Georges Ducommun

Georges Ducommun (1868-1936) was a watchmaker and businessman from Le Locle, Switzerland. He founded the Doxa factory there and became involved in many other local businesses, including Zenith, Le Phare, and H. Moser & Cie.

Early Life

Georges-Arthur Ducommun-dit-Verron was born on April 2, 1868 in Le Locle. His was a poor family, but Georges was a hard worker and was committed to building a better life for himself. As the only son (he had two sisters), Georges was expected to earn money to support his family, but he also pushed to become an apprentice in the burgeoning watchmaking industry. At the age of 12 Ducommun achieved this goal, becoming an apprentice to a maker of watch cases in Le Locle. This gave him a view of the entire watchmaking industry, and he saw that there were great profits to be made in assembling and selling complete watches.

In 1889, at the age of 23 Ducommun had saved some money and was able to construct a few complete watches on his own. He walked to La Chaux-de-Fonds and was able to sell these to a wholesaler at a significant profit. This windfall was re-invested and the young man decided to set up his own business. He set up a small workshop at his home at Girardet 68, below the Crêt-Vaillant in Le Locle.

The business remained small but it steadily grew, enabling Ducommun to officially register the firm in his own name in 1895. He was also able to save enough money to marry a local woman, Lucie Droz-dit-Busset (1874-?), the following June, and to buy a larger house a few months later. The Ducommun family and workshop was relocated to Rue des Billodes 28, close to the rapidly-expanding factory of Georges Favre-Jacot which would soon become world-famous as Zenith.

Ducommun and Doxa

In 1900, Ducommun built a watch factory adjacent to his home on Rue des Billodes. In 1902 he registered the brand name DOXA, intended for anti-magnetic watches which became the hallmark of his company. He was known as a tireless worker, full of initiative, and encouraged his workers to exhibit the same qualities. He was involved and supportive in the lives of his staff, who considered him fair, easy-going, and understanding.

The Nardin family had two children, a son, who died in 1920 while on a business trip to New York, and a daughter, Hélène-Lucie, who married Jacques Nardin. Following his son's death, Hélène became heir to the Doxa factory, with Jacques Nardin joining management later that year.

Georges Ducommun was very well-known in business circles, admired for his practical business sense. In 1905, he served as a member of the jury at the Liège Exhibition, where Doxa also exhibited its watches. At the Decorative Arts Exhibition in Paris in 1925, he was appointed vice-president of the International Group and president of the Swiss Watchmaking Group.

Georges Ducommun died on August 25 in Le Locle at the age of 68. He had suffered for a few days and left a widow, who took over his business. She was bought out when Jacques Nardin incorporated the business the following year, with a payment of 300,000 francs. When Jacques died unexpectedly in 1950, Hélène Nardin became chairwoman of the company. She managed it until her death in 1955.