Candino Watches: A New Swiss-Made Brand in Helvetia

There are, of course, several reasons why we’ve included Candino in our lineup. First and foremost, it’s a brand that embodies classic Swiss watchmaking craftsmanship. On top of that, it blends seamlessly with a modern approach that doesn’t skimp on attention to detail. In short, the Candino brand is well-rounded in every respect, ensuring that every watch enthusiast will find something to their liking.

The Dream of a Swiss Visionary

The Candino brand was founded in 1947 by Adolf Flury-Hug. A creative individual with a passion for high-quality watches, his vision was to drive significant progress in the watchmaking industry. His guiding principles centered on meticulousness, the art of sharing the beauty of the watchmaking tradition, while remaining open to new developments and responding to them with flexibility. With his ideas and ambitious approach, he was somewhat ahead of his time. That same year, he fulfilled one of his dreams and opened a small watchmaking workshop in an annex to his family home in Herbetswil, in the Swiss canton of Solothurn.

The Candino brand is committed to tradition and open to innovation

What makes it all the more wonderful is that the original store can still be found in the same location today, even though an ultra-modern factory was built next to it in 1989. It is no coincidence that the original workshop has withstood the test of time and modernization. It stands as a symbol of Candino’s commitment to the principles of its founder—a fascinating stance, given that modern times tend to sweep everyone along with the tide. Because Candino recognizes that tradition alone does not hold sway with customers, year after year it focuses on incorporating the latest watchmaking innovations, which make every watch exceptional. Although innovation is currently given a great deal of attention, the brand continues to draw inspiration from the expertise of traditional Swiss watchmakers and their artistic sensibility. 

Never-ending development

From its very beginnings, the Candino brand has placed great emphasis on the design and sophisticated technical craftsmanship of each model, and this remains true today. Thanks to its quality and meticulous approach to the entire manufacturing process, Candino bears the “Swiss Made” seal—a symbol of perfection that only watches made in Switzerland can boast. And rightly so. Candino simply does not settle for just anything and devotes all its efforts to producing precision timepieces. This is evidenced by the daily routine in which experts explore new possibilities in product development—including materials and design—day in and day out. The goal is to offer reliable models with excellent performance at a reasonable price.

How is Candino different from its relatives?

Although many people are unaware of it, the Candino brand is an integral part of the Festina Group, which also owns other well-known names such as Lotus, Jaguar, Festina, and Calypso. However, each brand is distinguished by its own approach to the art of watchmaking. While Festina, for example, is closely associated with fashion-forward designs, the Candino brand honors the tradition of Swiss watchmaking and a passion for classic craftsmanship.

Models that are sophisticated in every way

Material

All watches are made exclusively from top-quality materials, including stainless steel, titanium, rubber, and ceramic. Each of these materials has its own unique properties, but together they offer both strength and durability. While materials such as titanium and surgical-grade stainless steel are hypoallergenic, lightweight, and yet strong, rubber easily conforms to the wrist and is also highly durable. Ceramic is also frequently used in watchmaking; it not only looks good but is also exceptionally scratch-resistant.

Design

Another highlight is the design itself, which has been refined down to the smallest detail, so it’s sure to surprise and delight every watch lover. It will appeal not only to fans of classic and modern designs, but also to enthusiasts who view watches as a unique tool.

Drives and Functions

The Candino brand’s collections feature both automatic and quartz movements with analog dials. Some models offer practical functions, such as a date display or an alarm, or sub-dials with a stopwatch, tachymeter, or day-of-the-week indicator. As for the crystals, they’re most often made of sapphire glass, so you don’t have to worry about scratches—even after extended use. 

Six Candino Collections

Classic Timeless

• Men’s dress watches with a simple design and creative details
• Quartz movements and analog dials
• made of steel or titanium
• Classic colors and combinations: silver, gold, two-tone
• leather straps / steel bracelets

Sport Chronos

• Men’s sports watches that offer high durability and comfort
• Quartz movements and analog dials
• Automatic models and chronograph watches
• made of steel or titanium
• Water resistance ranging from 5 to 20 ATM
• Practical features—date window, sub-dials with stopwatch function
• leather or rubber straps / titanium and steel bands

Automatic

• Men’s and women’s dress watches with both modern and classic designs
• Swiss self-winding movements and analog dials
• made of steel or titanium
• Water resistance of 5–10 ATM for women’s models, 5–20 ATM for men’s watches
• Standard colors and combinations: black, blue, brown, gold, silver, two-tone
• leather or rubber straps / steel bracelets

Casual

• Women’s casual and dress watches with a classic style and understated elegance
• quartz movements with an analog dial
• made of steel or titanium
• Water resistance: 5–10 ATM
• Standard colors and combinations: white, black, gold, silver, beige
• On some models, decorated with stones or ceramic tiles
• leather straps / steel bracelets

Elegance

• Women’s dress watches with an elegant, harmonious, and luxurious design
• quartz movements with an analog dial
• made of steel or titanium
• Water resistance: 5 ATM
• Standard colors and combinations: white, black, gold, blue, red, pink, silver, beige, and two-tone
• On some models, embellished with gemstones or ceramic; decorated dials
• leather straps / steel bracelets

Petit

• Women’s dress watches with a slimmer bracelet and a striking, modern look
• quartz movements with an analog dial
• Practical features – sub-dials with date display, days of the week, and moon phase
• made of steel or titanium
• Water resistance: 5 ATM
• Standard colors and combinations: blue, gold, silver, white, pink, and two-tone
• On some models, embellished with gemstones or ceramic; decorated dials
• Leather and rubber straps / steel and titanium bracelets

If your selection doesn’t work out the first time, it’s no big deal

• When shopping at the helveti.cz online store, you have the option to exchange or return unworn watches within an extended 90-day period.
• We stand behind our watches, which is why we offer an extended 5-year warranty on all of them.
• With every watch you buy from us, you’ll receive one year of free insurance.
• You get free shipping on all orders.

If you choose a different or replacement strap for your watch, we’ll be happy to swap it out for you in-store, or adjust the size of a metal bracelet as needed. And if you happen to make the wrong choice, our specialists will be happy to help you make another selection.

We’ll be happy to advise you in person at the Helveti store

If you’d like to ask about the technical specifications of our watches or learn something interesting about them, our staff at the Prague store in Karlín or at our new store on Dukelských hrdinů Street in Prague’s Holešovice district will be happy to assist you. We’ve extended the opening hours at the new store.

Come check out our large selection of watches on display. We’ll be happy to help you in person choose the perfect watch for any occasion. You can also reach us online on our Facebook page (just send us a private message).