Schwob

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The Schwob family name is prominent in watchmaking, especially in La Chaux-de-Fonds and Paris. Two Jewish families moved from Alsace to Canton Neuchâtel in the second half of the 19th century, settling in La Chaux-de-Fonds and becoming active in the watch industry. These families invested in watch manufacturing, notably the Tavannes Watch Co, and established global distribution of the products made there. Their businesses merged in 1919, with Schwob Frères emerging as the controlling stake in the Tavannes factory as well as the Cyma brand.

The earliest recorded Schwob business in La Chaux-de-Fonds was that of Schwob-Lévy, a ready-made men's clothing store located on the Rue des Juifs in 1851. This was clarified to be located at number 2 in 1854, with the added description of serving young people and being a trustworthy business. This street was renamed Rue Neuve by 1856. Schwob-Lévy moved to Rue Léopold Robert 24 in 1863.

M. Schwob was listed in Saint-Imier beginning in 1854 as a vendor of clothing, fabrics, and clocks. S. Schwob dealt in draperies and novelties in Fleurier that year as well.

In 1858 the firm of Schwob et Weiller is listed as a fabricant d'horlogerie in Saint-Imier. Bernard Schwob was a vendor of fabric and linens in Tramelan that year as well.

By 1860 the watch dealer Schwob et Company appears in La Chaux-de-Fonds at Rue Neuve 10. It is listed as Blum et Schwob at Neuve 9 in 1863. Jacques Schwob is listed as a watchmaker in Tramelan in 1860 as well.

An 1861 report from the Universal Exposition of Horology in Besançon mentions the wondrous gold watches offered by a Mr. Schwob.

Schwob-Bloch et Cie is listed as a fabricant d'horlogerie in Colombier starting in 1864. In 1866 we see Schwob-Picard at Grande Rue 16 in Saint-Imier as a fabricant.

Schwob et Bloch appears as a fabricant d'horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds at Rue Léopold Robert 19 by 1866, just down the street from J. Schwob-Lévy at number 24. This becomes Schwob, Bloch, et Cie in 1867. The next new business is that of Théodore Schwob, a dorage at Ronde 5 in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1868.

The firm of Schwob-Weill appears in 1870. It was located at Léopold-Robert 30, near Schwob, Bloch, et Cie at number 19 and Schwob-Lévy at number 24. Schwob, Bloch, et Cie is gone in 1872, with Schwob Frères appearing at number 22 alongside Schwob-Weill and J. Schwob-Lévy. Schwob Frères shared this address with Ad. Woog. Schwob Frères registered a French patent (FR116573) on January 18, 1877 for "genre remontoir pour montres" (a type of watch winder). Another patent came on April 15 (CH122877) for "montre memento". A number of trademarks and brands were registered by the Schwob family as soon as this was allowed in the 1880s.

In 1880 we see Armand Schwob & Frère at Rue Léopold Robert 14, with Schwob Frères at number 22, J. Schwob-Lévy at number 24, and Schwob-Weill at number 30. B. Bloch et Schwob appears at number 66.

In 1883, the Neuchâtel Observatory recognized a rare tourbillon watch submitted by Armand Schwob & Frère with a first prize for chronometry. It was noted that the tourbillon was constructed by the "artist" Albert Pellaton-Favre. This firm exhibited at the Universal Exposition in Amsterdam in 1883, perhaps showing this same tourbillon watch.

Armand Schwob & Frère was involved in controversy during the Antwerp exhibition judging. Contrary to form, the representative of the company brought forward a selection of fine watches to be judged. This upset the panel of judges who instead examined other watches on display and found three poor-quality watches with the name "Patek & Cie" and "Geneva" on them. The company was immediately eliminated from consideration for showing obvious forgeries in their display. This became a scandal in Geneva, where watchmakers feared that poor quality watches would hurt their reputation. Patek Philippe would go on to sue Armand Schwob in Federal court over the matter.

Family

  • Moyse Schwob (November 20, 1791-May 21, 1853) married Judith Bloch
    • Sarah Schwob
    • Théodora Schwob
    • ? Schwob
    • Juda Schwob (May 2, 1825-?)
    • Joseph Schwob-Weill (October 8, 1829-December 15 or 16, 1901) married Virginie-dite-Estelle Weill (about 1828-September 13, 1900) - founded Schwob-Weill, joined Schwob-Weill & Fils in 1892
      • Jeanne "Jenny" Schwob (March 15, 1861 or 1862-?) married ? Blum
      • Edmond Schwob (August 6, 1864-July 27, 1900) married 1892 Jenny Blum (died after 1901) - joined Schwob-Weill in 1890, joined Schwob-Weill & Fils in 1892, joined Schwob & Cie in 1897
        • Maurice-André Schwob (December 7, 1892-October 8, 1954) married Andrée-Isabelle Dreyfus (1896-May 1986)
        • Raymond Schwob
      • Moïse Schwob (August 5, 1863-May 17 or 19, 1923) married April 18, 1889 Camille Blum (March 27, 1869-November 14, 1958) - joined Schwob-Weill & Fils in 1892, joined Schwob & Cie in 1897, joined Schwob-Frères in 1919
        • Georges Schwob (November 1, 1891-August 13, 1979) married May 29, 1922 Cécile-Thérèse Ditesheim (March 10, 1903-August 13, 1960) - joined Schwob & Cie in 1914, joined Schwob-Frères in 1919
        • Lucien Schwob (October 7, 1895-June 6, 1985) married 1933 Camille-Françoise Schwob-Levaillant (his aunt), married 1947 Odette Hélène Hug - became a famous painter
        • ? Schwob
      • Adrien Schwob (August 7, 1869-August 5, 1957) married 1896 Jeanne Schwob (December 23, 1873-March 24, 1964) - represented Armand, Maurice, and René at Schwob Frères & Co in 1897, joined Schwob & Cie in 1897, joined Schwob-Frères in 1919
        • Théodore "Théo" Schwob (1898-?) married Simone Büttiker
          • Agracia Schwob-Graber
        • Paul Edmond Schwob (September 14, 1900-September 18, 1900)
        • Pierre Arnold Schwob (August 21, 1901-January 31, 1990)
        • Louis René Schwob (October 21, 1903-October 22, 1983)
      • Anatole Schwob (March 11, 1874-April 3 or 4, 1932) married Camille-Françoise Levaillant (January 13, 1884-April 13, 1941) - joined Schwob & Cie in 1905
        • Edmond Schwob
        • Malou Schwob
    • Barbe Schwob
    • Marc Schwob (August 2, 1833-September 29, 1871) married Fanny Weill (August 6, 1831-?)
      • Judith Schwob married ? Swiren or Wilvoski
      • Moïse Schwob (1861-1862)
      • Flore Schwob married ? Bernheim
      • Armand Schwob (1865-?)
      • Charles Schwob (1867-?)
    • Adam Schwob (October 18, 1837-November 4, 1838)
    • Théodore Schwob
    • Isaac Schwob (1827-)


  • Isaac Schwob married Sophie Geismar
    • Adam "Arnold" Schwob (June 14, 1860-August 3, 1928)
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