Robert Gygax
Robert Gygax the leading maker of watch cases in Saint-Imier from 1876 through the 1960s.
Robert Gygax
Robert Gygax established a watch case making operation in 1876. The first listing for Robert Gygax in Saint-Imier in Indicateur Davoine is in 1880, when his firm is shown as a maker of silver watch cases on Rue de la Brasserie. He is shown at Rue Basse in 1883 and back to Brasserie in 1886. That same year, Rodolphe Gygax is shown for the first time as a maker of silver cases at Rue du Coin-Dessous 208. This would become the address for Robert Gygax as well in 1889, the same year he takes out a large ad in the watch directory. This advertisement clarifies that Gygax specializes in gold plated watch cases and that his factory is mechanized.
Robert and Rod Gygax continue in business on Rue du Coin-Dessous throughout the 1890s. Period advertisements for both show a large factory near the new railroad line, including a tall main building and lower building closer to the tracks. This same factory would be used by Gygax for decades, even after the street was renamed and renumbered as Rue du Vallon 26. Rodolphe Gygax is no longer listed after 1896, likely being absorbed into the re-formed company.
Gygax & Meyer is first seen in 1899, and the new firm capitalized on the growth of watchmaking in Saint-Imier around the turn of the century, producing cases for most of the large watchmakers including Longines, Moeris, Berna, Leonidas, and Excelsior Park. But the partnership soon ended, with the company again called Robert Gygax in 1908 and a new firm, Meier & Cie producing silver cases on Rue des Roses. Meier & Cie does not last long, however.
The new Robert Gygax firm focused for a time on steel and silver cases rather than plated cases. The company developed its own standing travel clock case known as bridge case. By 1913, Gygax was leaning heavily into the nascent wristwatch market, offering a wide assortment of tonneau, hexagonal, square, and round cases from 9 to 13 ligne.
In 1916 the company is renamed Les Fils de Robert Gygax and the company is once again producing gold, silver, and steel cases in a variety of shapes. Throughout the 1920s, Gygax adapted to the trends with lines of pendant and pocket watches as well as wrist watches. By 1928 the company was offering a variety of cases that took on the shape of the popular Cartier Tank and offered Art Deco decoration as well. Then in the 1930s the company offered "purse watches" and adopted the rising hours trend in 1933.
Through the 1940s and 1950s, Gygax is the only case maker listed in Saint-Imier, and likely produced cases for most of the watchmakers in town. Although Longines was by then vertically integrated, others no doubt relied on Gygax for design and construction of watch cases.
The firm is no longer listed after 1961.