Our history

The idea of producing Czechoslovak wristwatches was first mentioned soon after the end of World War II. The desire of the leadership back then was to reduce dependence on imports, especially from countries in Western Europe. Wristwatches were not previously produced in Czechoslovakia; however, it was possible to use the experience and modern Swiss movements that were used during the war for making time fuses.  

In the autumn of 1949, Adolf Martínek was commissioned to set up a new plant in an unused building of the National Committee and prepare for the serial production of wristwatches. He and 15 other colleagues therefore embarked on a task that only eight other countries around the world had managed to successfully do.

The SPARTAK watch prototypes (of which several dozen were subsequently produced) were subjected to demanding testing, closely monitored not only by the plant management, but even by the government commission for control tests. This was followed by a period of preparation for series production, which included the acquisition of additional technology and the training of employees. 

Only five years after the start of the assignment, it was possible to produce 1,500 wristwatches with a movement made almost entirely by the employees of the Nové Město factory. From today’s point of view, somewhat curious, amateurish tests were prepared for this watch. They were given to workers from a variety of industries, as well as soldiers and government officials. After the completing the year-long test, during which the wearer had to keep detailed records, they could keep the watch after paying 150 Czech crowns. With nothing left to stand in the way, this effectively marked the start of production at the factory. The first Czechoslovak wristwatch was purchased in 1958. First, however, it was necessary to choose under which brand name the wristwatch would be manufactured and sold.

Until the 1990s, the factory in Nové Město nad Metují produced hundreds of thousands of wristwatches a year, a total of over 12 million from the start of production. After the so-called Velvet Revolution, however, watches from foreign brands began to flood the Czechoslovak market - from luxury ones to the cheapest Asian ones. Interest in Prim watches gradually declined and for a while it seemed that the production of Czech wristwatches had no future. 

Fortunately, interest in domestic products gradually revived. To survive within this business environment required a change in strategy and production. Price-wise the company would never be able to compete with the cheap watches from China and other countries where labour costs and quality requirements were incomparably lower. It was therefore decided to convert the factory to small series production. In 2008, the production of new mechanical movements began, as a result of which ELTON hodinářská joined the ranks of important watchmakers whose work is based on manual skills, precision and an individual approach to the customer.