Courvoisier Frères
Although there were many watchmaking operations using the name Courvoisier, the name is most closely associated with a high-end maker of pocket watches in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the second half of the 19th century. Originally called Courvoisier & Cie., it was later renamed Courvoisier Frères under the sons of the founder.
Josué Robert and Louis Courvoisier
The company traces its roots to about 1770 and the firm of "watchmaker to the king", Josué Robert (1691-1771). He was the first to receive a "watchmakers patent" from the King of Prussia in 1725, making the firm as important as Jaquet-Droz and Le Roi. His sons David and Louis-Benjain joined the firm, which was then known as Josué Robert et Fils. Louis-Benjamin died in 1769 and his widow Charlotte Robert continued as manager of the company.
Charlotte Robert named three partners in the firm: Her son Aimé Robert (1758-1834), Jean-Pierre Robert, Florian Sandoz, and, in 1781, Louis Courvoisier (1758–1832), son in law of the founder. Thus the company became J. Robert & Fils, Courvoisier & Cie in 1787. This marriage connected Courvoisier to Josué Robert's brother David Robert (1717-1769) and brother in law, Pierre Jaquet Droz. Aimé Robert specialized in musical clocks and traveled to the fairs in Germany and Italy while Louis Courvoisier remained in charge of production in La Chaux-de-Fonds. In 1785 the company began producing watches as well as clocks. The company was simply called Robert & Courvoisier in 1795 as the younger Courvoisier gradually took over the firm.
Following the French Revolution in 1789 the watchmaking business faltered and by 1791 sales across Europe were struggling. Aimé Robert called it a "watchmaking Massacre" at the Leipzig fair in 1801. And new watch styles were appearing in Paris that made the products of La Chaux-de-Fonds less attractive. The Napoleonic Wars also hampered production, though the firm continued, but it was too much: Aimé Robert left the firm in 1811.
From 1811 to 1845 the company was Courvoisier & Cie, as Louis Courvoisier was solely in charge. The company was based in La Chaux-de-Fonds but also maintained sales offices in Geneva and Paris at this time. Courvoisier's partners were Jean-Pierre Robert, Philippe Ducommun, and Philibert Humbert-Droz. Courvoisier took up traveling in the place of Aimé Robert and established sales in Russia by 1815. The firm was known at the time for travel clocks.
By 1818 the company was mainly producing simple clocks in classic styles, but the rising Russian market proved a salvation. Soon Courvoisier & Cie was again producing clocks for the King of Prussia.
Fritz Courvoisier and his Brothers
Three of Louis' five sons became involved in the business at this time. These were Henri Louis (1796–1867), Frédéric Alexandre (1799–1854) and Philippe Auguste (1803–1873).
Frédéric Alexandre "Fritz" Courvoisier was an important figure in Neuchâtel politics and life. Although a notable watchmaker, he was more interested in the international travel and glamorous lifestyle he enjoyed abroad. He traveled to Egypt, Italy, Portugal, Russia, and Turkey and spoke English, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish. He was also involved in politics, leading the radical liberal uprising in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which lead to his banishment from the Canton of Berne, and becoming known as "Fritz the Commander" during the 1848 Revolution in Neuchâtel to overthrow Prussian rule. He lead that uprising with Ami Girard, father of Constant Girard, founder of Girard-Perregaux.
The Courvoisier brothers split the businesses in 1842 (likely for political reasons), with Fritz founding his own firm, known as Fritz Courvoisier, while his more conservative brothers Henri and Philippe renamed their part of the firm Courvoisier Frères. When their home city of La Chaux-de-Fonds wanted a watch to honor the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm IV, they ordered it from these brothers. The result was a historically thin pocket watch the remains notable for its construction. This established the firm as a go-to maker of fine watches and also served as a repudiation for the rebellious Fritz. Fritz died of a stroke in 1854 at the age of 55.
Courvoisier Frères
In 1852 Philippe Auguste Courvoisier left the firm and the three sons of Henri Louis Courvoisier took over. Henri Edouard, Louis Philippe, and Jules Ferdinand Courvoisier's re-establishment also set a new "founding date" for many later decades, though it would not again be called Courvoisier Frères until 1880.
Just two years later the company was renamed Courvoisier & Fils as Louis Philippe and his sons Emile-Jules Courvoisier-Gallet and Louis-Henri Courvoisier-Guinand took over management. Emile had recently married Henriette Gallet, daughter of Léon L. Gallet whose namesake firm was a key partner for Courvoisier. The company was briefly called Courvoisier & Cie. once again before again taking the name Courvoisier Frères in 1885. In 1895 the brothers took over the former company of Jules Calame-Robert, which had worked with their father and uncles since the Revolution of 1848.
By the mid-1800s, Courvoisier Frères was again primarily a watchmaker, producing clocks only occasionally. Courvoisier adapted to the changing demands of international markets around the turn of the century. They used the brand El Aguila ("The Eagle") in Portugal, Spain, and South America and also sold watches in the far east.
Courvoisier used the brand name Mobilis for a tourbillon pocket watch patented in Switzerland in 1904 (CH30754) by Paul Loichet. This watch resembled the famous Hebdomas watch, with a visible balance at 6:00 below a small dial, and was often called "the People's Tourbillon".
In 1915, Courvoisier introduced the Madix brand for a reinforced officer's wristwatch. It used an oversized case with an inset double-layer glass (for protection) and a radium lume dot. It was designed for mountaineering and military use.
The Demise of Courvoisier
Courvoisier remained focused on pocket watches and lost relevance in the 20th century. Courvoisier & Cie. was absorbed into a successor firm known as L. Courvoisier & Cie. in 1909. The firm did not survive the financial crisis of the 1920s. The assets of the failed company were incorporated into a new firm called L. Courvoisier & Co. in November 1928, but this company soon sold off the trademarks. El Aigle was transferred to Engelhard Frères in 1929, Aladdin went to the Timor Watch company in 1934 while Madix became property of the Home Watch company in 1942.
Courvoisier Family
- Josué Robert
- ? Robert (-1813?) married Louis Courvoisier (1758–1832)
- Henri Louis Courvoisier (1796–1867)
- Henri Edouard Courvoisier
- Louis Philippe Courvoisier
- Emile-Jules Courvoisier (about 1858-November 1, 1937) married Henriette Gallet
- Louis-Henri Courvoisier married ? Guinand
- Jules Ferdinand Courvoisier
- Frédéric Alexandre "Fritz" Courvoisier (June 1, 1799–December 10, 1854) married 1826 Anna Rothpletz (1806?-1836)
- Paul Courvoisier (1827-?)
- Philippe Auguste Courvoisier (1803–1873)
- Julie Courvoisier
- Henri Louis Courvoisier (1796–1867)
- ? Robert (-1813?) married Louis Courvoisier (1758–1832)