Festina Watches: Timekeeper of the Tour De France
Who keeps the official time for the world-famous Tour de France bicycle race? None other than Festina, a watch manufacturer established in Switzerland in 1902. The company has been a major sponsor and the official timekeeper of the Tour de France since 1993. From 1989 to 2001, it also sponsored its own cycling team, Team Festina. In addition to the Tour de France, the company is also the official timekeeper for the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de Romandie. As official sponsors and official timekeepers, you’d expect accuracy, but there’s more to Festina watches than just the ability to keep precise time.
From the start, the Festina name has stood for quality and classic style. Festina has always used only the highest quality materials, and the company has dedicated itself to creating elegant, precise timepieces-timepieces created for those who live life to its fullest.
Since the 1980s, their watches feature top quality Japanese quartz movements, including the Mecaquartz no-battery mechanical quartz movements. The company embraces its heritage as the sportsman’s watch, offering a full line of chronographs that offer precise movements, built-in tachometer, 1/20th of a second accuracy and an easy-to-use analog alarm.
Festina watches’ flagship line is the Tour De France collection, a line of durable, fashionable racing watches in both men’s and ladies styles. The mid-range collection is among the most popular lines of watches sold in Europe, outselling nearly every other manufacturer. The Tour collection features stainless steel cases and durable construction that stands up to the kind of punishment bicyclists and other sportsmen dish out.
In 2010, the company updated its popular Tour de France line and introduced the refreshed style as the Chrono Bike 2010 collection. The Chrono Bike 2010 collection is sportier and more streamlined with features drawn from the best of the best elements of racing bike construction. Available with steel or rubber bracelet, the Chrono Bike collection features striking faceplate colors, including turquoise, orange, lime green and bright blue.
The company’s other popular lines include the Road Warrior collection, a rugged men’s collection that features stainless steel cases and either steel, leather or rubber straps. Like most other Festina watches, the Road Warrior is water resistant and includes a tachometer, three sub-dials and an illuminated dial.
Festina’s latest and most elegant collection yet, is the Ceramic collection, which incorporates the elegance of ceramic into its design. The stunning collection includes round and rectangular faces, with a variety of bracelet and numbering styles. Elegant and ultramodern, the Ceramic Festina collection stands out among other watches, not only at its price point but among collections well above its own class.
Festina watches are sold throughout Europe, where they are the fastest growing lines of watches on the Continent. Whether you wear a watch, un horologe, uno orologi or un montre, Festina makes a watch that will suit your personal style to a tee. For more information about watches, contact an authorized Festina dealer.
