Nuestra historia

Nacida en el interior de una cuchillería en 1884, Victorinox representa calidad, funcionalidad, innovación y diseño icónico; y lo ha hecho durante más de 130 años.

En la actualidad, Victorinox es una empresa mundial con cinco categorías de productos: navajas suizas, cuchillos domésticos y profesionales, relojes, equipaje y fragancias.

1884
Karl Elsener I abre un taller de cuchillería en Ibach-Schwyz. Su madre Victoria lo apoya activamente en su labor. 

1891
Karl Elsener I funda la Asociación de Maestros Suizos Fabricantes de Cuchillería. En consecuencia, puede entregar el primer gran suministro de navajas del soldado al ejército suizo.
 
1897
Se patenta “The original Swiss Officer’s and Sports Knife”. En la actualidad, se le conoce en todo el mundo como la “Navaja suiza”.

1909
Después de la muerte de su madre, Karl Elsener elige su nombre de pila, Victoria, como nombre de la marca y registra el emblema con la cruz y el escudo como marca comercial. Actualmente, está registrada como marca comercial en más de 120 países.

1921
La invención del acero inoxidable (Inox) es un avance sumamente importante en la industria de la cuchillería. De la combinación de las dos palabras, “Inox” y “Victoria”, surge el nombre de la empresa y de la marca hoy conocida como Victorinox.
 
1931
Carl Elsener II introduce la automatización. En 1931, se le encarga a la empresa Brown Boveri la instalación de la primera planta templadora completamente eléctrica del mundo en Ibach. Esto garantiza que todos los cuchillos y las navajas tengan una calidad excelente y uniforme.

1945
US soldiers stationed in Europe after World War Two buy it in large quantities and it is a popular souvenir to take home.

1950
Carl Elsener III takes over the company management.

1977
The Original Swiss Army Knife becomes an exhibit for design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

1978
Nasa orders 50 Officer Knives Master Craftsman 

1979
Transformation of sole proprietorship “Messerfabrik Carl Elsener” into the family-owned company “Victorinox AG.”

1984
The company doubles its manufacturing and office space.

1989
Market entry for “Watches” under its Swiss Army brand in North America with its former U.S. sales partner.

1993
Opening of the first sales subsidiary in Japan.

1994
Establishment of Carl and Elise Elsener Gut Foundation with the mission to support national and international charitable projects.

1999
Market entry for “Travel Gear” with the American TRG Group in St. Louis as licensee.

2000
Establishment of the Victorinox Foundation which holds 90 % of the share capital of Victorinox AG. The remaining 10 % belong to the non-profit Carl and Elise Elsener-Gut Foundation.

2001
Launch of a clothing line in the U.S. and opening of the first Victorinox store in Soho, New York.

2005
Acquisition of the long-standing Swiss knife and watch manufacturer Wenger SA in Delémont. Wenger remains an independently operating subsidiary of Victorinox.

2007
Carl Elsener IV takes over the company management and further expands Victorinox as a global multi-product brand.

Establishment of Victorinox Swiss Army Fragrance AG.

2008
Opening of the first European Victorinox flagship store in London.

2011
Opening of the Swiss Knife Valley Visitor Center in Brunnen, Switzerland.

Carl Elsener III gets inducted into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame.

2013
Integration of the Wenger knife business into the Victorinox brand.

2014
Acquisition of the travel gear business from previous licensee and establishment of the new business unit Victorinox Travel Gear AG.

Opening of a store at a prime location in the city center of Zurich.

Carl Elsener gets inducted into the BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame

The BLADE Magazine Cutlery Hall of Fame® is the highest honor on the planet for individuals who demonstrate exceptional contributions to the world of knives. Only one or two people are inducted annually during a ceremony at BLADE Show.
Brandstore and Museum, Brunnen
Flagshipstore Zurich

2016
Construction of the Watch Competence Center in Delémont, Switzerland.

2017
Discontinuation of Apparel to focus on the core product categories.

Production of 500-millionth “Original Swiss Army Knife”.

2018
125th anniversary of Wenger.

2019
Opening of a brand store in Lausanne.

2020
After two years of construction, opening of the new distribution center in Seewen, Switzerland.

Acquisition of Zena Swiss AG, traditional Swiss manufacturer of the economy peeler.

Opening of first European Victorinox Franchise Store in Vienna.
2022
125th Anniversary of the "Original Swiss Officer’s and Sports Knife"