Renan

Renan
Jura triangle / Canton Berne Bernese Jura / Vallon de Saint-Imier
La Chaux-de-Fonds - Renan - Sonvilier

Renan is a small town in the Bernese Jura at 900 m above sea level, belonging to Canton Bern in the western end of the Saint-Imier valley.

Renan is not as well-known as many other Jura Triangle towns, but its close proximity to La Chaux-de-Fonds made it a useful location for suppliers. Watchmakers were present there from the 1840s, but their products were not high quality. Eugène Tissot was one early watchmaker there, sending bulk watches to France and America at low prices.

Wuilleumier Frères was perhaps the most important watchmaker to arise in Renan. Started in 1859, Wuilleumier specialized in timers and measuring devices. The company relocated to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1932 and found modest success with pedometers and golf timers in the 1920s and changed its name to Pedos in 1929. The company gained infamy as a target for Fidhor in 1934 and was convicted for violating export and price controls. Pedos gave way to Derby in 1939 and left Renan, though it later found success as a specialist in electric and electronic movements as part of ETA. An unrelated case-making firm called Wuilleumier Frères existed in Tramelan-Dessus.

Another successful Renan company was S. Gräber, which grew in the post-war period to be a major producer of watch cases. Joining holding company Gramex with Fleurier-based Métalex, Gramex moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds in the 1970s.

Framont and Myret were also based in Renan in the 1970s and 1980s, respectively.