THOMMEN’s DNA includes not only stability and solidity, but also the know-how gained from developing and manufacturing instruments for aircraft. Some readers of this blog have also written to me that THOMMEN’s portable and precise altimeter has been their reliable companion when mountaineering and hiking. In fact, as early as 1915, Thommen Uhrenfabrik AG received an order to develop cockpit instruments for the newly established Swiss Air Force. As early as 1916, Thommen Uhrenfabrik AG delivered its first aircraft clock to the Swiss Air Force. The on-board clocks formed the basis for the development of barometric altimeters. This involved using technology familiar from watch production to measure the expansion of a small copper can, which varied with atmospheric pressure, and transferring it to an altitude scale. In 1936, the altimeters developed by THOMMEN, as well as airspeed and vertical speed gauges, were used in the Swiss Air Force’s C-35 multi-purpose biplane. Stability and reliability of the aircraft measuring instruments were decisive. At the same time THOMMEN developed watches optimized for the needs of pilots and observers. Not only the Swiss Air Force trusted in Revue Thommen watches and flight instruments. Revue Thommen on-board chronographs were also used, among others, in the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter of the German Air Force and the Tornado of the Royal Air Force as well as in helicopters.
In total, Revue Thommen supplied more than eighty civil aviation companies and military air fleets with on-board clocks. And the paratroopers of the Swiss Army used Revue Thommen watches and THOMMEN altimeters during their missions.
Indeed – part of THOMMEN’s DNA is flying and the development of on-board clocks, altimeters and speedometers for the aircraft industry. At the turn of the millennium, REVUE THOMMEN launched a successful Airspeed collection. In the development of the next generation of THOMMEN watches, we will continue this tradition and combine the DNA characteristics of stability, solidity with the know how from the production of flight and pilot watches. More about this soon!
