With over 30 years of history, the Festina Group is now one of the giants of the watchmaking sector, thanks to a growth strategy in which the creation of new brands has alternated with the acquisition of well-known Swiss ones.
Its corporate head office is located in Madrid, while the logistics center is based in Barcelona. The Group also operates its own manufacturing facilities equipped with the latest technology in Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, and France, where it produces its own components and precision watch mechanisms. The Group owns a diverse portfolio of watch brands that continues to evolve as the company expands globally.
Festina Group is present in more than 110 markets worldwide and is currently a market leader in Spain and France, while also ranking among the top watch brands in countries such as Italy, Germany, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Chronology
- 1902: Founded in the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, by the Stüdi family. The name “Festina” emphasizes careful, high-quality construction. The brand name derives from the Latin phrase Festina lente, meaning “Hurry slowly,” a saying attributed by Suetonius to Emperor Augustus, known for his prudence: “Walk slowly if you want to arrive at a well-done job sooner”
- 1935: The founding family sold the brand to businessman Willy Burkhard von Wilhelm. During World War II, the company subsequently moved its headquarters to Barcelona, Spain.
- 1975: Entrepreneur Georges Uhlmann acquired the brand and significantly strengthened its presence in the Spanish and Italian markets, expanding its international reach.
- 1984: Spanish entrepreneur Miguel Rodríguez (owner of Lotus watches) acquired the Festina brand and all rights to it, forming the Festina Lotus Group and combining Swiss quality with Spanish design. This acquisition marked a strategic turning point that propelled the brand onto the global stage.
- 1989–2016: The Festina cycling team became iconic, strengthening the brand’s association with high-performance sports. In 1992 Festina became the official timekeeper of the Tour de France, a role it maintained until 2016. For decades the brand remained closely linked to the world of cycling as a sponsor and official timekeeper of major events such as the Tour of Spain and the Tour of Britain.
- 1990s–2000s: The Festina Group expanded its portfolio by acquiring Swiss watch brands such as Jaguar (1989), Candino (2002), and the luxury Swiss brand Perrelet (2004), originally founded in 1777 by the renowned watchmaker Abraham-Louis Perrelet.
- Today: Festina operates as a large international company, the Festina Group, headquartered in Madrid and Barcelona. The Group specializes in watches and precision components, selling more than five million watches annually worldwide, combining Japanese movements with Swiss watchmaking expertise. The Group also owns the Swiss manufacture Soprod (since 1996), a dedicated manufacturer of both mechanical and quartz watch movements and one of the largest movement producers in the world.
Festina watches today are typically known for their sporty and contemporary aesthetics, with chronographs being particularly popular. Many models use reliable Japanese quartz movements, while the brand continues to invest in traditional mechanical watchmaking, maintaining its strong connection with Swiss watchmaking heritage.
For more than a century, Festina watches have been synonymous with the perfect combination of elegance and functionality. Distinctive design, constant technological innovation, and excellent value for money are the key elements of the brand’s success.
Over the years, Festina has kept pace with the times while remaining loyal to its original character. This is reflected in its timeless, classic, and contemporary designs and in a wide range of watches distinguished by strong personality and sporty style.
Festina stays ahead of fashion, transforming its watches into trends. Its collections are designed for dynamic and ambitious men and women who seek high-performance watches with character and attractive aesthetics.
By choosing a Festina watch today, you continue a tradition that began more than a century ago – selecting modern, unique, and original timepieces distinguished by their stylish design and carefully selected materials.
The Spanish brand Festina, with its collections of Swiss watches, combines Swiss quality with Spanish design. Watch enthusiasts know that timepieces produced in Switzerland under the “Swiss Made” label represent true watchmaking excellence. These watches reflect the highest standards of quality and precision, as the components are manufactured and the watches themselves are assembled almost entirely in Switzerland.
