The Watchmaking History of the Franche-Comté
The Rudis Sylva brand was founded in 2006 as an ode to the Franche-Comté region’ s horological skills, and even today all the brand’ s components are produced between Saignelégier and Le Locle. The entire Swiss region, also known as La Franche-Montagne, has long been home to watchmakers and makers of watch components.
In 1852, Emile Huot, originally from Franche-Comté, set up in Les Bois where he founded a timepiece assortment, lever and cylinder factory. In 1916, the business resisted the overtures of the various Swiss assortments trust, preferring to keep its independence. In 1923, the Huots decided to stop manufacturing cylinders and concentrate on lever escapements. In May 1941, they finally incorporated the United Assortments Factories Trust, now owned by the Swatch Group, under the name Nivarox.
The village of Les Bois, near La Chaux-de-Fonds, was home to 1,450 residents in 1900, but fully 600 of these were watchmakers making up to 30,000 watches per year. The Baume family, which eventually founded Baume & Mercier, along with the Beaumann and Huot families, were the best known among these watchmaking families. Rudis Sylva founder Jackie Epitaux explains that he founded Rudis Sylva with this rich history in mind.
“ It is only right to pay tribute to the work of craftsmen such as the engravers, bevellers, enamellers or guilloché artists, who give the product a noble and exclusive touch.”
2017 | WRISTWATCH 45