Brand History

THE CONQUEST OF A DREAM

In the 1950s, a young visionary named Hans-Ulrich Klingenberg embarked on a mission to produce watches of timeless beauty and impeccable quality.
To realize this dream, he displayed extraordinary ingenuity and tenacity.
One of his early breakthroughs was developing and patenting a revolutionary vacuum system in a monolithic watch case. This innovation ensured complete resistance to water, air, humidity, and dust, the greatest enemies of mechanical movements. He then began to commercialize this exclusive technology for various watch brands. Driven by a relentless passion for horology, Klingenberg dedicated himself to creating the perfect watch.
His curiosity led him to believe that the secret to excellence lay in the choice of enduring materials. After extensive research and testing,
one material stood out: sapphire.

Known for its scratch resistance and scoring 9 on the Mohs scale, sapphire perfectly blends technology and craftsmanship, offering endless possibilities in shape, cut, and color similar to jewelry gems. The magical sapphire became the cornerstone of his designs.

Initially, he crafted watches for renowned Swiss brands before founding his own company in 1966: CENTURY TIME GEMS LTD. With this venture, he brought his unique watches to market, defining sapphire as CENTURY sapphire.

In 1979, always in pursuit of perfection, Klingenberg invented the Megalith system, ingeniously fusing two sapphire discs into a single, inseparable entity to create the watch case.

Over the years, CENTURY has introduced numerous new models to the international market, many of which remain integral to our collection today. Among these, the most iconic is undoubtedly the Wings of Time, a pendant masterpiece that continues to define our legacy of innovation and timeless elegance. With this watch, passing time is transformed into a bird that takes flight every time the watch is viewed…

In our pursuit of bold elegance and technical mastery, CENTURY has unveiled a captivating range of new creations. Among them, striking models with deep black PVD coatings, where mystery meets sophistication, bring a powerful, modern edge to our collection. We have also embraced transparency like never before, introducing timepieces with skeletonised dials that reveal the beating heart of the watch, showcasing the intricate mechanics within. And for those who demand the highest precision, we proudly present our certified chronometers, each one a symbol of excellence, tested and proven for flawless performance. These timepieces are expressions of identity, of innovation, and of enduring beauty.