Aerowatch: Is This Small Swiss Watchmaker Any Good?

Aerowatch is a small, independent Swiss watchmaker that makes classical wristwatches and a large range of pocket watches, most of them built around proven Swiss movements from ETA and Unitas. For someone who wants a traditional Swiss mechanical watch with a skeleton or guilloché dial without paying big-brand prices, it is a sensible option. The trade-offs are a low profile, limited availability outside Europe and weak resale value. This article on Aerowatch covers the brand's history, what it makes, what it charges and who it suits.

A Short History of Aerowatch

According to the brand's own history, Aerowatch was founded in 1910 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, one of the centres of Swiss watchmaking, as a company that saw itself as "a symbol of modernity". In 1942 Maxime Crevoisier took over the watch factory and moved it to new premises in Neuchâtel. His son, Georges Crevoisier, later ran the business, and in 2001 he retired and handed Aerowatch over to Denis Bolzli.

Under the Bolzli family, the company presented its first collection of wristwatches inspired by vintage pocket watches in 2005, including the model it calls the "1942". Today the brand is based in Saignelégier, in the Jura mountains, and the company describes itself as a "Swiss independent family-owned company".

That background explains the brand's character. Aerowatch comes from the pocket watch tradition rather than from sports or tool watches, and it still sells a large pocket watch collection alongside its men's and women's wristwatches.

What Aerowatch Makes

The range centres on classical dress watches and pocket watches. Two collections come up most often in coverage of the brand:

• Les Grandes Classiques. Dress watches with guilloché dials and traditional proportions. The Gent Automatic version reviewed by Time Transformed in 2018 used the ETA 2824-2 automatic, which runs at 28,800 vibrations per hour with a power reserve of about 38 hours, and was priced at 970 Swiss francs at the time.
• Renaissance. Larger mechanical pieces, some with skeletonised movements. The Large Mechanical Renaissance described by Worldtempus uses the hand-wound Unitas 6498-1, a 16½-line calibre with 17 jewels that runs at 18,000 vibrations per hour.

Higher up, Escapement Magazine reported a Les Grandes Classiques limited edition of 499 pieces at 3,680 Swiss francs. Those prices come from reviews published at launch and will have changed since, but they show where the brand sits: well below the big Swiss names, and above most fashion brands.

About Those Movements

The ETA 2824-2 and the Unitas 6497 and 6498 are among the most widely used Swiss movements ever made. Their strengths are reliability and easy servicing, since almost any competent watchmaker knows them and parts are widely available. The Unitas calibres were originally designed for pocket watches, which is why they are large and why they suit skeleton dials so well: there is a lot of movement to look at.

The flip side is that neither is exclusive or especially advanced. You are paying for Aerowatch's dials, skeleton work and case design rather than for an in-house calibre. If you want to understand the difference between these movement types, our guide to automatic, quartz and solar movements explains the basics.

Warranty and Where to Buy

Aerowatch sells through a network of authorised retailers, and its website says that buying from one of them means the watch is covered by the two-year Aerowatch warranty and the brand's after-sales service. The brand is easiest to find through jewellers in Switzerland and elsewhere in Europe. Pre-owned pieces also appear on marketplaces such as Chrono24.

If you buy second-hand, the brand warranty may have expired, so the condition of the movement matters more than the box and papers. A hand-wound Unitas that has not been serviced for years may need a service soon after purchase.

Strengths

• Traditional Swiss style for the money. Guilloché dials, skeleton movements and classical cases at prices well below the famous brands.
• Proven movements. ETA and Unitas calibres are reliable and easy to service.
• A real pocket watch range. Few brands still take pocket watches this seriously.
• Independent and family-owned. Appealing if you prefer a small maker to a luxury group.

Weaknesses

• Low brand recognition. Resale values are modest, so buy one to wear, not as an investment.
• Standard movements. Nothing in-house, which some enthusiasts will count against the price.
• Limited availability. Outside Europe, finding an authorised retailer can take some searching.
• Classical sizing on some models. Pieces built around pocket watch calibres can wear large, so check the case size before buying.

Who Aerowatch Suits

Aerowatch makes most sense for someone who wants a traditional-looking Swiss mechanical dress watch or a pocket watch, likes skeleton dials, and values classical design over brand prestige. It makes less sense for someone who wants a sports watch, an in-house movement, or a watch that holds its value. For other dress watch options across all budgets, see our guide to the best dress watches, and for tips on wearing one well, how to wear a watch with a suit.

The Bottom Line

Aerowatch is a genuine Swiss watchmaker with more than a century of history and a clear identity built on pocket watches, skeletons and guilloché. It uses well-known movements rather than in-house ones, which keeps prices reasonable and servicing simple. If the look appeals to you and you plan to keep and wear the watch, it offers good value within traditional Swiss watchmaking. Just go in knowing that its low profile means limited dealer choice and modest resale.

How we researched this: we did not handle an Aerowatch for this article. It draws on the brand's official history and retailer information (checked on 24 September 2026) and on published reviews and launch coverage from Time Transformed, Worldtempus and Escapement Magazine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aerowatch a good brand?

Aerowatch is a small, family-owned Swiss maker founded in 1910. It offers traditional mechanical watches with proven ETA and Unitas movements at prices below the big Swiss brands, though resale values are modest.

Who owns Aerowatch?

The Bolzli family has run Aerowatch since 2001, when Georges Crevoisier retired and handed the company to Denis Bolzli.

What movements does Aerowatch use?

Aerowatch uses Swiss movements such as the ETA 2824-2 automatic and the Unitas 6498-1 hand-wound calibre, rather than in-house movements.

What warranty does Aerowatch offer?

Watches bought from an authorised Aerowatch retailer come with a two-year Aerowatch warranty.