Initiated by Karl Elsener, the Swiss Cutlery Union is founded. Karl Elsener and his co-workers deliver soldier’s knives to the Swiss Army for the first time.

The name “Swiss Officer’s and Sport Knife” is legally protected on June 12. This model later becomes known around the world as the “Original Swiss Army Knife”.

Following the death of his mother, Karl Elsener introduces the brand name “Victoria” in her honor. The company’s founder legally registers the distinctive emblem with the cross and shield as a trademark. It is now a registered trademark in more than 120 countries.

The invention of stainless steel being of central importance for the cutlery industry, Karl Elsener coins the company’s new name, “Victorinox” by combining his mother’s name “Victoria” with “Inox”. (Inox is an abbreviation of the French word “inoxydable” which means stainless.)

The Brown Boveri Company sets up the world’s first fully electric heat treatment facility for Victorinox.

The “Original Swiss Army Knife” begins its successful progression around the world and is particularly popular in US Army PX stores.

On January 2, the previously solely-owned “Messerfabrik Carl Elsener” is converted to the family-owned company “Victorinox AG”.

The company doubles the size of its plant and office space with 810 employees generating revenue of more than CHF 80 million.

Victorinox’s American distribution partner enters the timepiece market in the USA under the “Swiss Army Brands, Inc.” label and launches the brand’s first watches collection produced in Biel, Switzerland.

The company opens its own sales subsidiary in Japan. Further subsidiaries follow in subsequent years.

Victorinox enters the travel gear market, issuing a manufacturing license to the American TRG Group in St. Louis. Expanding its timepiece business, the company establishes Victorinox Watch SA in Bonfol, in Switzerland’s Jura watch-making region.

The Victorinox Foundation is set up. It holds 85% of the shares in Victorinox AG. A further 15% are held by the charitable Carl and Elise Elsener-Gut Foundation.

Victorinox apparel is introduced in the USA. The first Victorinox Flagship store opens its doors to the public in New York’s trendy Soho district.

The publicly traded US distribution partner Swiss Army Brands Inc. is privatized. The timepiece brand Victorinox Swiss Army is launched internationally.

Victorinox takes over the US-American company Wenger NA, including the fragrance label “Swiss Army Fragrance”.

Victorinox takes over the traditional Swiss cutlery and watch manufacturer Wenger SA in Delémont in the Swiss Jura.

Victorinox Swiss Army moves to its new watch production facility in Porrentruy, in the Swiss Jura, to meet increasing demand and to ensure high-quality timepieces.

Victorinox sets up Victorinox Swiss Army Fragrance AG based at its head office. The former Wenger fragrance line is repositioned in the market and is branded with the Victorinox emblem.

The company’s first European Flagship store opens on London’s New Bond Street.

Geneva City hosts first Victorinox Flagship store in Switzerland. 125 years after its foundation, Victorinox now employs more than 1800 employees worldwide and generates revenues of around CHF 500 million.

Launch of the first Victorinox Global Brand Campaign.

To celebrate the brand’s 130th anniversary and the watches division’s 25th anniversary, Victorinox Swiss Army launches I.N.O.X. Designed and built to withstand unusual levels of stress, this watch has passed a battery of 130 tests certifying it is “forged to resist”.

Victorinox Swiss Army moves to its new watchmaking competence center in Delémont in the Swiss Jura.

Inauguration of the watch case production facility in Delémont.