FESTINA WATCHES

Festina Watches

Festina is a Swiss watchmaker known for making some of the finest sport watches in the world. Founded in 1902, the company is renowned as an icon of matchmaking design and technical precision. It has been associated with several major sporting events, including its role as the official timekeeper of the Tour de France, the Tour de Suisse and the Tour de Romandie. Since 1984, Festina has been part of the group Festina Lotus S.A.

Most of the men's watches from Festina are quite substantial with diameters well in excess of 40 millimetres. Dials are round, bezels wide, notched and marked with tachymeter scales or five-second increment divisions. Since almost all of these selections are sport models, they are chronographs with two totalizer dials and small second hands. Festina does make some watches that are not sport models, but the company's classic creations have always been associated with bike racing.

In their current line are featured an impressive array of handsome, well-designed watches with brilliantly-coloured multi-dial faces arranged to show maximum information with as much clarity as possible. The bright hues are not intended for decoration, but to make these timepieces easy to read under even the most stressful and poorly-lit conditions.

The non-sport models are a different breed entirely with uncomplicated dials, plain numbers and narrow hands. Narrow bezels of polished metal make a conservative backdrop for the concise faces.

Ladies' models are another departure with oval, round or rectangular faces and bracelets of polished metal links. Even those with larger, round dials use softening colours such as purple and pink to avoid seeming bulky. A whole new feel is displayed here including occasional hints of gold and diamonds. One style that appears with several variations in the Festina catalogue is reminiscent of a charm bracelet with the watch enclosed in an oblong border of polished metal.

Stainless steel is the material of choice for cases and bracelets. All types of straps and bands are used in Festina watches, with leather, metal and rubber all making many appearances in the line.

Festina's credentials in both design and manufacturing quality are obvious in every timepiece they make. The quality of their watches and the tradition they represent is irreproachable.

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