Henri Colomb

Henri Colomb was a technician-watchmaker for Zénith and Tavannes Watch. He is credited with many technical advancements, notably the anti-shock mechanism exploited by Parechoc.

Henri Colomb graduated from the Neuchâtel Watchmaking School as a technician-watchmaker under Hermann Grossmann. After graduating he worked as a precision adjuster for Zénith in Le Locle. He then went to Porrentruy to head the Watchmaking School there.

Around 1915, Colomb became the technical director of the Tavannes Watch Co, remaining there until retirement in 1943.

Colomb was said to be a somewhat small and lively man with many innovative ideas. He is credited as the technician who filed the most patents relating to watchmaking, mostly in the 1920s through 1940s. He was focused on interchangeability of ebauche components, leading the Tavannes Watch company in this field. He also developed an effective anti-shock device for Tavannes which appeared on the market at the same time as Incabloc. These patents would be leveraged by Parechoc starting in 1944.

Colomb died in April 1962.