Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches with hand-ground monolithic sapphire cases, based in Nidau.
Century Time Gems Ltd.
Nidau (CH-2560), Zihlstrasse 50New on Amplifa
About CENTURY
Century Time Gems Ltd. (CENTURY) is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1966 by Hans-Ulrich Klingenberg and headquartered in Nidau. The company produces luxury watches for ladies and gentlemen whose cases are made of sapphire — the second-hardest material after diamond, with a hardness of 9 on the Mohs scale. The sapphire cases are ground and polished by hand using diamond-tipped tools; each facet is crafted symmetrically by hand. The centerpiece is the Megalith system invented in 1979, in which two sapphire discs are fused into an inseparable case;(fd) moreover, CENTURY uses a patented vacuum system for monolithic cases against water, air, moisture and dust. Manufacturing uses stainless steel, 18 kt. gold and diamonds (River to Top Wesselton D–G, clarity IF–VS); some models feature deep black PVD coatings and skeleton dials. Products are distributed internationally, including via certified service centers and the first boutique in Tokyo-Ginza.
- Site
- Nidau
- Processes
- Hand grinding and polishing of sapphire cases (hand facet cutting), PVD coating (deep black PVD), Vacuum technology in monolithic cases (patented vacuum system), Megalith system: fusion of two sapphire discs into one case, Watch assembly / chronometer testing (certified chronometers), Repair/service via certified service centers, Warranty extension (myCENTURY), Hand crafting: cutting and polishing of sapphire cases
- Materials
- Sapphire (CENTURY sapphire), Stainless steel, 18 kt. gold, Diamonds, Sapphire glass / sapphire discs (Megalith system), PVD coating (deep black)
- Founded
- 1966
- Industries
- Luxury watches, Watchmaking industry, Jewellers
- 01
Sapphire processing (hand cutting and polishing)
- 02
Case manufacturing (Megalith system, vacuum system)
- 03
Watch assembly
- 04
Chronometer testing
- 05
Distribution and service via certified service centers
Materials & Processing
Sapphire (CENTURY sapphire)
Hardness 9 on the Mohs scale, practically scratch-resistant, processed by hand grinding and polishing with diamond-tipped tools.
Stainless steel
Material for case and watch components.
18 kt. gold
Precious metal for selected watch models.
Diamonds
River to Top Wesselton (D–G), clarity IF–VS, as setting stones of the watches.
PVD coating (deep black)
Deep black surface coating of selected sapphire cases.
Locations
Nidau
CHHead office / Headquarters and manufacturing
- Materials
- Sapphire, stainless steel, 18 kt. gold, diamonds
Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand grinding and polishing of sapphire cases (hand facet cutting)Joining | – | – | – | – | Sapphire |
| PVD coating (deep black PVD)Surface | – | – | – | – | Sapphire |
| Vacuum technology in monolithic cases (patented vacuum system)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Sapphire |
| Megalith system: fusion of two sapphire discs into one caseJoining | – | – | – | – | Sapphire |
| Watch assembly / chronometer testing (certified chronometers)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Sapphire, Stainless steel, 18 kt. gold, Diamonds |
Additional services
History
- 1950er
Hans-Ulrich Klingenberg develops and patents a vacuum system for monolithic watch cases
- 1966
Founding of Century Time Gems Ltd. by Hans-Ulrich Klingenberg
- 1979
Invention of the Megalith system: fusion of two sapphire discs into one case
- 1993
Philip W. A. Klingenberg joins the company
- 1995
Relocation to a new building in Nidau
- 2000
Opening of the first CENTURY boutique in Tokyo-Ginza, Japan