TIME PIECES

 Hello ladies and gents this is the Viking telling you that today we are talking about 

Most Exciting Spanish Watch Brands

Spain may not be one of the big boys in the history of watchmaking, but nowadays, there are quite a lot of Spanish watch brands to choose from. Through a mix of start-ups and acquisitions, the timekeeping industry on the Iberian Peninsula has expanded and improved to become a player to be reckoned with.

1. Festina

You can’t discuss watches and Spain without mentioning The Festina-Lotus group. It is the leading manufacturer of watches in Spain, owning five different watch brands – Calypso (cheap digital watches), Candino (chronographs), Jaguar, Lotus, and of course the flagship, Festina.

Originally a Swiss brand (founded in 1902), Festina was acquired by Barcelona-based industrialist Miguel Rodriguez in 1984, making it a Spanish watch brand. The watches are manufactured in two different locations – Barcelona and Toledo.

With a collection of sporty but elegantly designed chronographs, priced in the midrange, Festina watches have become very popular throughout Europe. Especially in countries such as Italy, Spain and France.

2. Viceroy

Viceroy hasn’t always been a Spanish brand. It was founded in 1951 in Switzerland, and didn’t move to Spain until 1982 when it was purchased by the Munreco Group (that also owns and operates the Mark Maddox and Sandoz Spain watch brands). The same journey as Festina.

Viceroy caters to both men and women, and is focused on making analog timepieces in the $100-$500 price range. They offer jewellery and accessories as well.

To make Viceroy recognized worldwide, the Munreco Group decided to use celebrity ambassadors – like Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso – in their marketing campaigns.

3. Kronos

Kronos is one of Spain’s oldest watch brands. It was founded already in 1930 by Carlos Vendrell Paradis – a Barcelona merchant. By collaborating with Swiss suppliers, Señor Vendrell was able to create original and exclusive timepieces.

Kronos of today caters to a very wide range of customers. They offer watches to both men and women, and they have a series of vastly different collections (sport, elegance, brightly colored watches, fashion, etcetera). The only thing they don’t offer is digital watches. Analog is still the way to go!

And as always have a chilled day from the Viking