About the factory

OJSC "Minsk Watch Plant" is more than 65 years of history of watch production, which made it possible for many years to produce reliable, high-quality watches "Luch" that keep up with the times.

Keeping the traditions of quality, we have found the very balance that allows us to successfully combine time-tested technologies with modern methods of work, exclusive developments of designers and constructors.

The plant has a full cycle of production of mechanical watches. During its existence, the plant has developed more than 20 movements, and even more watch models have been produced.

We are sure that each of you will discover "Luch" in a special way. After all, we put our soul and meaning into what we produce every day. Each collection reflects its own style. It is always a special combination of color, shape, texture, functionality.

"Luch" is history. This is quality and verified design in all details. This is the watches that you can be sure of at any moment. And also "Luch" is a united and highly qualified team with which you will be comfortable and easy to solve the tasks.

History

In the early fifties in the Soviet Union there was a need to expand the range and increase the production of wrist and pocket watches. The decree of the USSR Council of Ministers and the Belarus Soviet Socialist Republic’s Council of Ministers marked the beginning of the watch industry in Belarus. This started with the construction of the plant at the end of 1953. Of course, much was associated with the post-war difficulties of the lack of workers, materials and equipment. Therefore, the first specialty of many watchmakers was the specialty of the auxiliary worker in construction..

By mid-1955, the first stage of construction was completed and the Minsk watch Plant was transferred to the operating enterprise on November 24. In 1959, at the request of the Minsk Watch Plant in Minsk Polytechnic was opened evening department to train specialists from among the workers of the plant.

In 1963, were the first graduates of the department "Production of instruments of time".

Since 2010, 80% of the shares of the Minsk Watch Plant belongs to the Swiss company "Franck Muller International B.V." , thanks to which the production is modernized and are mastered new technologies, produced new collections of watches that meet modern trends in the watch market.

On November 24, 2012 Minsk Watch Plant has opened its first shop of a new type. The flagship store "Luch" symbolizes the modernization of the plant and the renewal of the range and became the first in the network of similar stores. The opening was attended by CEO of "Franck Muller" Vartan Sirmakes and First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko.

To date, there are 12 company stores in the Republic of Belarus, as well as online store luch.by.

In 1960 has begun the development of a new caliber of watch and it was created the design of the watch movement with diameter of 13 mm and height of 3.4 mm. The design of the watch movement and the external design of the watch were inspired by the experience with the watch "Zarya".

In 1961, it was produced a pilot batch of watch "Minsk" (Luch-1300). But in 1962 the development of watches was suspended, and the plant switched to the development of men's watches "Vympel". The Ministry of industry together with the plant took the decision to manufacture extra flat men's watches "Vympel", produced by the 1st Moscow watch Plant, which gave them their technical documentation. This watch has received the trade mark "Luch-2209". Throughout the history of our existence we have mastered more than 1,700 different models, many of them have been recognized far abroad, and some have even been awarded by gold medals.

An important achievement was also the development of our own movements: quartz, mechanical, including automatic.

Watchmaking

Minsk Watch Plant is the only enterprise in Belarus for the production of time devices and one of the few enterprises of the Soviet watch industry, which preserved the full cycle of mechanical watch production.

Minsk Watch Plant became famous, first of all, by the brand "Luch", but also produced such famous watches as "Zarya", "Vympel" and others. Today, in addition to the brand "Luch", OJSC "Minsk Watch Plant" offers the watches Favorit and Sekonda.

Also the plant is engaged in production of manometers, printed circuit boards, GPS-trackers, devices of check of milking installations (PPDU-01) and other products.

The decision to build the plant was made in 1953. By that time in the Soviet Union watches were already produced at thirteen factories of the Ministry of mechanical engineering. But demand exceeded capacity. And already in 1955 from the conveyor of OJSC "Minsk Watch Plant" first watches “Zarya” rolled off the production line.

Since 1994 Minsk Watch Plant is an open joint stock company. However, in free market conditions, the management of the plant could not maintain the former power of the enterprise, and in 2006 it was declared bankrupt. In 2009, debt restructuring was carried out, and the court terminated the bankruptcy proceedings.

In 2010 the Swiss company "Franck Muller International B. V." became the investor of the enterprise, having signed an investment agreement with the Republic of Belarus.

OJSC “Minsk Watch Plant” is the enterprise of a private form of ownership with a share of the state in authorized capital of 19,97%. The investor's share is 80%. Individuals have owned 0,03% of the shares.

Today the company produces about 150-180 thousand watches, offering to the consumer more than 1700 models, both quartz and mechanical watches. The products of OJSC "Minsk Watch Plant" are exported to fourteen countries.

The plant employs more than 700 people. Equipment and technologies are constantly updated.

Since 2013, the company has mastered the industrial production of watches with diamond-like carbon coating. The coating is biologically indifferent, i.e. it does not chemically interact with biological tissues (including skin). This coating has been used for 20 years in many other fields, in particular for the manufacture of heart valves, aviation and Formula 1.

At present time OJSC "Minsk Watch Plant" has mastered the production of spherical glass for wrist watch of round shape sapphire and continues work on the development of sapphire crystal of different not round shape.