Eska - History, Models and Owners' Reviews

The Swiss watch brand Eska, founded in 1918 by Sylvain Kocher in Selzach, has distinguished itself by the quality and diversity of its creations. The name "Eska" comes from its founder's initials "S" and "K", pronounced in German. From its beginnings, Eska has specialized in manufacturing high quality ladies' watches, using small movements, ranging from 6 1/2 lines up to two 3/4 line baguettes.

Expansion and Development

Faced with growing demand, Eska moved in 1937 to Granges (Grenchen), a town renowned for its watchmaking industry. This relocation allowed the brand to increase its production capacity and diversify its models. Eska has also adopted an ambitious export strategy, expanding into international markets such as the United States and Latin America.

In 1929, two subsidiaries were established in São Paulo and New York, headed respectively by Edgar and Walter Kocher, the founder's sons. The brand has distinguished itself by its watchmaking diversity, offering three-hand watches, complications, and even cloisonné enamel dials, evidence of true watchmaking and artisanal know-how.

Product Diversification

Beyond ladies' watches, Eska has expanded its range to include waterproof chronographs, simple chronographs and various sports watches. This diversification has strengthened the brand's reputation on the watch market. After World War II, Eska employed around 100 watchmakers, reflecting its significant growth.

The Amphibian 600: A Historic Diving Watch

In the 1960s, Eska made watchmaking history with the introduction of the Amphibian 600, a diving watch that has become legendary. This model was distinguished by a 37.5 mm steel case, a rotating bezel with an acrylic insert and an A. Schild movement (AS 1382) with a power reserve indicator at noon. Although few examples of the Amphibian 600 are still in circulation, it remains a particularly popular piece among collectors.

Decline and Renaissance

Despite its success, Eska ceased operations at the end of the 1980s, a victim of the quartz crisis which disrupted the Swiss watch industry.

However, in January 2024, the brand was relaunched by two watch enthusiasts, Christophe Chevreton and Sinicha Knezevic. They introduced the Eska Amphibian 250, a modern interpretation of the Eska Amphibian 600, featuring a 40mm case, a unidirectional sapphire bezel and a Seiko NH-38 automatic movement. This new version was offered for pre-order with a Kickstarter campaign which will attract nearly 500 enthusiasts for more than €400,000.

Building on the success of this reinterpretation, particularly thanks to its retro design, the brand introduced two variations such as the Eska Amphibian 250 White Shark Featuring an elegant cream dial and the scorching Eska Amphibian 250 Red Viper (limited series of 136 pieces). These last two versions illustrate the responsiveness and ability to listen of the founders, since they integrate a Sellita SW200 movement instead of the Seiko NH-38 caliber which had not received the full support of the collector community.

Conclusion

Eska embodies the innovation and resilience of Swiss watchmaking. From its beginnings in 1918 to its rebirth in 2024, the brand has evolved and adapted to the challenges of time, while preserving its heritage and commitment to quality. Today, Eska once again appeals to watch lovers looking for resolutely modern pieces in their design, and anchored in a historical trajectory.

To choose the Eska that suits you best, Dialicious owners' reviews are a valuable resource for evaluating each of the different models through real owner experience.

(Updated November 2024)