Fortis
Fortis is a Swiss watchmaker founded in Grenchen in 1912 by Walter Vogt. It is known for pilot and space watches, including the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph and the Flieger collection.
| Founded | 1912 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Walter Vogt |
| Headquarters | Grenchen, Switzerland |
| Owner | Jupp Philipp (since 2017) |
| Website | fortis-swiss.com |
What is Fortis?
Fortis is a Swiss watch brand founded in 1912 by Walter Vogt in Grenchen, where it is still based in the building Vogt constructed that year. It is known for tool watches for aviation and space travel.
History
In 1926 Fortis worked with British watchmaker John Harwood on one of the first self-winding wristwatches. The brand's space connection began with the Spacematic in 1962, which was tested by a US space mission crew. In 1994 its Official Cosmonauts Chronograph was adopted by a Russian cosmonaut training centre and worn aboard the Mir space station, and Fortis became a supplier to crewed Russian space missions. After debt restructuring in 2017, investor Jupp Philipp took over the brand, which was renamed Fortis Watches AG, and he serves as owner and chief executive.
Products and positioning
Fortis makes mechanical tool watches. Key lines include:
- Flieger pilot watches, whose chronograph won the 2004 European Aviation Watch of the Year award
- Stratoliner, including the S-41 Reentry Edition, named Watch Design of the Year 2025
- Cosmonaut chronographs
Why it matters
Fortis is one of the Swiss independents whose aviation and space credentials give it a clear niche in the tool watch market.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Fortis?
Fortis was founded in Grenchen, Switzerland, in 1912 by Walter Vogt.
What is Fortis known for?
Fortis is known for pilot and space watches, including the Official Cosmonauts Chronograph and the Flieger collection.