Oscar Waldan started his passion with watches as a young lad when he tried to clean and repair his father's pocket watch on his own. "Without anyone's knowledge, I disassembled the watch and made diagrams showing how the parts fit together." As he matured, Waldan studied horology in Germany. He then proceeded to work for some of Europe's finest watchmakers. In 1955, Waldan took his first job at Charles Tissot in Le Locle, Switzerland. Waldan, an ambitious worker, soon began submitting his own watch designs for Charles Tissot. He proceeded to quickly climb up the ranks and in 1959 went to work for Universal Geneve as a Sales Executive and Vice President of merchandising and styling. There, Waldan had the opportunity to work with master designer Gerald Genta. With this new acquaintance, Waldan developed his skills as a designer and watchmaker.
Through his associations in the watch industry, Waldan soon gained access to the famous Rolex/Wilsdorf collection. He studied these timepieces with great attention to detail. "This is where I cultivated my interest in antique watches, especially those with complicated mechanisms."
Soon came the 1970's and the new quartz technology. This tremendously changed the world of watchmaking. Instead of embracing this technology, Waldan chose to concentrate his efforts on complicated mechanical timepieces. He set out to produce high quality chronographs and other complications. Waldan purchased raw movements from some of Switzerland's finest manufacturers and decided to stock up on spare parts. Waldan knew the value of stocking enough spare parts to repair the timepieces he was to produce. Waldan searched the market for as many movements and parts as he could get a hold of. One could say that Oscar Waldan had a premonition that mechanical watches would one day reign again.
In 1979, Oscar Waldan founded and established Waldan International. He opened a watch factory in Bienne, Switzerland and a corporate office/repair center in New York City. With his newly established company, he started producing some of the most beautiful and classically designed complicated chronographs. He chose to use materials of the highest quality and decided to concentrate his collection on watches made of platinum, or 18k rose or white gold.
For over 20 years now, Waldan International has provided wonderful timepieces to discerning collectors around the world. Waldan has also produced timepieces for some of the finest jewelry stores in the country. His watches have sold through Tiffany & Co., Cartier, and Tourneau to name a few.
Today, with over 45 years of experience in the watch industry, Oscar Waldan still produces chronographs and complications of the highest quality. Waldan International is one of a handful of companies that is still privately owned and operated by the firm's founder, Oscar Waldan.
Waldan International is also somewhat of a rarity in the watch industry. They produce some of the highest quality timepieces for literally thousands of dollars less than the famous names competition. One may ask how Oscar Waldan can offer such exceptional values in his fine timepieces and several reasons exist: his years of experience in the watch industry, his extensive knowledge in design and production, and his knowledge of what constitutes quality in watch components. Prices are also kept low because Waldan owns his own facility in Bienne, Switzerland. He employs no sales organization and forgoes the cost of national and international advertising campaigns. Waldan relies on word-of-mouth from collectors and proud owners. "From the beginning, my goal was to offer complicated, mechanical timepieces with exceptional quality and value."
Waldan International's commitment to quality has been proven through his products and through discerning collectors and owners of Waldan Timepieces. Waldan International Chronographes and Chronometres, Time Well Spent.
At right: Waldan International Chronometre Chronographe with triple date, moon-phase, and 24hr indicator in 18K pink gold.
