in Granges, Switzerland.^[1] Sicura is known for being the predecessor to the modern-day Breitling SA when the original family-owned firm closed in 1979.

Founded in 1938 as 'Joh. Gobber, Horlogerieas', the company was renamed 'Montres Sicura SA' on 2 May 1955. It was headed by Théodore Sfaellos and succeeded by his son-in-law Ernest Schneider after his death. Schneider, a former soldier and pilot, lead Sicura through the quartz crisis in the 1970s, when major watch manufacturers struggled to transition from mechanical movements to quartz. Schneider adapted to the use of the new watch technology by introducing its first quartz watch in 1977, enabling the company to survive the crisis whilst other major watch companies including Breitling SA went into administration.

In April 1979, Schneider purchased the rights to the Breitling brand and due to its prestige and heritage, the Sicura brand was be shelved. Schneider changed the company name to 'Breitling Montres SA' on November 30 1982 before finally becoming 'Breitling SA' in November 1993.

Founded in 1938 as 'Joh. Gobber, Horlogerieas', and entered in the commercial register on 15 June 1939,^[2][3] its early historical origins are relatively unknown. It became Montres Sicura SA when it was registered with the Swiss Handelsregister on 2 May 1955.^[4]

When the company first appeared in the Swiss Handelsregister on 2 May 1955 it was owned and headed by Théodore Sfaellos. However, his death in early 1960 meant that Sicura would soon be taken over by his son-in-law Ernest Schneider who remained as the head of the company during its existence as Sicura SA and in its transition to Breitling SA.

Sicura in 1974 introduced the Sicura Volta which was the first mechanical wristwatch produced with a separate electrical system for back-lighting.^[5]

By 1975, Sicura had four watch assembly factories located in Grenchen, Bonfol, Salvan and Melano with a case factory in Boudry and a jewel factory in Salvan Martigny.^[2]

During the quartz crisis in the 1970s, Schneider adapted to the use of the new watch technology by introducing its first quartz watch in 1977, enabling the company to survive the crisis whilst other major watch companies including Breitling went into administration. In 1977 Sicura began producing its first quartz watches and in April 1979, Ernest Schneider purchased the Breitling and Navitimer brands and several watch models from Willy Breitling.^[6][7] Ernest Schneider eventually changed the company name, Montres Sicura AG, to Breitling AG on 29 November, 1993.

Sicura produced a variety of watches with quartz, solar, and mechanical movements.

The Aquanaut series first appeared in the Chronosport catalogue, 1968. It included three types: Sailor, Rally and Diver with 17 jewel mechanical movements. Each watch is super waterproof (400 vacuum tested) and shock protected.^[8]

The Aquanaut Sailor has a 0-60 minute rotating bezel with 5, 10 and 15 minute contrasting coloured zones for yacht racing. The bottom crown locks the rotating bezel in place and has an inner 24 bezel in midnight blue. A black low reflection dial with luminous hands and markers, orange sweep second hand and has an automatic calendar.^[8] The Aquanaut Rally has an automatic calendar, internal 24 hour scale bezel, low reflection dial, luminous hands and markers and a sweep second hand. Like the Sailor, the bottom crown is used for keeping the bezel in place after adjustment. 0-60 and 12 hour scales are used recording elapsed time or setting up two world time zones in conjunction with the mail dial.^[8] The Aquanaut Diver was designed for underwater use; the inner 24 scale bezel changes colour from midnight blue to black as you dive. Like the two previous Aquanaut models, the bottom crown is used for locking the 0-60 minute rotating bezel. The dial is low reflection, luminous hands and dial with an automatic calendar.^[8]

In 1969, Sicura introduced two additional Aquanaut models: the Aquanaut-Auto and a Aquanaut Rally. Using the same design and body, the models featured an automatic self-winding movement instead of a mechanical one used in the earlier series.^[9] The Aquanaut Auto features an automatic calendar and a rotating bezel with 0-60 minute and 0-12 hour calibrations which enables the watch to display two world time zones simultaneously. The bezel is locked with the bottom crown and also includes 5, 10 and 15 minute coloured segments for use in Yacht racing. The dial includes a 24-hour internal bezel, luminous hands and markers.^[9] Like the Auto, the new Aquanaut 'Auto' Rally includes a 24 hour inner bezel, a 12 hour scale, and a 0-60 rotating bezel but without the coloured segments.^[9]

Sicura introduced its Digital range in 1975 which included various direct-time watches featuring 17 jewel mechanical and automatic movements. These included the Digital D500, Digistar, Digital Auto and Hunter whereas the ladies Digital range included the Orchidee and Regal. All watches in the Digital range use a 'jump hour' display in which rotating discs depict the hours and minute.

In 1974, Sicura introduced the Volta which was the first mechanical wristwatch produced with a separate electrical system for back-lighting.^[10] The early 1974 models were labelled ‘Electric’ on the dial whereas later models from 1975 were labelled 'Instalite'.^[11] All Volta's appeared in polished or brushed chrome using 17 jewel mechanical movements and were shock protected. The back-lighting was activated by the top crown while the bottom crown was for adjusting the time. The case includes three apertures at the top which which the light shines through while displaying the dial. A single bulb covers all three apertures powered by two 357 batteries.

The most popular and well known of Sicura's watches, the Digital D500 uses a Baumgartner BFG Caliber 866 mechanical movement displaying direct time with rotating discs labelled with the numbers and minutes. A small red-white propeller turns continuously when the watch has been wound. The D500 was available in various colours depending on country including a chrome or gold-plated case with blue, red or gold dial. The chrome case would display a blue dial or red dial face whilst the gold-plated case appeared only in gold. In addition to the direct-time rotating disc, it has an automatic calendar and a rotating propeller. The watch is shock protected waterproof and has a stainless steel back which displays the famous Sicura coat of arms.

• https://17jewels.info/movements/b/baumgartner/baumgartner-866/
• https://watchguy.co.uk/cgi-bin/library?action=show_brand&brand=Sicura

Sicura boasted a large collection of various Sports watches for different purposes including diving, rally and yacht racing.

Introduced by Chronosport for the June issue Motor Sport magazine, 1970. Includes all calibrations for time/distance/speed calculations, two exterior outer bezels, internal 0-60 minute bezel, automatic calendar, luminous dial, waterproof, shockprotected.^[12]

Appearing in the June 1970 issue of the Motor Sport Magazine, it featured a chrome/steel case with an automatic calender..^[12] It also included a 24 hour GMT bezel, chronograph and tropic strap.^[12]

Sicura designed various chrono watches.

In 1975, Sicura

Model	Jewels	Movement	Information/Features
Submarine	17-25	Mechanical, Automatic	Water resistant, 400M vacuum tested, luminous dial.
Quartermaster	23	Mechanical	Superwaterproof, 400 vacuum tested, luminous dial.
Globetrotter	23	EB8800 Mechanical	Superwaterresistant.
Execution De Luxe	23	Mechanical	Superwaterproof.
Chrono Formula 1 929132	17	Mechanical	Tachymeter, Chronometer Shock Protected.
Pilot 930932	17	Valjoux 7734 Mechanical	1/5th second timing by centre second hand, Incabloc, Calender, Chronometer, luminous dial.
Marine-Star	17	Ronda-Matic 1238-21 Automatic	Incabloc, Waterresistant 600 Feet.
Pilot 930932	17	Valjoux 7734 Mechanical	Incabloc, Calender, Chronometer, luminous dial.
Ambassador 999293	n/a	Dynatron Electronic	Gold Plated.
Ambassador 999143	n/a	Dynatron Electronic	Chrome.
Mini Ambassador 931293	n/a	Dynatron Electronic	Ladies, Gold Plated.
Mini Ambassador 931144	n/a	Dynatron Electronic	Ladies, Chrome.
906132	17	Mechanical	Part of the Sicura Sports range. Chrome, Calender, External rotating locing bezel, Superwateerproof, luminous dial.
9116	17	Mechanical	Part of the Sicura Sports range. Chronometer.[13]
'Time/Distance/Speed'	21	Mechanical	Introduced by Chronosport for the June issue Motor Sport magazine, 1970. Includes all calibrations for time/distance/speed calculations, two exterior outer bezels, internal 0-60 minute bezel, automatic calendar, luminous dial, waterproof, shockprotected.[12]
Marine Chrono	17	EB8800 Mechanical	Introduced by Chronosport for the June issue Motor Sport magazine, 1970. 0-60 minute elapsed time rotating bezel, inner 24 hour G.M.T. bezel, push-button flyback minute recording hand, luminous dial, separate continuous seconds dial. Shockprotected, waterproof to 200m.[12]
Aquanaut Sailor	17	Mechanical	From the Chronosport catalogue, 1968. 0-60 minute rotating bezel with 5, 10 and 15 minute contrasting coloured zones for yacht racing. Special locking device on bezel operated by bottom crown. Inner 24 bezel in midnight blue. Black low reflection dial with luminous hands and markers, and orange sweep second hand. Shockprotected movement, Superwaterproof to 400m vacuum tested, automatic calender.
Aquanaut Rally	17	Mechanical	From the Chronosport catalogue, 1968. Automatic calender, internal 24 hour scale bezel, low reflection dial, luminous hands and markers and a sweep second hand. Special locking device on bezel operated by bottom crown. 0-60 and 12 hour scales for recording elapsed time or setting up two world time zones in conjunction with mail dial. Superwaterproof and shock resistant.
Aquanaut Diver	17	Mechanical	From the Chronosport catalogue, 1968.
DOOBY	n/a	Dynatron Electronic	Chrome.
DOOBY	n/a	Dynatron Electronic	Chrome.
DOOBY	n/a	Dynatron Electronic	Chrome.

• Submarine
• Quartermaster
• Instalite
• Execution De Luxe
• Globetrotter
• Marine-Star
• 400M Diver's watch - various models - features
• Formula One - 17 Jeweles - 1978-1980 - Chronograph (https://www.highlifewatches.com/store/p72/1979_Breitling_-_Sicura_%27Formula_One%27_Mechanical_Chronograph_%27New_Old_Stock%27.html)
• Sicura MG Commemorative, 1000 made, 1975, celebrating 50 years
• Cardinal Rallye GT
• Collins
• Stunt watch
• Topaz 200
• Navy
• Chrono
• Chronoflash
• Signal
• Solar-quartz
• Computer
• Satalite
• VIP 2000 introduced in 1977^[14]
• Ambassador Dynatron
• Elegance
• Unisex
• Cybernetica
• Digital (The Jump Hour one)

table idea:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiko
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orient_Watch
• https://issuu.com/retromash/docs/argos-no02-1974 (pages 154-156)

- Name, Date Introduced, Features, Movement (digital, mechanical, automatic etc), additional information? e.g. MG watch

• 
  Sicura coat of arms version 1 as it appears on the back of some mechanical watches.
• 
  Sicura coat of arms version 2 as it appears on the back of some mechanical watches.

The relationship between Sicura and Breitling is complex and often misunderstood. While Sicura is technically the legal predecessor to the present-day Breitling SA company, the former Breitling company headed by Willy Breitling ceased to exist after its assets, including the brand, was sold to several watch manufacturers; Sicura under Schneider purchased the Breitling and Navitimer brand as well as several watch models.^[15] Therefore, in some respects, the present-day Breitling company is a spiritual successor to the former family-owned company. However, they remain and have been legally separate companies. This is observed in the technical records of Breitling SA which gives the foundation date of Sicura as opposed to its foundation date of 1884 advertised by Breitling.

After 1979, Breitling-branded watches were briefly produced under Sicura AG before the company was renamed and the Sicura brand was phased-out. Contrary to popular belief, Sicura and Breitling watches were separate in both quality and construction and the only link between the two brands is due to being produced under the same company. Montres Sicura SA (Sicura Uhren AG) (Sicura Watch Company Ltd) are listed as former names of Breitling AG in the Zefix Central Business Name Index.^[16] As a result of the convoluted relationship between the two brands, it has led to Sicura branded watches being falsely advertised in vintage auctions as "Sicura by Breitling" or combined as "Sicura Breitling" despite the former producing the latter.