Who owns PRIM watches?

MPM Quality a.s. of Frýdek-Místek, owned by Petr Hanko. In June 2025 it bought ELTON hodinářská, the historic PRIM maker in Nové Město nad Metují, uniting the brand after more than 20 years of trademark disputes.

Where are PRIM watches made?

In the Czech Republic. The historic factory is in Nové Město nad Metují, where mechanical PRIM watches with in-house calibres are made, and further production is in Frýdek-Místek.

Does PRIM make its own movements?

Yes, for its mechanical models. The Nové Město workshop has produced its own calibres since 2009, such as the 94 and 98 families; other PRIM watches use Swiss or Japanese movements.

When were the first PRIM watches made?

The first Czechoslovak wristwatches were made in 1954 under the name Spartak. Series production as PRIM started in 1957, and the watches went on sale on 1 April 1958.

Chequia · Fundación 1949

PRIM

Czechoslovakia's only wristwatch factory made about 15 million PRIM watches by 1990.

Texto editorial en inglés.

PRIM is the Czech Republic's historic wristwatch brand, made in Nové Město nad Metují since the 1950s. Today it combines hand-finished mechanical watches with its own calibres and more affordable models with Swiss or Japanese movements. After two decades of trademark disputes, the brand was reunited in 2025 under MPM Quality. Prices range from about 400 to over 4,000 euros.

Historia

On 6 November 1949 the state enterprise Chronotechna opened a branch in Nové Město nad Metují, in north-east Bohemia, to develop and make personal watches. The country had no wristwatch industry to draw on, so the plant started almost from scratch. The first design was ready in 1952, and in 1954 the first watches were made under the name Spartak, with a movement derived from the French Lip R25. The PRIM name followed for series production, which began in 1957, and the first PRIM watches went on sale on 1 April 1958.

PRIM was the only wristwatch maker in Czechoslovakia. New calibres followed, including the calibre 66 of 1965, derived from the Swiss ETA 1080. The same year brought the Orlík, one of the best-known models, and the Sport diver's watch entered production in 1968. In January 1969 the Nové Město plant became a separate state enterprise, ELTON, taking with it the know-how and designs of PRIM watches. By the end of the 1980s the factory had produced about 15 million watches.

After 1989 production collapsed and the business went through a difficult privatisation. The PRIM trademark had stayed with Chronotechna, whose successor Eutech sold it in 2001 to MPM-Quality of Frýdek-Místek, which assembled watches from imported parts. ELTON hodinářská kept making PRIM watches in Nové Město, and the two companies fought over the name in court for more than twenty years. From 2009 ELTON again produced its own movements, such as calibres 94 and 98, for hand-finished models.

ELTON became part of the Czechoslovak Group holding in the 2010s. In June 2025 Petr Hanko, owner of MPM Quality, bought ELTON hodinářská, ending the dispute and bringing the whole PRIM brand under one owner, with his daughter Barbara Hanková in charge. Production continues at two sites, in Nové Město nad Metují and Frýdek-Místek. The Czech government has used PRIM watches as official gifts, and recipients have included Barack Obama, Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy.

Hitos

1949
Chronotechna branch opens
On 6 November 1949 Chronotechna opens a plant in Nové Město nad Metují to develop and produce watches.
1954
First Spartak watches
The first Czechoslovak wristwatches are made under the Spartak name, with a movement derived from the French Lip R25.
1957
Series production as PRIM
Series production begins under the PRIM name; the first watches go on sale on 1 April 1958.
1965
Orlík and calibre 66
The Orlík model appears, and the new calibre 66, derived from the ETA 1080, enters production.
1968
PRIM Sport
The Sport diver's watch enters production and becomes one of the brand's best-known designs.
1969
ELTON becomes independent
In January 1969 the Nové Město plant becomes the separate state enterprise ELTON, keeping PRIM's know-how and designs.
2001
Trademark sold to MPM-Quality
Chronotechna's successor Eutech sells the PRIM trademark to MPM-Quality, starting a dispute with ELTON that lasts over 20 years.
2009
New in-house calibres
ELTON introduces new in-house movements, including calibres 94 and 98, for its mechanical watches.
2025
Brand reunited
MPM Quality owner Petr Hanko buys ELTON hodinářská in June 2025, bringing the whole PRIM brand under one company.

Tres cosas que saben los coleccionistas

Built from zero

Czechoslovakia had no wristwatch industry before PRIM. Some machinery for the new plant came from a closed Messap works in Meziměstí and from East Germany's UMF Ruhla.

One brand, two makers

From 2001 to 2025 two unrelated companies sold watches as PRIM: ELTON in Nové Město with Czech-made movements, and MPM-Quality in Frýdek-Místek with imported ones. Courts allowed both to use the name.

A diplomatic gift

The Czech government has presented PRIM watches to foreign leaders including Barack Obama, Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and the Spanish royal couple.

Modelos emblemáticos

Spartak1954
The first Czechoslovak wristwatch, made before the PRIM name; revived as a 70-piece anniversary edition in 2019.
Orlík1965
'Little eagle', one of the most popular PRIM models of the 1960s, still produced in modern versions.
Sport1968
PRIM's diver's watch; swimmer František Venclovský wore one while crossing the English Channel.

Preguntas

Who owns PRIM watches?: MPM Quality a.s. of Frýdek-Místek, owned by Petr Hanko. In June 2025 it bought ELTON hodinářská, the historic PRIM maker in Nové Město nad Metují, uniting the brand after more than 20 years of trademark disputes.
Where are PRIM watches made?: In the Czech Republic. The historic factory is in Nové Město nad Metují, where mechanical PRIM watches with in-house calibres are made, and further production is in Frýdek-Místek.
Does PRIM make its own movements?: Yes, for its mechanical models. The Nové Město workshop has produced its own calibres since 2009, such as the 94 and 98 families; other PRIM watches use Swiss or Japanese movements.
When were the first PRIM watches made?: The first Czechoslovak wristwatches were made in 1954 under the name Spartak. Series production as PRIM started in 1957, and the watches went on sale on 1 April 1958.

Historia

Hitos

Chronotechna branch opens

First Spartak watches

Series production as PRIM

Orlík and calibre 66

PRIM Sport

ELTON becomes independent

Trademark sold to MPM-Quality

New in-house calibres

Brand reunited