Leijona

Leijona is a Finnish watch brand whose history is closely connected with the development of the country's watch-importing and retail trade. Its modern brand history is generally traced to 1907, when watchmaker Johan Werner Lindroos began importing watches into Finland. The brand name and its lion-and-shield identity also have earlier Swiss connections: trademark records cited in accounts of Leijona's history associate the emblem with watchmaking businesses in Val-de-Travers during the late nineteenth century. Finnish registrations using the Leijona name and a stylized L on the shield appeared in 1909 and 1910 in connection with Camille Barré, Montres Lion and Leijona Watch Co. A major ownership and distribution turning point occurred in 1919, when Perkko Ab acquired Lindroos's business. The Perkko family has controlled the Leijona business since that transaction, and Oy Perkko remains the brand's owner. This continuity has made Leijona one of Finland's longest-established watch names, while also tying it to a broader Finnish watch and jewelry retail enterprise. The brand's manufacturing model has changed over time. Early Leijona watches were made in Switzerland, reflecting the brand's historical links to Swiss watchmaking and the role of Switzerland as a major source of imported timepieces. In later decades, production was predominantly sourced from Japan and China. More recently, Leijona has added Swiss-made watches to its range again, using selected collections to emphasize traditional watchmaking, design heritage and higher-end positioning rather than presenting the entire catalog as Swiss-made. Leijona's current assortment is broad. It includes wristwatches as well as pocket watches and necklace watches, with designs ranging from contemporary and trend-oriented pieces to conservative everyday and dress styles. The brand is described as having a catalog of approximately 350 watches, with new models introduced several times a year. Its design language combines international watch and fashion influences with references to Finnish tastes and local identity. The most notable premium initiative is the Leijona Heritage 1907 collection. The collection connects the brand's early history with Swiss manufacture and was developed together with independent watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. It represents a move toward more specialized, high-end mechanical watchmaking within a brand otherwise known for a wide and accessible product assortment. Leijona therefore occupies a distinctive position in Finland: it is a mass-market and heritage-oriented domestic watch name at the same time, using longstanding local recognition while selectively developing premium Swiss-made products. Leijona is primarily associated with the Finnish market. Publicly available descriptions identify it as one of Finland's most popular watch brands, but the available reference material does not establish a detailed international distribution footprint, corporate financial profile, current executive roster or precise manufacturing breakdown by collection. Those details should be verified directly with Oy Perkko or the brand before being added.

Leijona's story combines nineteenth-century Swiss watchmaking references with the growth of Finland's early watch-importing trade. The lion-and-shield mark associated with the brand has roots in the Val-de-Travers watchmaking region. Swiss trademark records cited in accounts of the company indicate that a related emblem was registered in December 1880 by Albert Kenel & Co and later continued by Manufacture d'Horlogerie Lion SA from 1892. These records provide historical context for the name and visual identity, although the Finnish commercial history of Leijona began later. Johan Werner Lindroos, a Finnish watchmaker, began importing watches into Finland in the early 1900s. The brand's history is commonly dated to 1907, when this importing activity started. Finnish registry marks using the name Leijona and a stylized capital L within the lion's shield were recorded in 1909 and 1910. The marks were associated with Camille Barré, Montres Lion and Leijona Watch Co, linking the Finnish brand to the wider Swiss watch trade of the period. In 1919, Perkko Ab purchased Lindroos's business. Responsibility for importing and retailing Leijona watches was consequently transferred to Perkko, which has remained the brand's controlling company through the Perkko family and its successor Oy Perkko. This acquisition established the long-term corporate foundation of Leijona and helped turn it into a durable Finnish consumer watch name. Manufacturing arrangements evolved as sourcing patterns in the watch industry changed. The earliest Leijona watches were manufactured in Switzerland. In later periods, the majority of production shifted to Japan and China, allowing the brand to maintain a broad catalog across different price points and styles. In more recent years, Leijona has selectively returned to Swiss-made production for certain collections, using those watches to reinforce its historical connection with Switzerland and to serve customers seeking higher-end mechanical craftsmanship. The contemporary range is broad rather than narrowly specialized. Leijona offers wristwatches, pocket watches and necklace watches, including both fashionable and conservative designs. The brand has been described as having roughly 350 models, with additions made several times annually. Its products combine international design trends with influences associated with Finnish style and consumer preferences. The Leijona Heritage 1907 collection is the clearest expression of the brand's heritage strategy. Developed with watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, the collection connects the 1907 origin story with Swiss manufacture and a more elevated level of watchmaking. It complements, rather than replaces, Leijona's wider everyday assortment. Today Leijona remains an active Finnish brand owned by Oy Perkko. It is principally known in Finland and is described in reference material as the country's most popular watch brand. However, the available sources do not provide a complete account of its current export markets, production partners, sales, financial performance, headquarters or management structure. Such information remains unconfirmed in this dossier.

• 1919

  Perkko acquires Lindroos's business

  [1]Leijonaen.wikipedia.org

  Perkko Ab bought J. W. Lindroos's business and took over the import and retail distribution of Leijona watches.

• 1910

  Further Leijona-related registry mark recorded

  [1]Leijonaen.wikipedia.org

  A further registration connected the Leijona identity with Camille Barré, Montres Lion and Leijona Watch Co.

• 1909

  Leijona name appears in Finnish registry marks

  [1]Leijonaen.wikipedia.org

  A Finnish registration used the Leijona name and a stylized L within the shield of the lion.

• 1907

  Johan Werner Lindroos begins importing watches into Finland

  [1]Leijonaen.wikipedia.org

  The commercial history of Leijona is traced to Lindroos's start as a Finnish watch importer.

• 1880

  Lion-and-shield mark recorded in Swiss trademark history

  [1]Leijonaen.wikipedia.org

  A related lion-and-shield emblem was registered by Albert Kenel & Co in the Swiss watchmaking region of Val-de-Travers, establishing an early historical connection for the identity later associated with Leijona.

• Heritage 1907 collection developed with Kari Voutilainen

  [1]Leijonaen.wikipedia.org

  Leijona expanded its premium positioning with a Swiss-made Heritage 1907 collection developed with watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.

A Finnish heritage watch brand combining broad, accessible collections with selected Swiss-made and premium offerings. Leijona draws on local market recognition, traditional branding and Finnish design sensibilities while offering models influenced by international trends.

• Wristwatches

  Leijona everyday and fashion watches

  The core Leijona assortment consists of wristwatches spanning contemporary, trend-oriented and conservative designs. The collection is intended to cover everyday wear and different style preferences in the Finnish market, with new models added several times a year. The available references describe a catalog of approximately 350 watches, although the exact current model count may change.

• Pocket watches

  Leijona pocket watches

  Pocket watches form part of Leijona's broader traditional watch offering. They extend the brand beyond modern wristwear and reflect its connection to established European watchmaking formats. Specific current references, movements and model numbers are not identified in the available source material.

• Necklace watches

  Leijona necklace watches

  Leijona also offers necklace watches, giving the brand a jewelry-adjacent format in addition to wrist and pocket watches. The available sources confirm their presence in the range but do not provide detailed information about materials, mechanisms or individual collections.

• Swiss-made heritage watches

  Leijona Heritage 1907

  Heritage 1907 is Leijona's most prominent high-end collection. It revisits the brand's early twentieth-century history and uses Swiss manufacture to emphasize its connection to traditional watchmaking. The collection was developed together with watchmaker Kari Voutilainen, giving it a more specialized and elevated position than the brand's broad everyday catalog.

• Selective return to Swiss-made productionStrategy

  Background

  Leijona's watches were originally manufactured in Switzerland, while later production was mostly carried out in Japan and China. The brand subsequently sought to restore a visible Swiss-made component to its portfolio.

  Action taken

  The company reintroduced Swiss-made watches in selected collections, with the Heritage 1907 line serving as the most notable premium example.

  Aftermath

  The move strengthened Leijona's heritage and high-end positioning while preserving its broader multi-style assortment. No financial outcome is reported in the available sources.

  Source

• Launch of the Heritage 1907 collectionProduct launch

  Background

  Leijona used its 1907 origin story as the basis for a collection intended to connect Finnish brand heritage with Swiss watchmaking.

  Action taken

  The brand developed the high-end Heritage 1907 collection in collaboration with watchmaker Kari Voutilainen.

  Aftermath

  The collection became the clearest premium and Swiss-made expression of the Leijona brand. A launch year and commercial performance are not established by the available sources.

  Source

1. 1Leijonaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Leijona Watches official websiteleijonawatches.com