Couvet

Couvet played, in his time, in the field of clocks, a role equivalent to that of Fleurier in the field of watches. It is also in the high localities of the Val-de-Travers that we met the first craftsmen in clocks, in particular in Verrières (Guye), in Fleurier (Jeanjaquet), as well as in Môtiers. Little by little, Couvet became the center of this industry. We must also mention Boveresse where several generations of Bezencenet worked, one of whom joined forces with Jean-Henry Petitpierre, one of the most remarkable among the Covasson clockmakers. It is from this last workshop that, in the 11th century, came the clocks which present the greatest variety of shapes and movements.

Beside him, the Berthouds were not long in acquiring one of the first ranks. During this brilliant period, clockmaking also had excellent craftsmen in Travers, where one of them, David Morlet, in 1745 bore the title of “Watchmaker to the King of Poland”. The Covasson pendulum clocks then mainly made the “big ringtone” movement. From a technical point of view, it was the finest moment in this industry.