History

530 Years of Craftsmanship

The History of the Bürk Family

1491
The History of the Bürk Family
The history of the Bürk family begins in 1491 with a feudal tenant at the Talhausen Mill near Trossingen. Over generations, the family evolved until settling in Schwenningen.
1698
The Bürk Family in Schwenningen
Since 1698, the Bürk family has been based in Villingen-Schwenningen. This tradition continues to shape our work to this day.
1855
170 years of Bürk company history
Founding of the Württemberg watch factory Bürk – Söhne by Johannes Bürk in VS-Schwenningen at the source of the Neckar

Several hundred years ago, the clock-making industry began in the Black Forest. Parts for Black Forest clocks were made on almost every farm. On one homestead they made cases (the so-called rack makers), again another farm family took care of the production of clock plates and on the next farm the movements were made or assembled. In this way, everyone formed their own independent craft.

Over the centuries, the craft developed. As a result, a perfectionist production of clock parts, clock movements and complete clocks developed in the Black Forest, with today’s main centre Villingen-Schwenningen, which promoted the industrialisation of clock making.

Johannes Bürk – my great-great-grandfather – the initiator laid the foundation for industrialised clock manufacturing with the founding of the Württemberg clock factory Bürk Söhne in Schwenningen am Neckar in 1855.

For over a century, he, his son and their descendants helped shape the history of the town, which for decades rose to become the “largest watchmaking town in the world” because of the number and importance of its watchmaking factories. Virtually every employee worked in the watch industry. During this time, the city gained international importance.

1984
Insolvency of the Württemberg clock factory Bürk. (In the following years, the brand was taken over by Moser Baer).
1997
Bürk-Mobatime emerges from Bürk as a newly founded company. The main shareholder is the Swiss company Moser-Baer AG. All Bürk rights and products are taken over.
2010
Foundation of Richard Bürk GmbH Watch manufactory - production of customised individual pieces and small series, clocks & watch components and parts production.
2020
Acquisition of the Jmius brand founded in 1905 by Richard Bürk GmbH
2022
Integration of V.Schär Zeigerfabrik und Uhrenkomponenten, founded in 1924, into Richard Bürk GmbH.