Portuguese Brands of Watches... and Cars
To this day, Portugal has had several brands in the automotive and watchmaking worlds. In the world of cars, one brand stands out for having created its own engine. In watchmaking, another stood out for creating its own internal mechanisms. The story of both would be worthy of a film. Let us explore these and other names that made an impact on the Portuguese automotive and watchmaking sector.
THE ALBA
The Alba is the only car to date with an engine made in Portugal, a creation of António Augusto Martins Pereira, heir to the Alba metalworks of Albergaria-a-Velha. This Italian-designed car was produced between 1952 and 1954. Only three examples were made, and the original is in the Museu do Caramulo.
It used parts from a Fiat 1100, including an all-aluminium body. It underwent several modifications and, in 1953, a new Alba was born with Portuguese components. The need for more robust engines led to the creation of an exclusively Portuguese engine, a milestone in national engineering.
A Boa Reguladora
Founded in 1893 in Porto by João S. Paulo and José Carvalho, it later moved to Famalicão. It became a benchmark in the production of wall and table clocks, competing with foreign brands. Despite adversity, it prospered and established a presence in Brazil. In the 1930s and 1940s it innovated in its models and, even during the Second World War, it kept up production, with the clocks of that period being prized for their quality. There were other clockmaking brands such as A Boa Construtora, Cardina and Jerónimo, and A Boa Reguladora had influential directors such as Walter Sutter and Jaime Ribeiro.
Lusitanian Brands with Foreign Origins
Several Portuguese brands focused on importing foreign engines and watch movements.
Otar (Fernando Rato),
Said (Dias & Moura),
Sacul (Lucas),
Amer (Rema),
Imor (Indústria Moçambicana de Ourivesaria e Relojoaria)
Jocar (José Maria Gomes Carvalhinho)
Josil (José Henriques da Silva)
Joteixe (Irmãos Teixeira)
Marsol (Mário dos Santos Oliveira)
From left to right: Said, Reguladora, Otar
In the automotive sector, we had brands such as
Edfor (Eduardo Ferreirinha),
Marlei (Mário Moreira Leite),
Portaro (Portugal + Aro),
DM (Dionísio Mateus),
Prozé
Sado
UMM (União Metalo-Mecânica)
Top: Prozé and Sado; bottom: Marlei
Today and Tomorrow
At present, no cars are produced under Portuguese brands, but several watch brands remain active. Among them are Borealis, Contar, Exímio, Meia Lua, Isotope and Escudo, the last of which is Portuguese-inspired. Here are several examples of these brands available in our Portuguese Watch Shop.
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