W. Ruch & Cie

W. Ruch & Cie was a manufacturer of balance springs using the Berna brand in Saint-Imier in the 1930s. The company was founded by Werner Ruch (1899-1952) and his father Albert Ruch and became part of Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies before being split, with Reinhard Straumann's Nivarox SA, in 1937. Ruch was renamed Virola SA in 1959 and moved to Bienne. In 1976, Virola, Nivarox SA, and FSR merged to become Nivarox SA within ASUAG, predecessor to the current Nivarox-FAR.

W. Ruch and Berna

The company W. Ruch & Cie was founded in Saint-Imier in August 1929 by Werner Ruch. The business was partly financed by his father Albert Ruch, owner of a freight transport business in the town. The factory was located at Rue de la Cure 13.

To avoid entanglement with the Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies cartel, Ruch was not involved in the watch business. Rather, the firm produced spiral springs for other uses, including thermometers, scales, and timers. The company used the Berna brand name, a play on the name of Canton Berne, and was unrelated to Montres Berna, which was also located in Saint-Imier and re-established at the same time.

W. Ruch & Cie was incorporated as a Société Anonyme in May 1931 with 100,000 francs of share capital raised. Of this, nearly 44,000 plus a bond was used to purchase the assets of the former company. Although registered by the father, Albert Ruch, alone, Werner Ruch was soon also listed as a manager and rector.

Albert Ruch died by 1936, leaving the firm in Werner Ruch's hands once again. Le Locle businessman Georges Perrenoud of Dixi became chairman and served alongside the younger Ruch on the board. Georges Jacot, accountant, was business manager and Paul Pingeon managed production.

Detailed Timeline

• 1929 - August 1 - W. Ruch & Cie is founded in Saint-Imier by Albert Ruch and his son Werner Ruch; Werner Ruch is primary partner while Albert's involvement is limited to 15,000 francs; the business is located at Rue de la Cure 13 in Saint-Imier
• 1931 - May 29 - The original company is purchased by a new Société Anonyme called W. Ruch & Cie; share capital is 100,000 francs, of with 44,000 were used to purchase the former company; Albert Ruch is the sole member to start with Werner Ruch granted power of attorney on July 13
• 1936 - January 22 - Following the death of Albert Ruch, a new board is constituted with Georges Perrenoud (president), and Werner Ruch; management is made up of accountant Georges Jacot, Paul Pingeon, and Werner Ruch
• 1936 - August 3 - Reinhard Straumann joins the board of directors
• 1937 - June 16 - The company is split, with Georges Perrenoud and Reinhard Straumann forming Nivarox SA with Georges Jacot and Paul Pingeon; W. Ruch & Cie. share capital is reduced from 100,000 to 50,000 francs by canceling 100 shares; Werner Ruch is the sole remaining director
• 1944 - October 30 - The company is purchased; Ernest Dubois, Gustave Ulrich, Louis Huguenin, and Werner Ruch make up the board
• 1952 - January 5 - Werner Ruch is killed in a car accident in France
• 1953 - December 22 - The company moves to Rue Jardinière 33 in La Chaux-de-Fonds; Ernest Dubois is president, and members are Gustave Ulrich and Louis Huguenin
• 1956 - W. Ruch & Cie is listed as a component of Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies
• 1959 - October 23 - The company is transferred to Bienne and renamed Virola SA; The board consists of Paul Baehni (chairman), Théodore Renfer (vice-president), Ernest Dubois, and Louis Huguenin; Gustave Ulrich has died; the company is located at Rue du Chantier 9 in Bienne
• 1963 - December 27 - Heinz Rothen joins as director
• 1969 - December 17 - Paul Baehni, Louis Huguenin, and Ernest Dubois (deceased) are no longer directors; the new board consists of Alain Grisel (president), Pierre Renggli, and Thomas Baehni
• 1976 - December 3 - Virola merges with Nivarox SA and FSR to become the new company also called Nivarox SA under ASUAG