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Sicura SA (officially Montres Sicura SA) was a Swiss watch manufacturer based in Granges, Switzerland.

Originally founded in 1938 and entered in the commercial register on 15 June 1939, its early historical origins are relatively unknown, and it is not known whether Sicura manufactured watches before the company was registered with the Swiss Handelsregister on 2 May 1955 as Montres Sicura SA. Initially, Sicura was headed and owned by Théodore Sfaellos before eventually being passed to his son-in-law Ernest Frédéric Schneider due to the former's passing in early 1960. Schneider was the backbone behind the company's success, following the latest trends but doing so with quality at a price point that was accessible, enabling Sicura to maintain its competition with other watch brands.

During the quartz crisis in the 1970s, Schneider adapted to the use of the new watch technology by introducing its first quartz watch in 1977, enabling the company to survive the crisis whilst other major watch companies including Breitling went into administration. In April 1979, Schneider purchased the rights to the Breitling brand and due to its prestige and heritage, the Sicura brand was shelved and Schneider eventually changed the company name to Breitling SA in November 1993. The present-day Breitling SA company is therefore the legal successor to Sicura SA. However, the brands remained separate in both build and quality and neither Sicura or the present Breitling SA is a continuation of the defunct family-owned firm that closed in 1979.

History
Sicura SA has several different foundation dates: 1938, 1939 and 1955. Published material by Sicura in the 1970s suggested that 1938 was the foundation date of the company whereas some technical records give the date of 15 June 1939.

When the company first appeared in the Swiss Handelsregister on 2 May 1955 it was owned and headed by Théodore Sfaellos. However, his death in early 1960 meant that Sicura would soon be taken over by his son-in-law Ernest Schneider who remained as the head of the company during its existence as Sicura SA and in its transition to Breitling SA.

Sicura in 1974 introduced the Sicura Volta which was the first mechanical wristwatch produced with a separate electrical system for back-lighting.

By 1975, Sicura had four watch assembly factories located in Grenchen, Bonfol, Salvan and Melano with a case factory in Boudry and a jewel factory in Salvan Martigny. In 1977 Sicura began producing its first quartz watches and in April 1979, Ernest Schneider purchased the Breitling and Navitimer brands and several watch models from Willy Breitling. Ernest Schneider eventually changed the company name, Montres Sicura AG, to Breitling AG on 29 November, 1993.

Models
Sicura produced a variety of watches with quartz, solar, and mechanical movements.

Aquanaut
The Aquanaut series first appeared in the Chronosport catalogue, 1968. It included three types: Sailor, Rally and Diver with 17 jewel mechanical movements. Each watch is super waterproof (400 vacuum tested) and shock protected.

The Aquanaut Sailor has a 0-60 minute rotating bezel with 5, 10 and 15 minute contrasting coloured zones for yacht racing. The bottom crown locks the rotating bezel in place and has an inner 24 bezel in midnight blue. A black low reflection dial with luminous hands and markers, orange sweep second hand and has an automatic calendar. The Aquanaut Rally has an automatic calendar, internal 24 hour scale bezel, low reflection dial, luminous hands and markers and a sweep second hand. Like the Sailor, the bottom crown is used for keeping the bezel in place after adjustment. 0-60 and 12 hour scales are used recording elapsed time or setting up two world time zones in conjunction with the mail dial. The Aquanaut Diver was designed for underwater use; the inner 24 scale bezel changes colour from midnight blue to black as you dive. Like the two previous Aquanaut models, the bottom crown is used for locking the 0-60 minute rotating bezel. The dial is low reflection, luminous hands and dial with an automatic calendar.

In 1969, Sicura introduced two additional Aquanaut models: the Aquanaut-Auto and a new Aquanaut Rally. Using the same design and body, the new models featured an automatic self-winding movement instead of a mechanical one used in the earlier series. The Aquanaut Auto features an automatic calendar and a rotating bezel with 0-60 minute and 0-12 hour calibrations which enables the watch to display two world time zones simultaneously. The bezel is locked with the bottom crown and also includes 5, 10 and 15 minute coloured segments for use in Yacht racing. The dial includes a 24-hour internal bezel, luminous hands and markers. Like the Auto, the new Aquanaut 'Auto' Rally includes a 24 hour inner bezel, a 12 hour scale, and a 0-60 rotating bezel but without the coloured segments.

Digital
Sicura introduced its Digital range in 1975 which included various direct-time watches featuring 17 jewel mechanical and automatic movements. These included the Digital D500, Digistar, Digital Auto and Hunter whereas the ladies Digital range included the Orchidee and Regal. All watches in the Digital range use a 'jump hour' display in which rotating discs depict the hours and minute.

Volta
In 1974, Sicura introduced the Volta which was the first mechanical wristwatch produced with a separate electrical system for back-lighting. The early 1974 models were labelled ‘Electric’ on the dial whereas later models from 1975 were labelled 'Instalite'. All Volta's appeared in polished or brushed chrome using 17 jewel mechanical movements and were shock protected. The back-lighting was activated by the top crown while the bottom crown was for adjusting the time. The case includes three apertures at the top which which the light shines through while displaying the dial. A single bulb covers all three apertures powered by two 357 batteries.

Digital D500
The most popular and well known of Sicura's watches, the Digital D500 uses a Baumgartner BFG Caliber 866 mechanical movement displaying direct time with rotating discs labelled with the numbers and minutes. A small red-white propeller turns continuously when the watch has been wound. The D500 was available in various colours depending on country including a chrome or gold-plated case with blue, red or gold dial. The chrome case would display a blue dial or red dial face whilst the gold-plated case appeared only in gold. In addition to the direct-time rotating disc, it has an automatic calendar and a rotating propeller. The watch is shock protected waterproof and has a stainless steel back which displays the famous Sicura coat of arms.
 * https://17jewels.info/movements/b/baumgartner/baumgartner-866/
 * https://watchguy.co.uk/cgi-bin/library?action=show_brand&brand=Sicura

Sports
Sicura boasted a large collection of various Sports watches for different purposes including diving, rally and yacht racing.

Divers
Sicura produced various diver watches. While some were simply named 'Sicura', the company used names such as Submarine, Quartermaster and Navy.

Chronograph
Sicura designed various chrono watches.

MG Commemorative Chronograph
In 1975, Sicura


 * Submarine
 * Quartermaster
 * Instalite
 * Execution De Luxe
 * Globetrotter
 * Marine-Star
 * 400M Diver's watch - various models - features
 * Formula One - 17 Jeweles - 1978-1980 - Chronograph (https://www.highlifewatches.com/store/p72/1979_Breitling_-_Sicura_%27Formula_One%27_Mechanical_Chronograph_%27New_Old_Stock%27.html)
 * Sicura MG Commemorative, 1000 made, 1975, celebrating 50 years
 * Cardinal Rallye GT
 * Collins
 * Stunt watch
 * Topaz 200
 * Navy
 * Chrono
 * Chronoflash
 * Signal
 * Solar-quartz
 * Computer
 * Satalite
 * VIP 2000 introduced in 1977
 * Ambassador Dynatron
 * Elegance
 * Unisex
 * Cybernetica
 * Digital (The Jump Hour one)

table idea: - Name, Date Introduced, Features, Movement (digital, mechanical, automatic etc), additional information? e.g. MG watch
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seiko
 * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orient_Watch
 * https://issuu.com/retromash/docs/argos-no02-1974 (pages 154-156)

Relationship with Breitling
The relationship between Sicura and Breitling is complex and often misunderstood. While Sicura is technically the legal predecessor to the present-day Breitling SA company, the former Breitling company headed by Willy Breitling ceased to exist after its assets, including the brand, was sold to several watch manufacturers; Sicura under Schneider purchased the Breitling and Navitimer brand as well as several watch models. Therefore, in some respects, the present-day Breitling company is a spiritual successor to the former family-owned company. However, they remain and have been legally separate companies. This is observed in the technical records of Breitling SA which gives the foundation date of Sicura as opposed to its foundation date of 1884 advertised by Breitling.

After 1979, Breitling-branded watches were briefly produced under Sicura AG before the company was renamed and the Sicura brand was phased-out. Contrary to popular belief, Sicura and Breitling watches were separate in both quality and construction and the only link between the two brands is due to being produced under the same company. Montres Sicura SA (Sicura Uhren AG) (Sicura Watch Company Ltd) are listed as former names of Breitling AG in the Zefix Central Business Name Index. As a result of the convoluted relationship between the two brands, it has led to Sicura branded watches being falsely advertised in vintage auctions as "Sicura by Breitling" or combined as "Sicura Breitling" despite the former producing the latter.

Pilots
{{legend|#e3d9ff|This background, along with the symbol "†", indicates that the pilot was killed in action, missing in action, died of wounds, or was killed in a flying accident during World War II.|border=gray}} {{legend|#8dffab|This background indicates that information on this pilot is scarce and details of their affiliation with the Shinten Seikutai is severely limited or unknown. |border=gray}}

Category:Military units and formations of the Luftwaffe Category:Military units and formations established in 1945 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945