Wittnauer is a watch and clock company, founded in New Rochelle, New York in 1885 by Swiss immigrant Albert Wittnauer, that is now a brand of the Bulova company, which is owned by Japanese conglomerate Citizen Watch Co.
History
Albert Wittnauer was a Swiss immigrant who arrived in New York City in 1872 at the age of 16, and was employed by his brother-in-law, Eugene Robert, an importer of Swiss watches. Albert Wittnauer felt there was a market in America for a lower priced Swiss made watch.[1]
Importing Swiss watches became expensive due to the heavy taxes placed on them so Wittnauer explored ideas for reducing the expense without losing the quality. The watches could be produced by a subsidiary of their own in Switzerland or they could assemble the watches domestically.[2]
The first Wittnauer's watch line was crafted starting from 1880, but the Wittnauer brand was formally established 1888 when Wittnauer took over Eugene Robert’s company and renamed it the "A. Wittnauer Company".