Anyone who buys a quartz watch expects above all reliability, precision and a long battery life. To guarantee top quality standards in the electronic segment, many watch brands have themselves supplied by Ronda. Our article explains who this manufacturer is, why a Ronda movement offers great advantages and which brands value the manufacturer’s expertise.

Who is Ronda?

Ronda AG is a Swiss movement manufacturer with a focus on high-quality quartz movements. From Bruno Söhnle to Tag Heuer, the family-owned company supplies renowned industry giants with precise calibers in various price ranges. While an upscale Ronda movement is in many cases “Swiss Made,” more affordable models in the range are assembled in Far Eastern countries such as Thailand. Founded in 1946, Ronda initially focused on mechanical movements before specializing in the then-new quartz technology in the early 1970s. The company develops into a pioneer of the battery-powered segment, discontinues its mechanical division at the end of the 1980s and establishes a first-class reputation. Today, one of the company’s movements stands for reliable longevity and ticks away in various premium watches, from the elegant Bruno Söhnle Lago to the sporty Tag Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph 43mm.

Why are Ronda quartz movements so popular?

In addition to their technical stability, Ronda calibers score with a variety of technical achievements that can be attributed to the company’s specialization. Watch brands have to invest vast sums to set up completely in-house quartz watches, which is possible with correspondingly high sales prices and thus only in the luxury segment (e.g. Breitling). In short, buying in a Ronda movement is the cheaper yet higher quality option for brands in the entry and mid-range segments. In addition, the increasing popularity of manufacture calibers almost exclusively concerns mechanical timepieces, which is why supplied quartz movements do not mean any significant loss of image. On the contrary: over ten years of battery life in the “normtech 700 & 6000” movement series, technical refinements ranging from a variety of complications to the perceptible chronograph pusher click, as well as simple handling, should convince even the last watch wearer of the Swiss movements.

Overview: Important quartz calibers from Ronda

The individual lines of the Ronda product range pursue different focuses. At the upper end of the spectrum are the collections of the “Quartz Specials” series, whose startech and mastertech lines offer a special variety of functions. The chronograph movements in particular offer manufacturers a high degree of individuality: the number of totalizers (1 to 3) can be varied, as can their position, the calendar system (day, date, month, retrograde) and the size of the quartz calibers. The startech 4000 line stands out, with complications ranging from big date and alarm to second time zone and tides. More down-to-earth are the lines of the “Quartz Essentials” collection, whose varieties range from the popular xtratech and the flat slimtech to the enduring normtech and the particularly powerful powertech series.

To make the variety of the Ronda assortment more vivid, we demonstrate a number of particularly popular quartz watches that draw their power from the Swiss supplier’s drives:

1.) Bruno Söhnle Pesaro II: Ronda 7004.P BS

A particularly high-class caliber ticks in the Bruno Söhnle Pesaro II (Ref. PL113070) and realizes the typical Glashütte look with its panorama date at 1 o’clock, retrograde weekday display and small seconds. Designed for the generous 43 millimeter diameter of the elegant men’s model, the Ronda movement caliber 7004.P BS (“BS” stands for an individual Bruno Söhnle version) scores with 48 months of battery life and a quick change of the big date from day 31 to day 1. What Bruno Söhnle saves in the efficient purchase of the caliber, the manufacture invests in excellent quality standards: 100 meter water resistance, sapphire crystal and the valuable haptics are not a matter of course in this price range. The Bruno Söhnle Lago (Ref. PL114320) also uses a caliber from the mastertech 7000 line.

2.) Bruno Söhnle Allegro: Ronda 1062 BS

Small ladies’ watches like the Bruno Söhnle Allegro (Ref. PLX500095) benefit from a quartz movement from the extra-thin slimline 1000 series: the caliber 1062 BS, again in a special Bruno Söhnle modification, is a breathtaking 1.9 millimeters thin and guarantees a proud six years of battery life. The next trip to the watchmaker? A long way off. Good to know: As a two-hand movement (hour, minute), the Ronda 1062 BS has no EOL (“End of Life”) indicator and no power-saving mechanism; both features are reserved for movements with additional seconds.

3.) Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide: Ronda 515

One of the coolest watches of the past year also relies on Ronda power: with its integrated strap, six-fold double-striker bezel and cheerful color collection, but also its sustainable construction from recycled ocean plastic, the Maurice Lacroix Aikon #tide is right on trend. Its power is generated by the Ronda 515 from the particularly powerful Powertech 500 caliber series. A very strong stepping motor, coupled with 45 months of standard battery life and an energy-saving function when the stem is pulled, make the caliber 515 a cream of the crop among modern quartz movements.

4.) Tag Heuer Formula 1 Quartz Chronograph 43mm: Ronda 5040.D

Black, powerful, masculine: Tag Heuer Formula 1 (Ref. ) works a quartz chronograph movement from the startech 5000 series. The Ronda 5040.D combines various time stop functions under the cloak of ease of use: small seconds, 30-minute counter and a lightning-fast tenths of a second counter are housed on three totalizers, paired with ADD and SPLIT functions and 54 months of battery life. Protecting the Ref. CAZ1010.FT8024 from outside influences is its 200 meter water resistance. Aesthetically exciting, the huge tachymeter scale on the bezel creates a progressive, racing look.

5.) U-Boat Darkmoon: Ronda 712.3

In the exotic U-Boat Darkmoon, the Swiss-Made 712.3 quartz movement has to master a special challenge: together with the other internal parts of the watch, the drive floats in a special oil that creates the illusion of missing glass on the dial and enables extreme black levels that maximize legibility. A whopping 60 months of battery life characterize the two-hand watch, as well as an energy-saving function and reparability of the metal movement. The latter feature is an important characteristic of all Ronda movements presented here and differentiates the high-quality drives from questionable cheap movements that are automatically ready for scrap in case of a malfunction.

Mechanics and smartwatches: diverse range

In addition to dozens of different quartz movements, Ronda now has a mechanical caliber in its lineup again: The R150 seriously competes with the established ETA 2824 with excellent rates, smooth running and a reduced overall height, but has not yet found comparable use in the industry. Also, the service-friendly construction, good workmanship and affordable price could make the R150 an exciting ETA alternative in the entry-level segment in the future. In addition, Ronda produces central components for hybrid smartwatches with its “gearboxes.

Der Beitrag Ronda movement erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.

Frankfurt, Schramberg, Glashütte: the heart of the German watch industry beats in three cities and brims with diversity. From the engineering wonder of a Sinn special watch to the Bauhaus-inspired elegance of Junghans watches, the spectrum of automatic models is huge and competes against a Glashütte brand world that couldn’t be more varied. Our guide explains which automatic watches are the optimum for your taste and wallet.

Sinn watches: Professional instruments for every use

If you talk about automatic watches from German manufacturers, you can’t avoid the traditional company from Frankfurt am Main, which was founded in 1961. Worldwide, the company represents the prototype of robust, technically advanced timepieces for everyday life and the toughest operations. Up to 2,000 meters water depth in the automatic U2? No difficulty at all. Special developments such as the JAGDUHR 3006, the EZM 12 specially designed for air rescue services and the EZM 7 fire department watch demonstrate the enormous degree of specialization at Sinn. Although the company uses mostly bought-in movements from Sellita, which is why manufacture enthusiasts don’t get their money’s worth, it offers an unparalleled pool of ingenious developments in return. No other automatic watches from German manufacturers can boast the scratch-resistant TEGIMENT technology, the Ar-Dehumidifying technology to increase functional reliability, or the HYDRO technology, which enables mirror-free reading under water.

Target group: Technology enthusiasts, practically oriented watch wearers who are looking for a quality product for life are in the right place with Sinn. But beware: classics such as the Frankfurt Financial District Watches and the Pilot’s Watch 104 also cater to elegant preferences.

Junghans: Dedicated to elegance

German automatic watches with a real “gentleman” factor are made in the small town of Schramberg in Baden-Württemberg, where Junghans has been manufacturing its quality mechanical products since 1861. Compared to Sinn, the manufacturer prioritizes aesthetic considerations in its most famous models: Max Bill watches, the Junghans Meister collection and other lines stand for minimalism, Bauhaus charm and domed watch glass with maximum recognition value.

From a functional perspective, few automatic watches from German manufacturers in this price segment are more exciting: the Meister Worldtimer has made the world time watch affordable, the Meister Gangreserve has established a completely new representation of the remaining automatic power, and the iconic Max Bill Automatic needs no explanation at all. Relative to Sinn, the entry into the world of automatics is more affordable: while the Frankfurt-based company starts at around 1,000 euros with the 556 model series, the Schramberg-based company has a chic basic model in its lineup for around 700 euros with the Form A watch.

Target group: Traditionalists who appreciate a timeless look and can do without German manufacture movements will get their money’s worth with Junghans watches. The variety of colors and functions is excellent for both sexes.

Glashütte: Where does the journey begin in the German watch mecca?

By far the largest variety of automatic watches from German manufacturers is produced in the Müglitz Valley in Saxony: Typical identifying features such as decentralized dials and the large panorama date extend through all price ranges – from the entry-level secret tip Bruno Söhnle to Germany’s most exclusive watch manufacturer, A. Lange & Söhne. Bruno Söhnle is one of those manufacturers that many buyers don’t have on their radar, despite an incredibly interesting automatic range. Wrongly so! Especially the collections Pesaro II, Munich and Stuttgart are a prime example of local elegance. Exceptional rarities like the Rondo Automatic Regulator stand for traditional design at a fair price and clearly stand out from the crowd. Although so-called “atelier calibers” with their own modifications and decorations are built into more upscale models, anyone looking for complete German manufacture movements should knock on Nomos Glashütte’s door in the neighborhood.

Nomos: Manufacture automatic watches in a unique style

Like Junghans, the brand, founded in 1990, draws much of its inspiration from the Bauhaus style that shaped its four basic collections: the Tangente, Orion, Ludwig, and Tetra. What excites us most about Nomos is the affordability of genuine manufacture movements like the DUW 3001 in the Club Campus Neomatik 39: no other automatic watches from German manufacturers offer fully in-house mechanics below the 2,000-euro mark that also feature the in-house developed assortment (“Swing System”). A cream puff for technology maniacs! Compared to the likewise in-house hand-wound movements, however, the percentage price surcharges are hefty, which is why we recommend taking a look at the variants without a rotor.

Mühle and Union: Renaissance Glashütte traditional brands

If you want to wear a German watch with a nautical tradition dating back to the 19th century, Mühle Glashütte is the right choice: Compared to Nomos, the self-winding calibers, such as the SW-200 in the Teutonia II Medium, are bought in, but are more affordable in return. The Panova three-hand watch brings endless character to the wrist in three-digit spheres and is one of our absolute watch favorites from Germany.

Those who prefer professionalism to elegance benefit from the nautical experience at Mühle: models like the S.A.R. Rescue Timer withstand the toughest conditions, while the chronographs are powerful masculine statements. The Teutonia Sport I in particular deserves a closer look.

If you want to experience your automatic watches from German manufacturers in classic beauty and without frills, you can’t miss the Union Glashütte range. Timeless dress watches like the Viro Datum, Noramis and Seris are the hobbyhorse of the brand founded in 1893 by entrepreneurial genius Johannes Dürrstein. But there’s another way: if you love edgy watches with the exotic factor, you couldn’t wear a more original design legend than the Union Glashütte Averin Chronograph Moonphase.

High-end with a German touch

We’ve talked a lot about affordable automatic watches from German manufacturers, but the domestic watch industry also dominates the upper end of the spectrum with two top manufactures: Glashütte Original and A. Lange & Söhne. At first glance, the similarities can be striking; especially the dials of the luxury Pano Edition and Lange 1 collections seem like siblings. The difference lies in the price range: if you want to wear perfect luxury in the traditional style of Saxon watchmaking, you buy an original and get a top-notch overall package with a very good price-performance ratio, from the manufacture movement to the finest ornaments. Those who spend an average of 5,000 to 15,000 euros for a Glashütte Original receive quality standards that surpass even Swiss contenders like Omega and Breitling.

It’s hard to imagine Lange & Söhne playing in a different league again. The fact is: the high-end luxury brand produces the most exclusive, elaborate and in every respect spectacular hand-wound and automatic watches from German manufacturers. Only 5,000 units are produced per year, each one meticulously assembled, disassembled and reassembled by hand to ensure a level of perfection that has no equal in this country. The manufacture also sets technical standards: most watch experts worldwide agree that the Datograph ticks the best chronograph movement of all time. The pleasure begins at around 20,000 euros for the simplest Saxonia with three hands.

Der Beitrag German manufacturer automatic watches in comparison erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.