More than a century of watchmaking
A look back at a century of watchmaking through a brand with a glorious history.
1918-2025
ESKA Watches
More than a century of watchmaking audacity
Founded in 1918 in Grenchen, in the heart of watchmaking Switzerland, Eska has endured through the decades with a pioneering spirit, blending refinement, expertise, and creativity. From three-hand watches to sophisticated complications, cloisonné enamel dials, and other artistic crafts, each Eska creation bore a signature: that of a watch brand attentive to detail and elegance.
In the post-war decades, Eska became a benchmark not only in Europe, but also in North and South America, where it even had a production facility in Brazil to meet the growing demand for precision watches. Yet, like so many other historic brands, Eska ceased operations in 1987, leaving behind a forgotten legacy... until today.
1918
Foundation of Eska Watches
Eska was founded by Sylvan Kocher in Switzerland under the name S. Kocher & Co , phonetically abbreviated to "Eska". From the outset, the brand stood out for its classic watches, particularly in emerging markets such as Brazil and the United States.
1937
Development
Due to its success, Eska needed a larger space. In 1937, Silvan Kocher moved the company from Selzach to Grenchen, a Swiss town renowned for its watchmaking expertise. This relocation allowed Eska to expand its production, strengthening its presence on international markets.
1940
The Golden Age
Eska is expanding across the Atlantic, mainly in the North American and Brazilian markets, with numerous models.
1948
Chronographs and complications
By the late 1940s, Eska Watches had included manual and automatic models, as well as models with a full calendar, moon phases, and chronographs.
1959
Amphibian 600
The Amphibian 600 became Eska's flagship model. Designed as a durable diver's watch, it was used by the French Navy and popularized by the likes of Roy Rogers. It was often compared to Blancpain's Fifty Fathoms for its bold design and diving reliability.
1980s
Quartz Crisis
The Swiss watch industry was brutally shaken in the early 1980s by the "quartz crisis." In this turbulent context, the Eska brand was still seen on the wrists of international personalities such as Mireille D'Arc and Pelé .
1987
The end of an era
Due to the watchmaking crisis and the rise of quartz watches, Eska ceased operations after nearly 70 years, and more than 250 models in its catalog.
Temporary end of an iconic brand for collectors.
2024
Return of a legend
Launch of the Eska Amphibian “250” Kickstarter.
Project of two watchmaking enthusiasts, Christophe & Sinicha, wishing to revive the prestigious past of Eska.
Rebirth of a legend
In 2024, ESKA Watches was reborn under the leadership of Christophe Chevreton and Sinicha Knezevic, two watchmaking enthusiasts who decided to reawaken the sleeping beauty.
Refusing to let the treasures of a bygone century sink into oblivion, they relaunched Eska with a clear vision: to honor the soul of historic models while reinterpreting them with a resolutely contemporary aesthetic.
Their ambition? To reveal Eska's rich heritage to the world, restore its identity, and chart a new course where authenticity, character, and mechanical passion combine to appeal to a new generation of enthusiasts. An adventure that began with a bang with the Amphibian 250, a modern reinterpretation of a legendary watch—the Amphibian 600, of which only four are known to date—and which could yet reach new milestones…
To mark this revival, ESKA Watches has chosen to relaunch the Amphibian 250, a diver that paved the way for this new era. Now available as a permanent collection with the White Shark and Black Shark versions, the Amphibian 250 also had a limited edition with a red dial, the Red Viper, which is now sold out.
This first chapter has allowed ESKA Watches to regain its place on the watchmaking scene, attracting both collectors and a new generation of enthusiasts curious to rediscover a century-old signature.
— Christophe Chevreton
The watches
