The Men Sim story begins in 1961 when three Swiss Mennonites in the Jura Mountain region opened a watch factory. They were brothers, David and Hans Zurcher, and their brother-in-law, Joel Gyger.

Initially, the company was called Menos, short for Menno Simons. But the Nemos company contested the name because of its similarity to their own. As an alternative, Margaret, David's wife, suggested Men Sim--also for Menno Simons, of course--as the new company name.

The business flourished, and at the peak of their operation, Men Sim had seventeen employees. But in 1979, Japanese quartz watches flooded the market, and as a result, the mechanical pocket watch industry collapsed.

Only Joel continued to build Men Sim watches--until he died in 1989. David went to work as a church custodian, and Hans worked in another watch factory.

After Joel's death, local customers and Mennonites from abroad, kept asking for Men Sim watches. Finally, David picked up the trade again in 1994, working out of his home in Tramelan.

Now 82, David is concerned about the future of the enterprise. Just recently, the Zurcher's 52-year-old son, Tony, began to help in the business, but the future of Men Sim watches is uncertain.

The Mennonite Church USA Historical Committee is offering Men Sim watches as an outlet for Zurcher, and as a fund raiser. Your purchase of these unique watches will support the work of the Historical Committee, and provide an income for the Zurchers.

UPDATE - DECEMBER, 2005 - David Zurcher, the Swiss watch maker, died Sunday morning, November 20, 2005. Tony Zurcher (David's son) is planning to continue making Men Sim products.