SUUNTO
Suunto was born in Finland more than 80 years ago, when championship-level orienteer and keen outdoor enthusiast Tuomas Vohlonen invented the mass production method for the liquid filled compass.Since then, Suunto has been at the forefront of innovation, hand crafting premium sports watches, instruments and dive computers that have been tested in the world’s harshest conditions. From the beginning of time, man has explored. All that has changed are the tools. The word “Suunto” comes from the Finnish word meaning “direction”. Suunto is pronounced “Soon-toh”.Tuomas Vohlonen had long been bothered by the inaccuracy and lack of steady needle operation of traditional dry compasses. Being an engineer with an inventive turn of mind, he discovers and patents the production method for a liquid-filled compass with a much steadier needle, better readings and a new level of accuracy.In the 1040s Suunto introduces a compact liquid sighting compass, the m/40, during World War II for artillery officers and other users needing a precision instrument for measuring an azimuth, the horizontal angle of a bearing.In the 1950s Suunto starts manufacturing orienteering and marine compasses.
The first marine compass, Suunto K-12, is launched in 1953. Its base bowl, made of brass, is a real masterpiece of precision engineering. At this point, the company is exporting compasses to over 50 countries around the world. In the 1980s Suunto becomes the world leader in the manufacture of diving instruments. Suunto’s first dive computer, Suunto SME-ML, is launched in 1987 and completely revolutionizes the sport. Previously divers had to calculate times using diving tables. Thanks to the SME diving computer, the sport becomes an easier, more fun and safer hobby.Today Suunto is still based in Finland where most of our products are designed and hand crafted with pride in our flagship factory outside Helsinki. Our aim is to provide adventurers and sports enthusiasts with the best tools to explore and conquer new territory from the highest mountains to the deepest oceans – and anywhere in between.
