02 The Thin Watch War: Delirium and the Swatch

On January 12, 1979, the Swiss watch industry announced the thinnest watch ever made: The Delirium, developed and produced by Ebauches SA for Concord, Eterna, and Longines. It was just 1.98 mm thick and wasn’t a big seller, but it accomplished something more important: The Delirium proved that the Swiss were innovating like the Japanese and would stand their ground in the quartz market. And the novel design of the Delirium, which embedded the movement into the case back, laid the foundation for another critical announcement four years later, the Swatch. Join Serge Maillard, Publisher & CEO of Europa Star, and Stephen Foskett, Publisher of Grail Watch, as we tell the stories of the events that changed the horology industry. More Information: The Thin Watch War | The Watch Files: January 12, 1979, Grail Watch The Battle to Build the Thinnest Watch, New York Times, February 22, 1979 A New World Record Set by ETA S.A. of Granges, Europa Star 119, 1980