Festina Group
The Festina Group is a major Spanish-based watch group founded in 1984, when Miguel Rodríguez acquired the Swiss watch brand Festina, which itself dates back to 1902. It has grown through steady acquisition into one of the significant players in the European watch industry, and is one of the few groups able to cover every stage of production itself, from design and development through the manufacture of mechanical components to final assembly. Headquartered in Barcelona, with manufacturing centres in Switzerland and Spain, it has seven country subsidiaries, an estimated 15,000 points of sale and a presence in more than 90 countries across five continents. It is particularly well known for its sports marketing, especially in cycling, where Festina was for many years the official timekeeper of the Tour de France. The group remains a family-owned business under the leadership of the Rodríguez family, offering watches at every price point while maintaining Swiss watchmaking traditions.
Brands summary:
Festina, the group's flagship brand, founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1902 and known for its sport-oriented watches and chronographs, above all the Chrono Bike line born of its long association with cycling and the Tour de France.
Festina Swiss Made, launched in 2020 as a return to the brand's Swiss origins, designed, assembled and controlled at the group's own manufacture in Herbetswil.
Lotus, the urban, technology-led brand aimed at a younger audience, with a connected range since 2021 and the jewellery lines Lotus Style, in stainless steel, and Lotus Silver, in sterling silver.
Jaguar, Swiss Made since 1938 and part of the group since 1989, built on movements from Ronda, Valjoux, ETA and the group's own Soprod.
Candino, founded in 1947 in Herbetswil, where the group's Swiss manufacture still stands beside the original workshop.
Calypso, the entry point of the portfolio, made for children, teenagers and young adults, with teaching watches and accessible pricing.
Kronaby, the Swedish hybrid connected brand, with a conventional dial, no screen, a battery that lasts up to two years and its software developed in-house.
L. Leroy, the French haute horlogerie Maison founded in Paris in 1785, watchmaker to the royal and later the imperial court.
Perrelet, the Swiss Maison descended from Abraham-Louis Perrelet, who conceived automatic winding in 1777.
Soprod, the group's movement manufacture, founded in 1966 and now Festina · Soprod Suisse, one of the few able to make its own balance wheels, hairsprings, pallet forks and escape wheels.
