1930s

In the early 1920s, a young man by the name of Goliardo Della Balda ventured away from the hilltop enclave of San Marino with his family to create a new life in Switzerland. He had always longed to own a great timepiece, but at the time it seemed like an unattainable luxury for someone of his humble beginnings. This fascination motivated him to master the watchmaking business.

The company was established in Grenchen, Switzerland, in the heart of the watchmaking industry at a particularly crucial moment. While instruments to record time were important since the establishment of ancient civilizations, and were seen as an object of admiration for specific trades and the wealthy, accessibility of wristwatches to everyone was just beginning to take off. Affordable quality was to define the brands mission and motivate future innovation.