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Official authorized U.S. distributor of Milus
Official authorized U.S. distributor of Milus
Legacy
Established in 1919 in Biel/Bienne with a single mission — to be the witness of your time.
1919
Milus is founded in Biel/Bienne by Paul William Junod, in the cradle of watchmaking at the foot of the Swiss Jura — where people and time have faced every technical and aesthetic challenge. Swiss watchmaking has always been deeply tied to its founders, and the Milus heritage is embodied in the modernist building raised on the brand's historical site.
1950–1970
When the founder died in 1951, his son Paul Herbert Junod took the reins. He overhauled the workshops and developed innovative designs — production rose by 200% and the company moved to its current headquarters at Reuchenettestrasse 19. In the early 1970s Milus won the Rose d'Or de Baden-Baden three times, with the 'La Mer', 'Pocket Watch' and 'Avant-garde' models.
The logo
The Milus logo originates from the Greek god Hermes and represents both ingenuity and creativity. It originally depicted Hermes wearing his winged helmet; a second, more simplified version appeared in the 1940s and still signs every Milus watch today.
The name
Seeking a name easy to pronounce in any language, the founder chose a succinct five-letter mix of consonants and vowels, ideal for the small canvas of a watch dial. 'Milus' derives from the Latin 'mīles' — soldier or warrior — a nod to strength and courage.
1972
When the quartz crisis hit, Milus went with the current rather than against it. In March 1972, together with four other watchmakers, it co-founded Ditronic SA and built one of the first watches with a liquid-crystal display — a proactive response to a changing industry.
1970s–1990s
Marrying tradition with innovation, Milus quietly became a behind-the-scenes creator of timepieces for high-profile names — including Aston Martin, Bucherer and architect Mario Botta — as well as a pocket watch for New York jeweller Fortunoff and the Milus Far Side for MoMA.
1982
Paul Herbert Junod handed the company to his sons Pierre and Paul, who pioneered 'pure and true' design and a truly contemporary watch industry at democratic prices. Between 1984 and 2001 the brand won many awards and became a cult name in artistic and creative circles.
2006
Milus introduces its signature TriRetrograde, symbolised by three counters at 3, 6 and 9 o'clock. Each hand covers 20 seconds before returning to its start just as the next begins — a pioneering touch of sophistication for connoisseurs who seek both precision and aesthetic allure.
2019
For its 100th anniversary, and under the leadership of Luc Tissot, Milus returns to the market with models as classic as they are daring — reviving the brand's soul with precision, technical excellence and timeless design, including the relaunched Snow Star and Archimèdes and the minimalist LAB collection drawn from its 1990s codes.
2021
Milus is nominated at the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève — the watch industry's 'Oscars' — in the Diver's category for its Archimèdes by Milus, Orange Coral.
2024
Milus receives the Switzerland Prestige Award as Luxury Watch Brand of the Year — a recognition of its return to its Swiss family watchmaking heritage.
Milus's history
Established in 1919 in Biel/Bienne, Milus set out with a simple mission: to be the witness of your time. More than a century later, that mission still guides every watch Milus makes.
Read more about Milus's history