Edox: history, models and value

Founded

1884

Founder(s)

Christian Ruefli-Flury

Headquarters

Les Genevez

Owner / group

Independent (family-owned)

Edox: origins and founding

Edox was founded in 1884 in Biel/Bienne by watchmaker Christian Ruefli-Flury. According to the brand, the name comes from ancient Greek and means "measuring of time". The hourglass, still on the Edox logo today, became the company's symbol around 1900. The early business made pocket watches.

Founders and family

Christian Ruefli-Flury was born in 1860 in Courrendlin, in today's canton of Jura, the son of a foundry master. He started his watchmaking apprenticeship in 1870 and worked for Jean Aegler in Biel before setting up on his own. After his death in 1921, Robert Kaufman-Hug took over and switched the company to wristwatches only. In 1965 Victor Flury-Liechti took over from his uncle.

Edox history and milestones

• 1955: Edox employed about 500 people and moved into a larger factory.
• 1961: the Delfin, with a double caseback and double gaskets for better water resistance.
• 1965: the Hydro-Sub, with a crown system secured by a tension ring, rated to 500 meters.
• 1970: the Geoscope, a world time watch covering almost 50 cities.
• 1970s: during the quartz crisis, Edox became part of the General Watch Company, a subsidiary of the ASUAG group.
• 1983: Edox became independent again, owned by Montres Vista SA, and moved to Les Genevez in the Jura mountains.
• 1998: Les Bémonts Ultra Slim, a calendar watch with a movement only 1.4 mm thick.
• 2008 onward: timing partnerships with the Class-1 powerboat championship, the World Rally Championship (2010) and the Dakar Rally (2012).
• 2013: the Delfin was relaunched.

Famous Edox models

• Delfin: the 1960s dive and sports watch with the double caseback, now back in the range as "Delfin The Original".
• Hydro-Sub: the 500-meter diver from 1965, also reissued.
• Geoscope: the 1970 world timer.
• Les Bémonts: thin dress watches.
• CO-1 and Chronorally: sporty chronographs linked to powerboat racing and rallying.
• Skydiver, Neptunian, Grand Ocean: current sports and dive watches.

Edox today

Edox is run as Montres Edox et Vista SA from Les Genevez in the canton of Jura and has been family-owned since 1983. It makes Swiss-made mechanical and quartz watches in the mid-price segment, with a strong focus on sports and dive watches and on motorsport timing partnerships.

Edox prices on the pre-owned market

Most used Edox watches are modern sports and dive models, and they usually sell well below their original retail price. Mechanical versions hold value better than quartz ones. Vintage pieces from the 1960s and 1970s, such as early Delfin, Hydro-Sub and Geoscope watches, attract more collector interest, provided dial, case and caseback are original. Box, papers and good condition make a clear difference.

How to recognise a genuine Edox

Edox is not among the most-faked brands, but check the basics: clean, even dial printing, the hourglass logo, correct engravings on the caseback, and a movement that matches the model. On vintage Delfins, the double caseback is part of the design and should be present. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch lists further checks.

What is your Edox worth?

Upload a few photos of the dial, caseback and papers for a free watch value estimate. If you need a written valuation for an estate, insurance or a division of property, we also offer a watch appraisal.

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