Founded in Neuchâtel in 1926, Ebauches SA was known for manufacturing watch components and movement blanks. In the 1950s, André Beyner (1927–2023) was a pioneer in electronic clock development at Ebauches SA, where he introduced the use of transistors in timekeeping devices as early as 1958.

In 1962, 21 Swiss watch brands and key suppliers collaborated to establish the Centre Électronique Horloger (CEH) in Neuchâtel. Their mission was to collectively guide the transition from traditional Swiss mechanical watchmaking to emerging electronic movements.

Beyner joined the CEH team in 1967, bringing his expertise to the development of the Beta 21 caliber, Switzerland’s first quartz movement. Following the Beta 1 and Beta 2, the Beta 21 marked a major technological breakthrough and served as Switzerland’s answer to the Japanese Seiko Astron and the French Bulova Accutron. Around 6,000 of these movements were produced, powering iconic models such as the IWC Da Vinci, Piaget 14101, Patek Philippe Ref. 3603, Jaeger-LeCoultre Master-Quartz, and Omega Electroquartz.

This example, never seen previously, is part of an extremely small series of only 20 delivered to the CEH.