Swiss watch manufacturer for mechanical luxury watches with self-developed factory calibers and peripheral technology.
Carl F. Bucherer (Bucherer AG)
Luzern · LengnauNew on Amplifa
About Carl F. Bucherer
Carl F. Bucherer is a Swiss watch manufacturer of Bucherer AG, founded in 1888 by Carl Friedrich Bucherer in Lucerne. The company develops, constructs, and assembles mechanical luxury wristwatches of the collections Manero, Patravi, and Heritage by hand in Switzerland, partly with its own factory calibers such as CFB A1000, A2000, T3000, and MR3000. A core feature is the patented peripheral technology, in which the oscillating mass, tourbillon, or regulator rotates on ceramic ball bearings around the periphery of the movement; the silicon escapement increases power reserve and magnetic resistance. Materials used include 18K solid gold, stainless steel, sapphire crystal, silicon, tungsten, ceramic, and Super-LumiNova. The headquarters is located at Langensandstrasse 27 in Lucerne, production was moved to Lengnau in 2002, and expanded in 2007 with the acquisition of Techniques Horlogères Appliquées by Carl F. Bucherer Technologies AG. A worldwide network of service centers offers repair, maintenance, and water resistance testing; the company was sold to Rolex in 2023/2024.
- Site
- Luzern
- Processes
- Assembly of wristwatches (hand-assembled), Design and development of proprietary movements (CFB factory calibers), Manufacture of factory calibers (CFB A1000, A2000, T3000, MR3000), Watch service: Repair, maintenance, water resistance testing, fine adjustment of movement, Laser signature for authentication of factory movements (CLR-LIGA process), Watch service (Partial and complete service, water resistance testing), Factory movements (own caliber development, including peripheral technology), Battery replacement
- Materials
- 18K Solid Gold, Stainless Steel, Sapphire Crystal, Silicon (Escapement: Anchor and escape wheel), Tungsten (Oscillating mass ring segment), Ceramic (Ball bearings), Ceramic ball bearings / Kohlerollen, Leather (Straps)
- Certificates
- COSC Chronometer, ISO 9001
- Founded
- 1888
- Industries
- Luxury Watches, Jewelry, Watch Trade, Jewelry/Gemstones (Ladies' collections), Watch Trade (Bucherer Group)
- 01
Design and development of proprietary movements
- 02
Manufacture of factory calibers
- 03
Hand assembly of timepieces
- 04
Quality inspection and fine adjustment
- 05
Worldwide service (Repair, maintenance, water resistance testing)
Materials & Technology
18K Solid Gold
Cases and crowns of the gold models are made from 18K solid gold.
Stainless Steel
Case material of many models, nickel-free and clinically tested for skin contact.
Sapphire Crystal
Hardness grade 9 on the Mohs scale, scratchable only by diamonds.
Silicon (Escapement)
Silicon anchor and escape wheel lower energy requirements, increase power reserve to at least 65 hours, and make the movement magnet-resistant.
Tungsten
Ring segment of the peripheral rotor for higher rotational performance.
Ceramic
Ball bearings guide the rotor and tourbillon cage precisely and frictionlessly.
Super-LumiNova
Luminous material for hands and dials.
Leather
Material for straps in various lengths.
Silver, Gold, Palladium
Precious metals for crowns depending on the model.
Sites
Luzern
CHHeadquarters and Administration
Lengnau
CHManufacture/Production
Timepieces & Calibers
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assembly of wristwatches (hand-assembled)Assembly | – | – | – | – | 18K Solid Gold, Stainless Steel |
| Design and development of proprietary movements (CFB factory calibers)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of factory calibers (CFB A1000, A2000, T3000, MR3000)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Brass (movement parts), Silicon, Ceramic, Tungsten |
| Watch service: Repair, maintenance, water resistance testing, fine adjustment of movementInspection | – | – | – | – | – |
| Laser signature for authentication of factory movements (CLR-LIGA process)Surface | – | – | – | – | Silicon |
Additional services
Quality & Warranty
All timepieces are manufactured by trained watchmakers according to strict quality guidelines and maintained in certified service centers; a service guarantee of 2 years (full service) or 1 year (partial service) is provided for completed work. COSC certification is available for the Chronometer calibers CFB A2000 and T3000.
| Evidence | Luzern |
|---|---|
| COSC Chronometer | |
| ISO 9001 |
History
- 1888
Carl Friedrich Bucherer opens a jewelry and watch shop in Lucerne
- 1919
Founding of the firm C. Bucherer and first ladies' watch collection
- 1924
Partnership with Hans Wilsdorf (Rolex), inclusion of the Rolex brand in the assortment
- 1933
Death of the founder; conversion into a public limited company
- 1962–1969
Participation in the development of the quartz movement Beta 21
- 1970er
Third largest Swiss manufacturer of mechanical chronometers
- 1976
Jörg G. Bucherer takes over the company (third generation)
- 2001
Launch of the independent brand Carl F. Bucherer with the Patravi TravelTec
- 2002
Relocation of production to Lengnau
- 2007
Acquisition of Techniques Horlogères Appliquées → Carl F. Bucherer Technologies AG
- 2008
First factory caliber CFB A1000 with peripheral rotor
- 2013
First tourbillon watch; 125th anniversary
- 2016
Caliber CFB A2000 with COSC certification; brand partner of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie
- 2018
Acquisition of Tourneau LLC (USA) by the Bucherer Group
- 2019
Launch of the Heritage collection
- 2021–2024
Factory caliber MR3000 (Manero Minute Repeater Symphony)
- 2023
Jörg G. Bucherer dies on 6.11.2023; sale of Bucherer AG to Rolex (completion 2024)
- 2025
According to Wikipedia, the Rolex CEO decides to discontinue the Carl F. Bucherer brand