Adria and Adriatica are parent Swiss Watch Brands specialised in making quality watches at affordable prices for the Eastern European Markets.
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The name originates from the Etruscan city of Atria or (Adria) that also gave its name at a much earlier period to the Adriatic Sea. It has not yet been clearly established as from when the company started dedicating the names of their watches to that enchanted area, but it is generally admitted that it was at some time earlier than 1931.
The History of Adria & Adriatica as watch trade marks for Swiss Watches is closely associated with the Belle Epoque period through the Montilier Watch Co, established in 1852 in Montilier, close to Morat / Murten, at the foot of the Watch Valley, Switzerland. During and after World War II the brands remained dormant until 1949.
As from 1962, two associated watch companies, established in Biel/Bienne & Basel, took over the manufacturing and marketing of Adria and Adriatica watches in partnership, designing mainly classical round pink gold-plated ladies’ and some gents' models, with the adjunction of a special model called "Adriatica World Champion".
Both brands, especially Adriatica, flourished in the Scandinavian countries, especially in Finland. Adriatica watches started being increasingly imported discreetly into Poland by seafaring people and distributed there and in many of the other, then “communist” countries, building the base of today’s distribution of the brand in the Eastern part of Europe.
Hence, in 1989, foreseeing the opening of trade, today's owning family decided to take over the brands and develop them as manufacturers and distributors.
Since the beginning exclusively Swiss Made, Adriatica watches have been since 1998 manufactured in their own watch company, PR & A Watch Sagl, in Dongio, in the watch making area of Ticino, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland.
Adriatica is a full fledged member of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH.