Anyone have any info on (or heard of) Phenix watches?

[Ari]

Hi,

Picked up a lovely little '68 Pehix Revue from Omegary yesterday. I bought it initially mainly because of the year (we believe it's a '68, my year of birth) but also because I rather liked the look of it.

I've had it on ever since, it's a cracking thing and I'm chuffed to bits with it (it's been christened my "Austin Powers" watch by my other half, which I think is appropriate :lol: ).

But I'm curious to know more about Phenix, I've never heard of them before. I've done a little searching on the Internet and the only thing I've really come up with is this from Wikipedia.

The Phenix watch trademark was created in 1873 in Porrentruy, Switzerland.

Phenix was{vague}} a real ?Clockwork Manufacture? meaning that all pieces of clock were produced on the site. Due to its craftsmanship and the quality of its clocks, the brand with the Firebird obtained numerous awards and successes[citation needed].

In the 1960s, Phenix was part of a three clock brands entity: the two other brands were the renowned Thomen and Vulcain. The latter was relaunched in 2004.

So if anyone has any further info, or has even just heard of the brand, or knows where might be good to research further I'd be interested to know.

Not got any pics of the watch yet but this was one of the for sale pics, I hope Gary doesn't mind me using it. :)

[rfrazier]

Here's a Phenix 250 movement I have.



I don't know anything about the company.

Best wishes,
Bob

[erasuretim]

I think that Phenix were part of or had a relationship with Nivada/Croton.

Regards

Tim

[Omegary]

Here you go Ari, just found this:

The "Phenix Watch Co., SA" was founded in Porrentruy in 1873 as "Dubail, Monnin, Frossard & Cie." The company set a mark in Swiss watch history as it was the first watch company that had a registered caliber. On February 3, 1900, the company "Dubail, Monnin, Frossard & Cie" was registered as "Société d'horlogerie de Porrentruy." They won a gold medal at the Paris Exposition in 1900 already under the new name. The "Société Horlogère de Porrentruy" then changed its name to "Phenix Watch Co." in the 1920s. In the 1960s, PHENIX was part of a three clock brands entity: the two other brands were the renowned and famous Thomen and Vulcain.

Not much information really but it maybe a starting point for further investigations.

Cheers,

Gary :)

P.S. I'm glad you like your new watch and no problem using the pic.

[Ari]

Thanks gentlemen. It's always nice to know as much as possible about the history of these things. :)

[Ari]

Just took my own pic of it so thought I'd bang it up. :)

[doug darter]

Here's a Phenix 250 movement I have.



I don't know anything about the company.

Best wishes,
Bob

That's a fine movement Bob!!

[rfrazier]

That's a fine movement Bob!!

I'm getting a reasonable collection of decent movements. All I need to do now is clean them up, get the final bits of dial making down pat in a system (I've ordered some snazzy-dazzy specialist inks, and I'm slowing getting my lathe stuff sorted), and I'm off to the races. :)

Eventually, I'm going to have to learn how to refinish and replate movements, unfortunately.

Best wishes,
Bob

[VinceR]

Cannot help you with any info, but really love the look of that watch of yours!