Borle et Jéquier
Borle et Jéquier was a balance spring maker in Fleurier set up to provide an alternative to the Fabriques de Spiraux Rèunies (FSR) cartel. The company was established in June 1896, less than a year after FSR was announced, and lasted until 1932.
Borle et Jéquier
Borle et Jéquier was created to provide an alternative to the Fabriques de Spiraux Rèunies (FSR) cartel which controlled the balance spring industry since 1895. The company was founded by William Borle of Renan and Paul Jéquier of Fleurier on June 15, 1896, and registered the following April. The company grew aggressively, placing its first advertisements in 1898 and adding Samuel Graf of Ramsen near Schaffhausen to run the factory in 1900.
Borle et Jéquier incorporated as a Société Anonyme on December 20, 1911. Paul Jequier-Auroi was removed from administration in 1918.
In 1921 the firm reduced its share capital to 24,000 francs, with Gustave Borle no longer acting as director.
Borle et Jéquier was closed by the board on November 17, 1932.
Other Firms
The Borle and Jéquier names are familiar in Fleurier watchmaking, dating back to the mid 19th century. Most notable was the Fleurier Watch Co, which was founded by many of the same people.
Jéquier Frères were watchmakers since 1853, with Jéquier et Reymond listed in 1866 and Paul Jéquier and Ulysse Jéquier appearing in 1869. Jules Jéquier appears in 1873 as Jéquier Frères is removed. Ulysse is gone after 1880 and only Jéquier et Petitpierre (genre Anglais, seconde au centre at Grande Rue 3) and Numa Jequier (at Perron 12) are listed in 1886. Jules Jequier (Chinoise) reappears at Grande Rue 3 in 1889 and Jequier et Petitpierre disappears in 1893.
Jequier Frères et Cie is new in 1894. They are located at Pasquier 1 and sound like a successor to Jequier et Petitpierre, though Jules continues in operation. C. Jéquier-Borle was a producer of silver cases at Pasquier 1 by 1894. Louis-Emile Borle produced gold and silver watch cases from 1865 until 1877.
Borle and Jéquier ran other watch companies as well: Jéquier Frères was a producer of watches for the English market, C. Jequier-Borle produced Roskopf watches, and another firm with the same name also produced watch cases and claimed the Tell, Corma, Orabek, Andika, and Inimitable brand names.
William Borle-Jéquier hired architects Prince & Béguin to build him a villa and estate in Fleurier in 1904.
The legacy of Borle and Jéquier's collaboration was the Fleurier Watch Co, which was established in 1943 with