Candino is a Swiss watch brand known for its elegant and classic designs. Thanks to impeccable materials, sapphire crystals, and precise, reliable movements, Candino watches are appreciated in more than 60 countries worldwide.
At the brand’s factory in Herbetswil, Switzerland, highly qualified specialists assemble “Swiss Made” watches and carefully check the quality of every component.
Within the Festina Lotus Group, Candino brand specializes in entry-level and mid-price segment models designed for both business professionals and stylish women.
Candino is one of the few watch brands with the capacity and technology to manufacture watches in-house. The company’s headquarters and design office are located in Biel/Bienne, while its main production facilities equipped with state-of-the-art technology are located in Herbetswil, Switzerland.
Product quality is a top priority for the company. Numerous tests are carried out every day, including water-resistance and scratch-resistance testing. Candino watches are always equipped with sapphire crystal glass. The brand also uses materials such as stainless steel, tungsten, titanium, gold, ceramic, and genuine leather.
The company produces up to 2,000 watches per day and exports them to more than sixty countries.
The name Candino comes from the Latin word Candidus, meaning “white”, “pure”, and “sincere”.
Although the official brand name Candino was introduced in 1947, the company’s history dates back to 1818, when it was founded by the Flury family. The family-owned watchmaker produced luxury watches for wealthy clients, elites, and high-ranking officials.
In the 1940s the company realized that in order to remain competitive it needed greater resources and new ideas. In 1947, the Flury company merged with the Hug family watchmaking business.
The Biel/Bienne office designs new collections and orders the necessary materials, components, and movements. Assembly and testing of finished watches take place in Herbetswil, where the factory also has a department dedicated to modifying mechanisms and adding additional functions.
Chronology
1947 – Candino brand officially established
1954 – Kurt Flury joined the company; a sales office opened in Biel/Bienne
1956 – Construction of the Herbetswil factory with 80 employees
1968 – Additional modern production facility opened
1971 – Assembly line for men’s automatic watches launched
1976 – Production of special electronic digital watches
1977 – Introduction of the first hard-metal model
1980s – Development of quartz watches with moon-phase indicators and digital-analogue movements
1988 – Creation of watch cases made from tungsten carbide and high-tech ceramic (Innotec material)
1989 – Opening of a new factory in Herbetswil
1990 – Production of a watch with independent illumination powered by an ultra-flat lithium battery
1996–2003 – Sponsorship of Davidoff Swiss tennis tournaments, Formula 1 teams, international regattas, and world ski championships
2002 – Integration into the international Festina Lotus Group holding
2004 – Patent for a new crown protection system
2010–2011 – Sponsorship of PlanetSolar, the first solar-powered catamaran to circumnavigate the globe
Today Candino operates as part of the Festina Group, focusing on Swiss-made quality and producing watches in its own integrated and modern production facilities.
Candino carefully controls every stage of the process: design, manufacturing, assembly, logistics, and customer service. The brand combines tradition with modern innovation, paying special attention to details. This approach allows Candino watches to proudly carry the Swiss Made quality label.
Continuous research into new materials, technologies, and designs allows Candino to improve reliability, performance, and aesthetics. The brand’s goal is to offer high-quality Swiss watches at a fair and accessible price.
The combination of aesthetics, tradition, and innovation makes Candino a reference point for lovers of Swiss-made watches. For more than 80 years the brand has respected the strict traditions of Swiss watchmaking while interpreting them from a modern perspective.
From sporty models to elegant women’s watches and timeless classics, Candino offers a wide range of timepieces with quartz and automatic movements designed to suit different styles and lifestyles.
