Fortis
- Founded
- 1912
- Based in
- Grenchen, Switzerland
- In our catalog
- 2 watches from $2,250 to $3,050
Fortis has had several lives: early automatic pioneer, supplier of watches to cosmonauts, and now a maker of chunky, colorful tool watches with in-house-styled movements. It doesn't have the brand recognition of IWC or Sinn, but it has the history and the quality.
History
Walter Vogt founded Fortis in Grenchen in 1912. In 1926 it worked with the English inventor John Harwood to make one of the first self-winding wristwatches in series production. Fortis made pilot's watches, chronographs and military watches over the decades.
From 1994 its chronographs were supplied to the Russian space program and worn by cosmonauts on the Mir space station. The brand struggled for years, and in 2017 new owner Jupp Philipp took over, refocused the collection on aviation, diving and space, and introduced new movements under the "Werk" name, developed with Swiss partners.
Signature models
- Flieger F-41 Automatic: A pilot's watch with a clear dial, bold numerals and a matte case.
- Marinemaster M-40: A dive watch with a colorful dial and a 1970s-inspired case.
- Cosmonautis: Chronographs that celebrate the brand's space history.
What it's known for
Fortis cases are robust, finished with a bead-blasted or matte texture, and the dials come in bright accent colors. The brand's space history is a big part of its identity, and its bracelets are among the best in the class.
Price and positioning
Fortis watches cost roughly $2,000 to $4,500. That's similar to Sinn and Mühle Glashütte for tool watches, and to Tudor's entry models. It's a niche brand for people who like Swiss tool watches with a bit of attitude.
Fortis watches in our library
- Fortis Flieger F-41 Automatic ($2,250 to $2,450)
- Fortis Marinemaster M-40 ($2,850 to $3,050)