Avia
Avia is a Swiss watch company with a rich history dating back to the latter part of the 19th century. They were known for producing high-quality mechanical lever movement watches under their own brand name, as well as supplying watches and movements to other renowned brands, including New York, The Ball Watch Company, and A. Wittnauer.
In 1968, after becoming part of a consortium of watch manufacturers, Avia achieved a significant milestone by developing the first quartz digital watch with a liquid crystal display (LCD). This groundbreaking invention was unveiled to the world in 1972, causing a seismic shift in the watch market. It allowed for the mass production of highly accurate timepieces at an affordable cost. However, Avia's leadership in this market segment was short-lived as the technology was quickly imitated by competitors.
Ultimately, Avia was acquired by the Fossil Group, which continues to offer Avia watches to this day.