Robust, durable and high-performing… Swiss Military Hanowa brings together all the qualities expected of a watch on a single dial.
In 18th-century Switzerland, winters were long, harsh and cold in the towns nestled at the foot of the high mountains. As local communities sought ways to make a living from their homes and small workshops, they witnessed the emergence of a craft that would become deeply rooted in the country’s identity: watchmaking. Shaped by the landscape and the conditions of the time, watchmaking began to flourish on Swiss soil. From modest workshops emerged a tradition built on the relationship between master and apprentice, with knowledge and skills passed down from one generation to the next. Precise, robust and reliable Swiss-made watches would eventually travel across the world, accompanying their wearers on battlefields, mountain summits and into the deepest reaches of the oceans.
Precision, durability and punctuality… The values that came to define Swiss watchmaking also found their counterpart in the Swiss military, itself shaped amid high mountains and demanding conditions. Adaptability, discipline and reliability in every circumstance formed a common ground between these two distinct traditions. Swiss watch brand Swiss Military Hanowa built its identity at precisely this intersection: robustness, durability and performance became the fundamental values of its watches.
The brand’s story began in 1963 in Biel, one of the centres of Swiss watchmaking. Founded by Hans Noll and his wife Elisabeth Noll, Hanowa takes its name from a combination of the first letters of its founder’s name, “HA” and “NO”, and the first two letters of the English word “watches”, “WA”: HAns NOll WAtches. Over time, the name would grow into a Swiss watch brand recognised around the world.
In its early years, Hanowa distinguished itself with design-led watches. The defining shift in the brand’s history came in 1990 with the birth of Swiss Military Hanowa. Under this new identity, an emphasis on an active lifestyle, performance and durability became more pronounced, while the precision associated with Swiss watchmaking remained firmly at the heart of the brand.
Swiss Military Hanowa watches are designed not simply to offer a sporty aesthetic, but to serve as functional companions capable of adapting to the varied demands of an active lifestyle. From sporty chronographs and dive watches to automatic models designed for everyday wear, each collection has its own distinct character. What unites them is their ability to combine Swiss precision with a robust, highly legible and functional approach to design.
