Caveman's Watch Forum

Buren was named after the location of is initial start up at a little village in Switzerland called Buren, located on the banks of the Aare. The firm started in 1842 making watch parts. In 1873, Buren started making complete watches and called themselves F Suter & Co.

F Suter & Co. continued with varying success to make watches with the trade name of 'Buren' for several years until it was taken over by the British firm of H Williamson Ltd in 1898. H Williamson Ltd, specifically bought the Buren factory to supply Swiss parts for the watches he was making in the UK. This later lead to a court case where he was found guilty of selling 'English Made' watches with Swiss parts in them. While H Williamson Ltd owned the Buren brand, they generally allowed the company to continue on its own with them just being the Parent company and receiving parts from them. By 1905, Buren were making 500 watches a day. Many of them for the parent company, but some were sold in Germany and the USA under the Buren name.

By 1949, Buren were back producing 22 different calibers for watches. In 1954, they patented the mini-rotor for automatic watches. This was a major achievement as the smaller rotor meant that it could be sink flush with the watch movement, so making automatic watches a lot slimmer.

Buren sold many watches and movements with other companies names on them such as Elgin and were often used in Railroad Watches because of their accuracy and reliability. Probably because of this, and the fact that Hamilton Watch Co. of America were known suppliers of Railroad Watches, Hamilton bought Buren from the Swiss in 1966. Under Hamilton's control, the first self winding Chronograph using the mini-rotor was introduced. Hamilton, who was well known in the US for their 'Railroad Watches', marketed Buren watches under their own name, one example is the Hamilton 971 which was a Buren watch. Hamilton also continued to market Buren watches under the Buren name until they again went back into Swiss hands in 1971. In this year SIHH, who owned Omega and Tissot, bought the Hamilton watch Co. However, ironically, it was this Swiss company who finally closed down the Buren factory in 1972.

Messages In This Thread

Wow... that looks great Ricky.  (n/t) (Views: 3)
PaulGeo-- April 24, 2009 06:34PM
Thank you for the kind words and encouragement, me brothers.  One day soon I'll..  (Views: 6)
Ricky Lee -- April 24, 2009 02:57PM
..take a group shot wi' me sweet Buren;


Perhaps even a his 'n' hers . 

Yeah, yeah, hokey I know.  But it is kinda cool havin' a "matched" pair, especially considerin' Buren is such a relatively obscure yet noteworty marque. 

Anyone else got a Buren t' share? Fess up! Let's have some photos! 

-Ricky

Darn it, Ricky!   Laughed so hard, the coffee came out my nose.  (Views: 6)
Dave Murphy-- April 24, 2009 01:26PM
    Quote
    RLMcB
    I frequently cross my johnson over me right ankle in a symbolic jesture whilst doin' the chore.



Nice job, though!

Dave
Ontario NY, USA

wow! Very nice job!!  (n/t) (Views: 4)
Julio -- April 24, 2009 12:25PM
Great refurb!! It certainly doesn't look caveman!! (n/t) (Views: 3)
Evan -- April 24, 2009 05:28AM
     (n/t) (Views: 4)
JohnnyT -- April 24, 2009 05:27AM
Re: IHD! The new watch arrived! Another Tom Swift Watchmaking project completed. (Views: 8)
bjohnson -- April 24, 2009 05:22AM
    Quote
    Ricky Lee
    The stem goes in, engages winds & sets normally (always
a tricky wicket!..  I frequently cross my johnson over
me right ankle in a symbolic jesture whilst doin' the chore. 

Your what?!

Great work.  (n/t) (Views: 3)
DanB -- April 24, 2009 05:08AM
 wow, what a before/after difference! (n/t) (Views: 3)
jay_m -- April 24, 2009 04:32AM
Wowsah Mistah!  That looks pretty durn nice  (n/t) (Views: 3)
Riddim Driven -- April 24, 2009 04:20AM
Great resto, Rickster!  (n/t) (Views: 3)
itschris -- April 24, 2009 04:20AM
You da man! Mr. McBroom!  (n/t) (Views: 3)
Sfnewguy -- April 24, 2009 04:16AM
Nice retoration on a worthy watch.  (Views: 7)
Chris L -- April 24, 2009 04:10AM
As for the lume shot, well enjoy that pebble snatched from my hand Grasshopper. 
Wow man, you really made a big difference on that watch, good work! (n/t) (Views: 3)
Brian Uziel -- April 24, 2009 04:05AM
Nice job, Ricky!  (n/t) (Views: 3)
MCV -- April 24, 2009 03:45AM

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Re: ..that adds up to an average cost of one dollar per jewel! Beat that Ricky Lee! (Views: 14)
Ricky Lee -- April 24, 2009 09:14AM
Ahhhhh, see above Johnny. 'I think I just did  though 'twas quite unintentional. 

I figure it like this.. The Buren came in a lot of 5 watches for $42 shipped. So $8.40 for the watch. Add in $4.50 for the new crystal (big spender, huh?! ) plus, oh, let's say 3-cents for the caseback gasket and a nickels worth of Rodico.

So, $12.98 grand total. Rounding up I make it 52-cents per jewel! Heck, even if ye add in the whopping $2.18 for the strap, I'm still under 61-cents per jewel. 

Hah! {shakes fist} Try to hornswaggle a card-carryin' Scotsman, will ye?

  

-Ricky

< 10 May, 2009 update - new strap >