Carl F. Bucherer

    Most Carl F. Bucherer watches use a 22 mm lug width: 29 of the 58 Carl F. Bucherer references with a listed width in our database (50%).

    Lug widths at Carl F. Bucherer

    Carl F. Bucherer collections

    The story · Since 1888

    The Carl F. Bucherer story

    1. 1888 Founded in Lucerne, Switzerland by Carl Friedrich Bucherer (with his wife Luise).
    2. 1919 Encouraged by his sons Carl Eduard and Ernst, Carl Friedrich Bucherer launched his first watch collection, made for women in the Art Deco style; swissinfo calls him the first watch retailer to make watches under his own name.
    3. 1969 Carl F. Bucherer was one of around 20 Swiss firms that funded the Beta 21, the Swiss consortium's answer to Japanese quartz; by 1968 it had made about 15,000 certified chronometers, one of the top three Swiss producers.
    4. 2001 Carl F. Bucherer was set up as a separate, autonomous watch brand, announced by the Patravi TravelTec, a COSC chronometer chronograph showing three time zones.
    5. 2014 In the first John Wick film, Keanu Reeves wore a Manero AutoDate with a light dial in the title role (a film role through product placement); the brand partnered the New York premiere on October 13, 2014, and the Manero AutoDate (ref. 00.10908.08.13.01, 38 mm) returned on his wrist in later chapters.
    6. 2025 In February 2025 Swiss paper Bilanz reported that Rolex was closing the Carl F. Bucherer watch brand, affecting around 100 employees; Rolex and Bucherer did not confirm or comment.

    Firsts and innovations

    2008. The CFB A1000 calibre, developed over three years, was the first automatic movement with a peripheral rotor made in series production, with a 55-hour power reserve.

    2018. The CFB T3000, shown at Baselworld 2018 in the Manero Tourbillon DoublePeripheral, was the first movement to combine a peripheral rotor with a peripherally mounted 'floating' tourbillon.

    With the CFB MR3000 the brand says it combined, for the first time, a peripheral rotor, a peripherally mounted floating tourbillon and a peripherally mounted minute repeater regulator.

    Carl F. Bucherer ambassadors over the years

    Wendy HoldenerSwiss alpine skier, Friend of the Brand then brand ambassadorFrom 2014

    Became a Carl F. Bucherer Friend of the Brand in September 2014; WorldTempus called her the brand's ambassador when she won the Alpine combined world title at St. Moritz in 2017.

    Source: Carl F. Bucherer, WorldTempus

    Chad StahelskiStunt coordinator and director (John Wick), brand ambassadorFrom 2014

    Became a Carl F. Bucherer brand ambassador in August 2014, months before his directing debut John Wick.

    Source: Carl F. Bucherer, GMT Magazine

    David LeitchStunt coordinator and director, brand ambassadorFrom 2014

    Became a Carl F. Bucherer brand ambassador in August 2014; he founded the stunt company 87eleven with Chad Stahelski in 2006.

    Source: Carl F. Bucherer

    Mujinga KambundjiSwiss sprinter, brand ambassadorFrom 2015

    Became a Carl F. Bucherer brand ambassador in 2015; she was named Swiss Sportswoman of the Year 2019.

    Source: Carl F. Bucherer

    Li BingbingActress, first global brand ambassadorFrom 2016

    Became Carl F. Bucherer's first global ambassador in March 2016.

    Source: WWD, Carl F. Bucherer (1888 magazine)

    Ricardo RodríguezSwiss national team footballer, brand ambassadorFrom 2018

    Became a Carl F. Bucherer brand ambassador in June 2018; the brand had been official timekeeper of the Swiss national football teams since 2016.

    Source: Carl F. Bucherer

    Nico HischierNHL ice hockey player (New Jersey Devils captain), brand ambassadorFrom 2021

    Became a Carl F. Bucherer brand ambassador in September 2021, shortly after being named Devils captain at 22.

    Source: Carl F. Bucherer, Nico Hischier (official site)

    FAQ

    What lug width do Carl F. Bucherer watches use?

    22 mm is the most common (50% of Carl F. Bucherer references with a listed width), followed by 20 mm and 21 mm.

    Do all Carl F. Bucherer watches take the same strap size?

    No. Carl F. Bucherer uses 4 different lug widths across its collections, so check your exact model or reference.

    When was Carl F. Bucherer founded?

    Carl F. Bucherer was founded in 1888 in Lucerne, Switzerland by Carl Friedrich Bucherer (with his wife Luise).

    Who are Carl F. Bucherer's ambassadors?

    Over the years Carl F. Bucherer has partnered with Wendy Holdener (from 2014), Chad Stahelski (from 2014), David Leitch (from 2014), Mujinga Kambundji (from 2015), Li Bingbing (from 2016), Ricardo Rodríguez (from 2018), Nico Hischier (from 2021).

    Help

    What is lug width?

    The gap between the two lugs that hold the strap, in millimetres. A new strap must match it exactly: 20 mm lugs take a 20 mm strap.

    Measure it in 30 seconds

    1. Take the strap off, or look at the back of it: many straps print their width.
    2. Measure the inside gap between the lugs with a caliper or a millimetre ruler.
    3. Round to the nearest whole millimetre. Most watches use 18, 20 or 22 mm.

    Strap, quick release or system?

    Most watches use spring bars, so any strap of the right width fits. Many smartwatches use their own band system instead, such as Apple Watch bands or Garmin QuickFit.